Toughening of recycled polystyrene used for TV backset

Abstract

The recycled polystyrene (rPS) was toughened with ethylene-octylene copolymer thermoplastic elastomer (POE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with various melt flow index (MFI), compatibilized by styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer (SBS) to enhance the toughness of rPS for use as TV backset. The rPS/POE binary blends exhibited an increased impact strength with 5-10 wt % POE content followed by a decrease with the POE content up to 20 wt %, which could be due to poor compatibility between POE and rPS. For rPS/POE/SBS ternary blends with 20 wt % of POE content, the impact strength increased dramatically and a sharp brittle-ductile transition was observed as the SBS content was around 3-5 wt %. Rheological study indicated a possible formation of network structure by adding of SBS, which could be a new mechanism for rPS toughening. In rPS/POE/HDPE/SBS (70/20/5/5) quaternary blends, a fibril-like structure was observed as the molecular weight of HDPE was higher (with lower MFI). The presence of HDPE fibers in the blends could not enhance the network structure, but could stop the crack propagation during fracture process, resulting in a further increase of the toughness. The prepared quaternary blend showed an impact strength of 9.3 kJ/m 2 and a tensile strength of 25 MPa, which can be well used for TV backset to substitute HIPS because this system is economical and environmental friendly.

Preparation and modification of polystyrene/clay nanocomposite using ethylene octene copolymer and SBS block copolymer

“…The polymer applied for all tests was a general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) supplied by Tabriz petrochemical with density of 1.04 g/cm 3 , MFI of 11 g/10 min, break stress and strain of 45 MPa and 2%, respectively. SBS and EOC were applied as impact modifier for polystyrene matrix.…”

“…SBS with trade name of styroflex 2G66 (65 w% of styrene) and MFI of 13 g/10min was prepared from BASF. This grade had density of 1 g/cm 3 , yield stress of 4 MPa, minimum break strain of 300%, and hardness of 84 Shore A. Ethylene octene plastomer (EOC), grade of Exact 0203 was obtained from ExxonMobil Co, USA.…”

“…ethylene octene copolymer, which is a plastomer like Polyolefin elastomers. Fu et al found that Polyolefin elastomers can affect toughness of PS to increase while the ethylene octene copolymer content was 5 to 10 w% [3].…”

Influence of Silica Nanoparticles on the Thermomechanical Properties of Recycled Polystyrene

“…On the other hand, findings from other articles have shown that EPS tended to have poorer material properties than raw PS 26,27 ; this hampered the demand for the former material.…”

Preparation and Properties of Polycarbonate/Polystyrene Bead Alloy via Solvent Evaporation Method

“…Compared with other methods, the solution evaporation method for WEPS reuse has the following advantages: requiring low temperature, no decrease in the molecular weight of PS and nearly no differences in comparison with those prepared by suspension polymerisation . However, PS has many limitations, such as brittleness, low impact strength and weak heat resistance, particularly low tensile strength . In overcoming these disadvantages, the focus is the process of modifying PS.…”