Effects of adhesive type and polystyrene concentration on the shear strength of bonded polystyrene/high-density polyethylene blends

The lap-shear strengths of adhesively bonded polystyrene (PS), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and their blends, were studied as a function of adhesive type and blend composition. The performance of virgin and recycled polymer systems was examined. The lap-shear strength depended strongly on the amount of PS in the blend and the type of adhesive, and the acrylic adhesives demonstrated the best performance for all compositions. Bonded strengths of HDPE increased by approximately 50% when HDPE was blended with 34% PS, the co-continuous composition. The results indicate that structural elements made from PS/HDPE immiscible blends may be effectively bonded with adhesives without expensive surface treatments.     

Recycling of high density polyethylene/poly(vinyl chloride)/polystyrene ternary mixture with the aid of high energy radiation and compatibilizers

Ternary mixtures of waste plastics of high density polyethylene (HDPE), poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), and polystyrene (PS) was recycled using a single‐screw extruder. Poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate) and poly(styrene‐b‐ethylene/butylenes‐b‐styrene) were introduced as compatibilizers for HDPE/PVC and HDPE/PS, respectively. After the polymer blends was prepared via extrusion, they were subjected to high energy irradiation. The morphology and the mechanical properties of the hybrid blends were examined. Scanning electron micrographs and transmission electron micrographs showed that both compatibilizers and irradiation improved the uniformity and dispersion of the system. The heterogeneous crosslinking generated by irradiation resulted in an optimum impact strength. High elongation at break was achieved by using compatibilizers. The improvement of tensile strength was moderate. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 12: 2756–2762, 2003     

Strategies for interfacial localization of graphene/polyethylene-based cocontinuous blends for electrical percolation

We have investigated melt blending approaches to interfacial localization of few-layer graphene in cocontinuous polymer blends with polyethylene as one of the components. When linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)/polypropylene (PP) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE)/polylactic acid (PLA) and graphene were mixed all together, graphene preferred polyethylene over PP or PLA. When PP and graphene were premixed and blended with polyethylene, some graphene was trapped at the blend interface but not enough to cover the large interfacial area. In contrast, an ultralow electrical percolation was achieved (< 0.1 vol%) in HDPE/PLA blend due to smaller interfacial area. In another approach, polystyrene was added as a tertiary minor component to HDPE/PLA blends. This continuous interfacial layer containing graphene led to a low electrical percolation threshold (< 0.2 vol%). From these investigations, we suggest general ways to reduce a percolation threshold by kinetic control of the morphology of cocontinuous polymer blends.     

Recycling of commingled plastics by cellulosic reinforcement

In this article, a model study was conducted on the effect of combining cellulose on the properties of virgin and/or recycled commingled plastics with a simulated waste‐plastics fraction composed of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) (PE/PP/PS/PVC = 7/1/1/1 by weight ratio). The compatibilizing effect of maleic anhydride‐grafted styrene–ethylene/butylene–styrene block copolymer (SEBS‐g‐MAH) for the cellulose‐reinforced commingled blends was also investigated. Commingled blends were prepared in a table kneader internal mixer. Mechanical properties were measured by using a universal testing machine. Thermal stability was measured by a thermogravimetric analyzer. It was found that the addition of more than 12.5% cellulose into the commingled blends was effective to enhance the mechanical properties of the virgin and recycled blends. The thermal stability as well as the mechanical properties of the commingled blends were much improved by the reactive blending of cellulose with the commingled blends by peroxide and maleic anhydride. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 74: 1531–1538, 1999     

Characterization of monopolymer blend of virgin and recycled polyamide 6

It is a common industrial practice to blend virgin polymer with the same recycled polymer coming from plastic scraps that, in general, has not undergone relevant degradation. In this work, the characteristics of blends of virgin and recycled polyamide have been considered by changing the amount of recycled polymer and the presence of humidity and a stabilizer. Neither dry nor wet stabilized recycled polyamide samples show significant variations of the molecular weight, but the melt Newtonian viscosity of the blends are slightly different from that predicted by an additive rule, despite the same chemical nature of the two components. This holds true even more for the humid unstabilized sample, as its noticeably lower molecular weight implies values lower than those expected on a linearity basis. The situation is different for the mechanical properties; here the morphology reached in the solid state determines a more rigid and brittle material, compared to the pure components, with relevant deviations from linearity for all the recycled samples used to prepare the blends. A different crystallinity as a function of the composition can be invoked to explain this phenomenon. The blends containing dry and wet stabilized recycled polyamide show almost the same behavior, confirming the reduced degradation of these samples.     

