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- Title
Tuning the Morphology of HDPE/PP/PET Ternary Blends by Nanoparticles: A Simple Way to Improve the Performance of Mixed Recycled Plastics.
- Authors
Marotta, Angela; Causa, Andrea; Salzano de Luna, Martina; Ambrogi, Veronica; Filippone, Giovanni
- Abstract
Due to a very low mixing entropy, most of the polymer pairs are immiscible. As a result, mixing polymers of different natures in a typical mechanical recycling process leads to materials with multiple interfaces and scarce interfacial adhesion and, consequently, with unacceptably low mechanical properties. Adding nanoparticles to multiphase polymeric matrices represents a viable route to mitigate this drawback of recycled plastics. Here, we use low amounts of organo-modified clay (Cloisite® 15A) to improve the performance of a ternary blend made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephtalate (PET). Rather than looking for the inherent reinforcing action of the nanofiller, this goal is pursued by using nanoparticles as a clever means to manipulate the micro-scale arrangement of the polymer phases. Starting from theoretical calculations, we obtained a radical change in the blend microstructure upon the addition of only 2-wt.% of nanoclay, with the obtaining of a finer morphology with an intimate interpenetration of the polymeric phases. Rather than on flexural and impact properties, this microstructure, deliberately promoted by nanoparticles, led to a substantial increase (>50 °C) of a softening temperature conventionally defined from dynamic-mechanical measurements.
- Subjects
HIGH density polyethylene; POLYMER blends; PLASTICS; NANOPARTICLES; WASTE recycling; POLYPROPYLENE; POLYETHYLENE terephthalate
- Publication
Polymers (20734360), 2022, Vol 14, Issue 24, p5390
- ISSN
2073-4360
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/polym14245390