Influence of compatibilizer on blends degradation during processing

Abstract

Abstract:The thermomechanical degradation of blends made from polypropylene and polystyrene, with or without compatibilizer, was studied using an internal mixer coupled to a torque rheometer. The blends processed without compatibilizer presented regular and expected results regarding torque reduction, with evidence of chain scission. The blends processed with the block copolymer of styrene and butadiene, SBS, as a compatibilizer presented unchanged or less reduced variation on torque values during processing. The extraction of stabilizers from the compatibilizer before processing did not affect the results. The compatibilizer concentration in the blends was varied, with its influence still being observed in concentrations as low as 0.03 parts per hundred. Similar results were obtained in an experiment comparing the performance of a primary commercial anti-oxidant, Irganox 1076, and the compatibilizer SBS. Therefore, the compatibilizer can be considered as a processing aid agent with positive influence on avoiding thermomechanical degradation.

Photodegradation of polystyrene/rubber waste blends compatibilized with SBS copolymer

“…Phase separation and/or the presence of compatibilizing agents in blends, which are miscible or immiscible, influence the stability of the material due to the different interactions that may occur among the components in the interfaces. 37,38,39 Figure 3 shows the tensile strength results for HIPS and blends versus the exposure time.…”