Impact and tensile properties of SEBS copolymer compatibilized PS/HDPE blends

In this study, polystyrene–hydrogenated polybutadiene–polystyrene (SEBS) triblock copolymer was used as a compatibilizer for the blends of polystyrene (PS) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The morphology and static mechanical and impact properties of the blends were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy, uniaxial tension, and instrumented falling-weight impact measurements. Tensile tests showed that the yield strength of the PS/HDPE/SEBS blends decreases considerably with increasing HDPE content. However, the elongation at break of the blends tended to increase significantly with increasing HDPE content. The excellent tensile ductility of the HDPE-rich blends resulted from shield yielding of the matrix. Charpy impact measurements indicated that the impact strength of the blends increases slowly with HDPE content up to 50 wt %; thereafter, it increases sharply with increasing HDPE content. The impact energy of the HDPE-rich blends exceeded that of pure HDPE, implying that the HDPE polymer can be further toughened by the incorporation of brittle PS minor phase in the presence of SEBS compatibilizer. The correlation between the impact property and morphology of the blends is discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 68: 1099–1108, 1998     

Compatibility of HDPE/postconsumer HDPE blends using compatibilizing agents

Mechanical properties, molecular weight, X‐ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) characterization of blends of virgin high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) with two types of recycled material were investigated. The recycled came from urban plastic waste; one kind was only washed and grounded and the other was extruded and pelletized to remove most of contaminant particles. Starting with the 30/70 virgin/grounded recycled and 50/50 virgin/pelletized recycled blends the recycled content was increased in both blends and compatibilizing agents were used to increase the blend performance. A mixture of phenolic antioxidants and phosphite costabilizers under the name of Recycloblend?, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, low‐density polyethylene (LDPE), and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) were used as compatibilizers. The effect of these additives and the recycled content on the performance of extrusion blow‐molded bottles was determined. The results suggest that blends of virgin/grounded recycled and virgin/pelletized recycled HDPE, in general, were not significantly different among each other and both had a quite similar behavior than the virgin HDPE when compatibilizing agents were used. The addition of compatibilizing agents yielded a material with properties similar to those for the virgin HDPE, helping to reduce the effect of polymers degradation on the rheological and mechanical behavior, with Recycloblend and LLDPE being the most effective for the blends with grounded recycled material, and LLDPE y EVA, for the blends with pelletized recycled. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 3696–3706, 2006     

Mechanical behaviors of ethylene/styrene interpolymer compatibilized polystyrene/polyethylene blends

In this study, ethylene/styrene interpolymer was used as a compatibilizer for the blends of polystyrene (PS) and high‐density polyethylene (HDPE). The mechanical properties including tensile and impact properties and morphology of the blends were investigated by means of uniaxial tension, instrumented falling‐weight impact measurements, and scanning electron microscopy. Tensile tests showed that the yield strength of the PS/HDPE/ESI blends decreases considerably with increasing HDPE content. However, the elongation at break of the blends tended to increase significantly with increasing HDPE content. The excellent tensile ductility of the HDPE‐rich blends resulted from shield yielding of the matrix. Izod and Charpy impact measurements indicated that the impact strength of the blends increases slowly with HDPE content up to 40 wt %; thereafter, it increases sharply with increasing HDPE content. The impact energy of the HDPE‐rich blends exceeded that of pure HDPE, implying that the HDPE polymer can be further toughened by the incorporation of brittle PS minor phase in the presence of ESI compatibilizer. The correlation between the impact property and morphology of the blends is discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 4001–4007, 2007     

Ultrasonic improvement of the compatibility and rheological behavior of high‐density polyethylene/polystyrene blends

