Enhancing polypropylene/high-density polyethylene blend performance through the incorporation of microcrystalline cellulose-based core-shell particles at the interface

Enhancing the performance of polypropylene (PP)/high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blends is crucial for valorizing mixed plastic waste. This study incorporated microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), combined with maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (MAPE), into a PP/HDPE blend to enhance its performance. Mechanical results showed that the addition of MCC increased strength, stiffness, and toughness of the PP/HDPE blend, with further enhancement achieved through adding MAPE. Morphological observations and thermal analyses revealed that the enhanced mechanical properties were attributed to the formation of core-shell structured particles, with MCC as the core and MAPE, miscible with HDPE, acting as the shell at the interface. Rheological behaviors provided insights into processability and MCC-polymer matrix interactions of the composites, highlighting percolation effects at high MCC content. These MCC-based core-shell particles demonstrated great potential for improving the PP/HDPE blend performance.