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Unlocking superior properties in polypropylene/polyethylene terephthalate (PP/PET) blends using an ethylene-butylene-acrylate terpolymer reactive compatibilizer

2023; Elsevier BV; Volume: 130; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.polymertesting.2023.108293

1873-2348

Sebastián Coba-Daza, Itziar Otaegi, Nora Aramburu, Gonzalo Guerrica‐Echevarría, L. Irusta, Alba González, Lena Neubauer, Georg Ramer, Bernhard Lendl, Gerhard Hübner, Dario Cavallo, Davide Tranchida, Alejandro J. Müller,

Recycling and Waste Management Techniques

The increasing global plastic production has created an urgent demand for energy-efficient processes to transform mixed plastic waste into value-added products via upcycling. Compatibilization of polypropylene (PP) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), two used semi-crystalline polymers in industry, is investigated in this study. We evaluate the effectiveness of an ethylene-butylene-acrylate terpolymer (PTW) at different contents in a 70/30 PP/PET blend, examining the resulting physico-chemical characteristics. Adding PTW as compatibilizer significantly reduces the droplet size in the PP/PET blend, improving rheological and mechanical properties. Remarkably, the blend containing 1.5 % PTW exhibits maximum enhancement in mechanical properties. To understand deeply the chemical compatibilization mechanism, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR), Atomic Force Microscopy combined with infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR), and Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H NMR) techniques were employed. The compatibilizer was located at the interphase, and the chemical reaction using AFM-IR and 1H NMR was tracked. These advanced techniques prove the chemical compatibilization mechanism in PP/PET blends with PTW. These findings contribute to understanding the compatibilization processes, offering valuable guidance for developing efficient upcycling processes for mixed plastic waste.