Plastics in solid wastes is a problem of growing concern. Recycling of wastes is currently believed to be the most acceptable form of disposal in the long run; however, this route is known to be especially difficult for plastics. Recycling would be easier if the various generic types present in solid wastes, mainly polyethylene, polystyrene and poly (vinyl chloride), could be isolated; however, this would be very difficult and expensive. This is a first report on research aimed at evaluating the potential of recycling plastics as a polymer blend of the various generic types. This approach suffers from the difficulty that the different plastics are incompatible and the blend has poor mechanical properties. The extent of this problem is documented with data on many ternary blends employing virgin polyethylene, polystyrene and poly (vinyl chloride) of numerous grades likely to be found in solid wastes. Property degradation was found to be more severe as the complexity of the blend increased, indicating that general municipal wastes could be reused only in very low grade applications, whereas certain commercial wastes might have brighter prospects. Strategies for improving blend properties are outlined.

synopsisThe preparation and characterization of styrene-low-density polyethylene graft copolymers for addition to blends of polyethylene and polystyrene to improve blend mechanical properties is described. The direct method of grafting with "To radiation was employed using the polyethylene in pellet form. This approach gave good grafting efficiency with maximum yields limited to about 1 g of styrene reacted per gram of polyethylene. Excessive crosslinking at radiation doses beyond about 1 mrad was detrimental to the melt processibility of the graft. Cryst,allinity, dynamic mechanical properties, morphology, and stress-strain behavior of the grafts were examined and compared with melt blends of similar composition in order to better characterize the material produced.

Previous publications have shown that the stress‐strain behavior, especially ductility, of some incompatible polymer blends are greatly improved by the addition of slurry produced chlorinated polyethylenes (CPE). This improvement is greatest for blends containing polyethylene and PVC. The most effective CPE's have some residual polyethylene crystallinity and may be described as block‐like polymers with ethylene sequences and chlorine containing sequences. It is postulated that CPE addition improves the blend properties by increasing the adhesion between domains in the blend via interactions with the blend components. This hypothesis was explored by thermal analysis, dynamic mechanical testing, adhesion studies, and microscopy. It is concluded that the interaction of CPE with polyethylene derives from compatibility of rather long methylene sequences in CPE with the polyethylene which results in good adhesive bonding. The interaction of CPE with PVC may not be owing to segmental compatibility but simply good mutual adhesion between similar polar materials. There is no interaction or adhesion between CPE and polystyrene as would be expected. CPE addition to blends is accompanied by a decrease in component domain size. The relationship between CPE structure and its effectiveness as a blend modifier is discussed.

Corrosion rates of reinforcing steel have been measured in concrete using the polarization resistance technique. The corrosion rates have been calculated for seven different sodium chloride content and two different surface conditions of steel in concrete. The results from partially coated reinforcing steel specimens indicate the existence of a critical sodium chloride concentration between 0.1 and 0.2 percent by weight of concrete at which the rate of corrosion increases significantly. Anodic and cathodic Tafel slopes have also been determined experimentally. The high values of Tafel slopes may be attributed in part to IR drop; however, more research is needed to clarify this matter.

synopsisThe use of graft copolymers of styrene onto polyethylene as additives to improve the mechanical properties of polyethylene-polystyrene blends is described. Blends containing equal proportions of low-density polyethylene and polystyrene were selected for this study since this composition represents the poorest balance of properties in this system. Graft addition generally increased both the yield strength and the elongation a t break of the blend. Of the grafts employed, those prepared at an irradiation dose near 0.5 megarad appear optimal for this purpose. These conditions apparently balance the beneficial effects of grafting extent and the detrimental effects of crosslinking, both of which increase with irradiation dose.