Mechanical and Processing Enhancement of a Recycled HDPE/PPR-Based Double-Wall Corrugated Pipe via a POE-g-MAH/CaCO₃/HDPE Polymer Composite

Abstract

With the people’s awareness of the “3Rs” in recent years, using recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and random copolymer polypropylene (PPR) as the base materials for piping fabrication has become a mainstream in scholastic path and industrial engineering. In this study, the modified maleic anhydride-grafted polyethylene (POE-g-MAH) compatibilizer was fabricated to increase the interfacial adhesion and dispersion. With the surface modification of calcium carbonate, a POE-g-MAH/CaCO3/HDPE polymer composite has been prepared. Such modified polymer composites can further reinforce the processing performance and mechanical properties of recycled HDPE and PPR materials. The results indicated that with the introduction of the polymer composite, significant enhancement of the recycled materials in the aspects of processability, tensile strength, flexural performance, and impact force could be obtained, and the POE-g-MAH/CaCO3/HDPE polymer composite would contribute to the impressive balance between high rigidity and toughness. In addition, the feasibility and mechanical properties of the recycled HDPE-PPR-POE-g-MAH/CaCO3/HDPE blended system were also studied: with the help of a composite microcapsule, the gap of mechanical capacity between recycled and non-recycled materials was further reduced, and such a blended system was capable of being commercialized in the piping industry.

Improvement of mechanical properties of highly ZnO‐filled polyethylene composites by dual‐compatibilizer for hydrogen sulfide permeation inhibition

“…When compatibilizers are added, under the action of shear forces during the melt‐mixing process, the grafted maleic anhydride groups in compatibilizers can react with NH 2 groups on the surface of ZnO particles, facilitating the encapsulation of ZnO particles with compatibilizers. Due to the compatibility between the compatibilizers and PE in the polymeric matrix, it is assumed that the compatibilizers are present between the resin matrix and the ZnO particles, which reduce interfacial defects 33–35 . When PE‐ g ‐MAH compatibilizer is used alone (Figure 2D), the ZnO particles exhibit tightly bonding to the matrix, and the interface is not obvious because of the good compatibility between the main chain of the compatibilizer and the HDPE matrix.…”

“…Due to the compatibility between the compatibilizers and PE in the polymeric matrix, it is assumed that the compatibilizers are present between the resin matrix and the ZnO particles, which reduce interfacial defects. [33][34][35] When PE-g-MAH compatibilizer is used alone (Figure 2D), the ZnO particles exhibit tightly bonding to the matrix, and the interface is not obvious because of the good compatibility between the main chain of the compatibilizer and the HDPE matrix.…”

“…32 Therefore, introduction of the elastomeric compatibilizer, maleic anhydride-grafted poly(ethylene-co-octene) (POE-g-MAH), to form "core-shell" structure or "core-shell" filler-network structure that can improve the toughness of the polymeric composites. [33][34][35] However, elastomers also have a negative effect on the mechanical properties of the composites with decreased tensile strength. [34][35][36] Therefore, it is still challenged to realize the balance between the strength and the toughness of the polymeric composites.…”

“…[33][34][35] However, elastomers also have a negative effect on the mechanical properties of the composites with decreased tensile strength. [34][35][36] Therefore, it is still challenged to realize the balance between the strength and the toughness of the polymeric composites.…”

“…This problem can be modified by incorporation of rubbers or elastomers such as employment of ethylene‐propylene rubber or styrene‐butadiene‐styrene diblock copolymer in polypropylene (PP) 32 . Therefore, introduction of the elastomeric compatibilizer, maleic anhydride‐grafted poly(ethylene‐ co ‐octene) (POE‐ g ‐MAH), to form “core‐shell” structure or “core‐shell” filler‐network structure that can improve the toughness of the polymeric composites 33–35 . However, elastomers also have a negative effect on the mechanical properties of the composites with decreased tensile strength 34–36 .…”