PET/EP-g-MA BLEND SYSTEM: A PRACTICAL WAY TO RECYCLE POST CONSUMER PLASTICS INTO VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS

摘要

Post-consumer plastic bottles, and food packaging made of polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) were melt blended with ethylene propylene grafted with maleic anhydride (EP-g-MA) at various amounts ranging from 5 to 40 wt%. The resulting blends were characterized thermally and mechanically to assess the effect of incorporating rubber phase into PET main matrix. The results showed that EP-g-MA was an efficient impact modifier for PET. This practice may be considered a strategic way to produce value added polymers out of post consumer plastic waste stream. The blend system consisting of 40/60 wt% of (EP-g-MA/recycled PET) was tougher than both neat virgin and recycled PET.