Development of composites based on a blend of recycled HDPE/post-consumer PET and bentonite clay

Abstract

The recycling process is the best way to manage waste polymers. From an economic standpoint, more investigation is needed of the whole recycling process to enhance the competitiveness in these systems. A first step is improved interaction and interfacial adhesion of blends. Polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are incompatible polymers, so their blends in general have poor properties. Compatibilization is thus a necessary step to obtain blends with good mechanical and barrier properties. In this work, blends of recycled (high density polyethylene) (HDPE) and post-consumer PET, with organophilic bentonite clay acting as compatibilization agent at the interface of the two polymers, were obtained. The proportions of HDPE/PET/bentonite (0, 5, 10 and 15% weight percentage of bentonite) were processed by extrusion. The processed materials were characterized regarding density (ASTM D792-13), melt flow index (MFI, ASTM D1238-13), hardness (ASTM D2240–10), infrared absorption spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated the occurrence of some compatibilization.