Compatibilization of ABS/HDPE by maleic anhydride grafted HDPE

Abstract

This research investigated the compatibility of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) – high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blends by maleic anhydride grafied polyethylene compatibilizer (HDPE-g-MAH). The compatibilizer was prepared by a reactive melt grafting of MAH loadings of 1, 2 to 5 phr on HDPE backbone with 0.5 phr dicumyl hydroperoxide initiator in a twin screw extruder. The 2 phr loading gave the highest grafting yield of 1.5 %. The succinyl anhydride ring found on the HDPE chains confirmed the graft reaction. Evaluation of the compatibility was conducted by rheology, log additive rule, scanning electron microscopy, thermal property, and mechanical properties by lzod, flexural and tensile properties of the blends. Both phases, the continuous and dispersed phases exhibited good compatibility under high shear rates with 2 phr HDPE-g-MAH. The SEM indicated that increasing the compatibilizer loadings gave the finer phases leases leading to the better compatibility of polymer blends. The lzod impact and tensile properties of all blend ration increased with the addition of 2 phr HDPE-g-MAH but the flexural strength needed more loading of the compatiblizer. Weathering test of all blends incorporating 2 phr compatibilizer that ABS gave the highest ΔE (yellowness difference) and HDPE the lowest one. ΔE in yellowness of all blends decreased with increasing HDPE blend ratios and increased with increasing exposure time. All ΔE, in yellowness of the blends were significantly different because ΔE was higher than I. The research suggested that more loadings of the compatibilizer be used to increase the compatibilities of all polymer blend ratios.