Effect of Model Pollutants on the Recycling of PE/PS Plastic Blends

Abstract

PE/PS blends have been extensively studied with the objective of improving their recycling. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of potential pollutants on properties of high density polyethylene (HDPE)/polystyrene (PS) plastic blends. The pollutants selected were a polar molecule of low molar mass, i.e. ethylene glycol, and an oil for engine which can be considered as less polar higher molar mass molecules. Such study can be considered for the recycling of polymer wastes from automotive applications. The compatibilizer used for PE/PS blends was a non-grafted Styrene-Ethylene Butene-Styrene copolymer (SEBS). Rheological properties, morphology and mechanical properties were analyzed. Study of the morphologies and of the mechanical properties shows that a small polar molecule such as ethylene glycol can form a third phase whereas an oil can improve compatibilization (lower diameter of the dispersed phase, better adhesion). Morphologies are in good agreement with mechanical behavior. For PE/PS blends, the lower adhesion due to the presence of ethylene glycol induced a decrease of the viscosity and absorbed energy. On the opposite, the presence of oil decreases the diameter of the dispersed phase, which leads to a significant improvement of the impact properties.