Using two set of maleic anhydride grafted materials to improve compatibility of HDPE/PP blends

Abstract

Polymer blending is one way to resolve plastic waste problem by applying recycle technology. Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP) are commodity plastics, which have large consumption, and it contributed to large amount of plastic waste after being used. This study attempted to provide an easy solution of recycling PE and PP without the need for separation by blending them. Blending of PE/PP usually produced incompatible blend. In this work, two types of compatibilizers; polypropylene grafted maleic anhydride and high-density polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride were prepared with grafting degree at 2.5% by aberage was selected. Effect of initial MFI, type of grafting material, and blend composition on compatibility of the blend were carried out by investigated the mechanical properties, flow ability and thermal properties. The results of this work shown that using 2 sets of compatibilizer did not significant improve any properties of HDPE/PP blend compared them with uncompatibilized blend. However, the blend system 1 and 2 which used low initial MFI of HDPE and PP as base material could improve the strain at break of the blend when the compatibilizer content increase.