The effects of ultrasonic oscillations on the rheological behavior, mechanical properties, and morphology of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE)/polystyrene (PS) blends were studied. The experimental results show that the die pressure and apparent viscosity of HDPE/PS blends are remarkably reduced in the presence of ultrasonic oscillations and that mechanical properties of the blends are improved. The particle size of the dispersed phase in HDPE/PS blends becomes smaller, its distribution becomes narrower, and the interfacial interaction of the blends becomes stronger if the blends are extruded in the presence of ultrasonic oscillations. Ultraviolet spectra and Soxhlet extraction results show the formation of a polyethylene‐PS copolymer during extrusion in the presence of ultrasonic oscillations, which improves the compatibility of HDPE/PS blends. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 23–32, 2002     

Mechanical properties of HDPE/(PEC/PS)/SEBS blends

Various amounts of a styrene-butadiene-based triblock copolymer (SEBS) was used to compatibilize immiscible blends of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and an amorphous glassy phase consisting of either pure polystyrene (PS) or a miscible blend of PS and a polyether copolymer (PEC). PEC is structurally similar to poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO). Mechanical properties were determined for blends fabricated by injection and compression molding. The inherently brittle two-phase HDPE/(PEC/PS) blends show significant increases in ductility and impact strength resulting from addition of SEBS. These improvements coincide with a slight loss in modulus and yield strength. If the amount of HDPE and SEBS is held constant, impact strength and ductility increase with the amount of PEC in the glassy phase. These trends evidently result from the added ductility of glassy phases containing PEC and perhaps from better interfacial adhesion in blends after adding SEBS. The latter stems from the thermodynamic miscibility between PEC and PS endblocks of SEBS which provide an enthalpic driving force for compatibilization. Differences between the properties of compression and injection-molded blends can be attributed to the degree of crystallinity and orientation induced during molding.     

Study of the mechanical,thermal, and thermodegradative properties of virgin PP with recycled and non-recycled HDPE

In order to show the significance of plastic recycling, a study of the properties of blends of PP with non-recycled and recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE) is made. The results of the Young's modulus for polypropylene (PP)/non-recycled and recycled HDPE blends present a slight synergism, although no significant dependence of this property on the compound was observed. The values of elongation at break and impact strength reflect the incompatibility of the blends. In thermal studies of the blends, the values of fusion enthalpy are below the values of the components. The results of the thermodegradative studies show that activation energies (E_a) obtained are lower, in the case of the blends, than the E_a corresponding to pure polymers. In PP/recycled HDPE blends, activation energy, at 5% to 20% concentration, is maintained and falls abruptly with an increase in the concentration of the recycled material. Based upon the facts previously exposed, it is possible to recycle the recycled HDPE up to 20% concentration, in PP blends. The addition of the compatibilizer at 5% represents the optimal concentration for improving the final properties of the finished product.     

Properties of recycled high density polyethylene from milk bottles

The effect of virgin, high-density polyethylene (HDPE)/recycled HDPE composition on the physical properties of the blends was investigated. The recycled HDPE was obtained from a postconsumer cycle of milk bottles. It was found that elongation at break was the mechanical property mostly affected by the content of recycled HDPE. Overall, however, the recycled HDPE from milk bottles was found to be a material with useful properties not largely different from those of virgin resin and thus could be used, at an appropriate concentration in virgin HDPE, for different applications.     

Ultrasonic improvement of weld line strength of injection‐molded polystyrene and polystyrene/polyethylene blend parts

The effect of melt temperature, ultrasonic oscillations, and induced ultrasonic oscillations modes on weld line strength of polystyrene (PS) and polystyrene/polyethylene (PS/HDPE) (90/10) blend was investigated. The results show that the increase of melt temperature is beneficial to the increase of weld line strength of PS and PS/HDPE blend. Compared with PS, the increase of melt temperature can greatly enhance the strength of PS/HDPE blends. For PS, the presence of ultrasonic oscillations can enhance the weld line strength of PS at different melt temperatures. But for PS/HDPE blends, the presence of ultrasonic oscillations can improve the weld line strength when the melt temperature is 230°C, but when the melt temperature is 195°C, the induced ultrasonic oscillations hardly enhance the weld line strength. Compared with Mode I (ultrasonic oscillations were induced into the mold at the whole process of injection molding), the induced ultrasonic oscillations as Mode II (ultrasonic oscillations were induced into the mold after injection mold filling) is more effective at increasing the weld line strength of PS and PS/HDPE blends. The mechanism for ultrasonic improvement of weld line strength was also studied. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 45:1666–1672, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Phase morphologies and mechanical properties of high‐impact polystyrene (HIPS) and polycarbonate blends compatibilized with polystyrene and polyarylate block copolymer

