Study of PET depolymerization during recycling

Abstract

Depolymerization of poly(ethylene-terephthalate) (PET) in PET/HDPE blends, obtained from virgin polymers during mechanical recycling was studied. Extrusion of PET/HDPE blends was simulation of the first cycle of recycling and extrusion of the blends with EPDM/HDPE (E-M) masterbatch and HDPE/EPDM (PEM) masterbatch the second cycle. After that the samples were additionally treated to examine their thermooxidative stability. Blends were characterized by determination of the concentration of carboxyl groups by Pohl titration, by FTIR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to determine crystallization (T c) and melting (Tm) temperatures. The concentration of determinated carboxyl end groups in blends indicate presence of formed polymer radicals with hydroxyl-carboxyl end groups as the result of depolymerization of PET. Presence of characteristic groups was also confirmed by FTIR. DSC results indicate the influence of HDPE on crystallization temperature of PET and points to the fact that even degraded samples maintain the chemical structure of PET. From the results it can be seen that addition of the particular modifier can reduce and even prevent the depolymerization during the recycling process.