Rheological and mechanical properties of recycled poly(ethylene terephtalate)/high density polyethylene blends

Abstract

Triphenylphosphite (TPP) has been used as a chain extender to regenerate polyethylene terephtalate (PET) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) wastes and to improve the properties of PET/HDPE system based on recycled materials. TPP incorporation in PET and HDPE showed a noticeable increase of the torque as a function of the mixing time and proved that the degradation reactions are considerably decreased. In the case of PET/ HDPE blends, the increase of the torque was strongly dependent on the composition of the homopolymers and on the time of mixing. TPP incorporation contributed to significant variations of the rheological and mechanical properties of the regenerated PET and HDPE and their blends. © Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2013.