Phasemorphology and mechanical properties of blends of high‐impact polystyrene (HIPS) and polycarbonate (PC) blends compatibilized with a polystyrene (PS) and polyarylate (PAr) (PS–PAr) block copolymer were investigated. Over a broad range of composition from 50/50 through 30/70, HIPS/PC blends formed cocontinuous structures induced by the flow during the extrusion or injection‐molding processes. These cocontinuous phases had heterogeneity between the parallel and perpendicular directions to the flow. The micromorphology in the parallel direction to the flow consisted of stringlike phases, which were highly elongated along the flow. Their longitudinal size was long enough to be longer than 180 μm, while their lateral size was shorter than 5 μm, whereas that in the perpendicular direction to the flow showed a cocontinuous phase with regular spacing due to interconnection or blanching among the stringlike phases. The PS–PAr block copolymer was found to successfully compatibilize the HIPS/PC blends. The lateral size of the stringlike phases could be controlled both by the amount of the PS–PAr block copolymer added and by the shear rate during the extrusion or injection‐molding process without changing their longitudinal size. The HIPS/PC blend compatibilized with 3 wt % of the PS–PAr block copolymer under an average shear rate of 675 s^?1 showed a stringlike phase whose lateral size was reduced almost equal to the rubber particle size in HIPS. The tensile modulus and yield stress of the HIPS/PC blends could be explained by the addition rule of each component, while the elongation at break was almost equal to that of PC. These mechanical properties of the HIPS/PC blends can be explained by a parallel connection model independent of the HIPS and PC phases. On the other hand, the toughness factor of the HIPS/PC blends strongly depended on the lateral size of the stringlike phases and the rubber particle size in the HIPS. It was found that the size of the string phases and the rubber particle should be smaller than 1.0 μm to attain a reasonable energy absorbency by blending HIPS and PC. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 2347–2360, 2001     

Compatibilization of PP/PE blends and scraps with Royalene: Mechanical properties,SAXS, and WAXS

PP/PE 93/7 model virgin blends and recycled scraps were compatibilized with Royalene (EPDM/PE 65/35 blend) and mechanically tested. No differences in impact and tensile properties between them were found. However, the tensile-impact strength increased almost twice with 10%-compatibilized sample in comparison with uncompatibilized ones. The yield stress of blends containing 10% Royalene decreased to 75–80% of the original value. This effect is in agreement with microhardness measurements; the increase in the compatibilizer content causes softening of the blend. The elongation at break and elongation at yield do not depend on the compatibilizer concentration. The compatibilizer does not influence the degree of crystallinity (WAXS data) of the blends either. Vickers microhardness is in good agreement with Tabor's relationship. The differences between long periods of HDPE in Royalene and LDPE in PP/PE blends (SAXS) proved PE/EPDM interaction. The interaction plays a key role in the toughening of PP/PE blends. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Design and Characterization of a New Food Packaging Material by Recycling Blends Virgin and Recovered polyethylene terephthalate

This research is dealing with plastic wastes recycling environmental problem. The objective is the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) valorization from postconsumer bottles by the optimization of the most suitable virgin and recycled PET mixture to be used as food contact packaging. Mixtures of these materials were elaborated by extrusion and injection molding using different recycled PET rates. Rheological, mechanical, and thermal analyses were achieved, and then migration tests were investigated to assess the recycled PET compatibility for food contact packaging. The rheological analysis showed a PET degradation after the mechanical recycling, with PET viscosity decrease, compared to that of the virgin material. The blends properties showed that at low deformation, mechanical properties were significantly improved by adding recycled PET. Consequently, the new material was more rigid with a crystallinity degree improvement, increasing the materials resistance that enhanced their tenacity. However, at great deformations, the PET mixed materials were deteriorated through drastic ductility losses. The mixture 30/70 recycled/virgin PET seems to be the best blend. For all the studied mixtures, the overall migrations conformed the European Standard, allowing the use of the recycled PET for packaging as an issue in circular economy principles for a sustainable development. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 60: 250–256, 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Characterization of Some Post-Consumer Thermoplastic Food Packaging Reclaimed from Remote Desert Areas in Saudi Arabia

