Thermal properties and morphology of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate)/maleic anhydride grafted linear low‐density polyethylene blends

Properties of recycled Poly(ethylene terephthalate) were greatly improved. Recycled PET was blended with LLDPE‐g‐MA by low‐temperature solid‐state extrusion. Mechanical properties of the blends were affected obviously by the added LLDPE‐g‐MA. Elongation at break reaches 352.8% when the blend contains 10 wt % LLDPE‐g‐MA. Crystallization behavior of PET phase was affected by LLDPE‐g‐MA content. Crystallinity of PET decreased with the increase of LLDPE‐g‐MA content. FTIR testified that maleic anhydride group in LLDPE‐g‐MA reacted with the end hydroxyl groups of PET and PET‐co‐LLDPE‐g‐MA copolymers were in situ synthesized. SEM micrographs display that LLDPE‐g‐MA phase and PET phase are incompatible and the compatibility of the blends can be improved by the forming of PET‐co‐LLDPE‐g‐MA copolymer. LLDPE‐g‐MA content was less, the LLDPE‐g‐MA phase dispersed in PET matrix fine. With the increase of LLDPE‐g‐MA content, the morphology of dispersed LLDPE‐g‐MA phase changed from spherule to cigar bar, then to irregular spherule. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008