SbB-g-GMA Copolymer as a Dual Functional Reactive Compatibilizer and Impact Modifier for Potential Recycling of PET and PS via Melt Blending Approach

• Published in: Journal of polymers and the environment 2023-07, Vol.31 (7), p.3106-3119
• Main Authors: Tahmasebi, Fatemeh, Jafari, Seyed Hassan, F. Farnia, S. Morteza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Block copolymers; Butadiene; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Compatibility; Compatibilizers; Copolymerization; Copolymers; Droplets; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Fabrication; Graft copolymers; Impact modifiers; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Materials Science; Mechanical properties; Melt blending; Miscibility; Original Paper; Phase separation; Polyethylene terephthalate; Polymer blends; Polymer Sciences; Polymers; Polystyrene; Polystyrene resins; Recycling; Scanning electron microscopy; Styrene; Styrenes; Thermodynamic properties
• ISSN: 1566-2543; 1572-8919
• DOI: 10.1007/s10924-023-02803-3

In this research work, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polystyrene (PS) were melt blended using glycidyl methacrylate-grafted styrene-block-butadiene (SbB-g-GMA) as a dual functional reactive compatibilizer and impact modifier to achieve a blend with stable morphology having no distinct phase separation. Accordingly, for the fabrication of the dual functional reactive compatibilizer, copolymerization was conducted through grafting glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto styrene-block-butadiene copolymer (SbB). Then, different compositions of the blends were prepared with various loadings of the compatibilizer. It was demonstrated that blending of PET with PS compatibilized with dual purpose compatibilizer resulted in a blend with improved toughness, thermal and mechanical properties as compared to the uncompatibilized blend. Moreover, it was demonstrated by the field- emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) results that although the unmodified PET/ PS blend was composed of large PS droplets, the PS droplets size was significantly minimized in the compatibilized blends, indicating better miscibility, and therefore, superior mechanical properties. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed dual-functional compatibilizer for potential recycling of PET and PS, as two widely consumed polymers via a simple melt blending approach. The compatibilized blends with improved properties have great potential for use in a variety of applications.