Discarded plastic food packaging articles taken from the Thomamah desert area near Riyadh in Saudi Arabia were characterized rheologically and thermally. These articles are made of polystyrene (PS), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and polyethyleneterephthalate (PET). The aim was to assess the degradation of these plastic articles caused by prolonged exposure to a harsh desert environment such as sunlight radiation. The reduction in molecular weight of the degraded plastics relative to that of the virgin plastics was estimated from the zero-shear viscosity-molecular weight relationship η₀ = k (M_w)^a. The degradation was more pronounced with PS (THO6C) and PET2 (THO1BS) where the reduction in their molecular weight was estimated to be ～ 23%. There was a lack of sharp transition from glassy to rubbery state at the T_g of the degraded PS (THO6C) in comparison with the behavior of virgin PS. In addition, the degree of crystallinity of degraded PET1 (THO1BW) and degraded HDPE (THO2BW) was less than that of the virgin PET1 and virgin HDPE.     

Effect of ethylene-propylene copolymer with residual PE crystallinity on mechanical properties and morphology of PP/HDPE blends

Morphology and mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP)/high density polyethylene (HDPE) blends modified by ethylene-propylene copolymers (EPC) with residual PE crystallinity were investigated. The EPC showed different interfacial behavior in PP/HDPE blends of different compositions. A 25/75 blend of PP/HDPE (weight ratio) showed improved tensile strength and elongation at break at low EPC content (5 wt %). For the PP/HDPE = 50/50 blend, the presence of the EPC component tended to make the PP dispresed phase structure transform into a cocontinuous one, probably caused by improved viscosity matching of the two components. Both tensile strength and elongation at break were improved at EPC content of 5 wt %. For PP/HDPE 75/25 blends, the much smaller dispersed HDPE phase and significantly improved elongation at break resulted from compatibilization by EPC copolymers. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Effect of sample size on solvent extraction for detecting cocontinuity in polymer blends

The effect of sample size on the results of solvent extraction measurements for detecting cocontinuity in polymer blends was investigated. Poly(ethylene oxide)/polystyrene (PEO/PS) blend samples of several thicknesses were analyzed by removing the PEO phase using water extraction. The experimental degree of continuity was shown to have a linear dependence on the reciprocal of sample thickness. A model is proposed to explain this dependence and to allow the bulk or true degree of continuity to be determined. Measurement of the bulk degree of continuity is useful for understanding properties of cocontinuous polymer blends such as electrical conductivity, impact strength, or tensile strength.     

Compatibilizers for recycling of the plastic mixture wastes. II. The effect of a compatibilizer for binary blends on the properties of ternary blends

In this article, we discuss the effect of a compatibilizer for binary blends on the properties of ternary blends composed of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), or polystyrene (PS) and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) virgin polymers with a simulated waste plastics fraction. Chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), ethylene–propylene rubber (EPR), and their 1/1 (w/w) mixture were tested as compatibilizers for the HDPE/PP/PVC ternary blend. CPE, styrene‐ethylene‐propylene block copolymer (SEP), or their 1/1 (w/w) mixture were tested as compatibilizers for the HDPE/PS/PVC ternary blend. The composition of the ternary blends were fixed at 8/1/1 by weight ratio. The amount of the compatibilizer was 3 phr. Rheological, mechanical, and thermal properties were measured. For the 8/1/1 HDPE/PP/PVC ternary blends, the tensile strength was slightly decreased, but the impact strength was significantly increased by adding EPR, CPE, or their mixture. EPR exhibited the most significant impact modification effect for the ternary blends. In a similar way, for 8/1/1 HDPE/PS/PVC ternary blends, on adding SEP, CPE, or their mixture, the tensile strength was slightly decreased, but the impact strength was noticeably increased. It was found that the SEP worked much better as an impact modifier for the ternary blends than CPE or the SEP/CPE mixture did. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 76: 1048–1053, 2000