Maleic anhydride grafted LLDPE modified polyamide and fabrics waste containing PET blends

Purpose-To convert the post-production polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-containing fabrics waste into new value-added polymeric materials using maleic anhydride grafted linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE-g-MAH) for improved toughness and to optimise the results of such a modification. Design/methodology/approach-For effective toughening, various blends were made of polyamide 6 (PA) and post-production PET-containing fabrics waste (PET) by incorporating different concentrations of maleic anhydride grafted, linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE-g-MAH). The reactions of LLDPE-g-MAH with blend components were studied by Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, solubility behaviour of the products in formic acid and rheological measurements. Blends investigated were prepared in a co-rotating twin-screw extruder and characterised by differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy. The static tensile property and impact strength of the blends were also measured. Findings-The modification of polyamide 6 and post-production PET-containing fabrics waste using LLDPE-g-MAH showed significant enhancement of impact and interfacial adhesion over the unmodified one. The modification caused a chemical linkage between LLDPE-g-MAH and blend components which led not only to forming PA-co-LLDPE-g-MAH-co-PET copolymers, but also to ensuring the intrinsically strong chemical bonds across LLDPE-g-MAH phase/PET phase/PA matrix interface, which was the main cause to the improved impact strength and interface adhesion. The optimum results were obtained at 10 per cent of LLDPE-g-MAH. Research limitations/implications-The post-production PET-containing fabrics waste used in the present context was defibrated before processing. Practical implications-The method developed provided a simple and practical solution to recycling and improving the toughness of post-production PET-containing fabrics waste. Originality/value-The method of recycling post-production PET-containing fabrics waste was novel and the new polymeric materials obtained could find numerous applications such as hybrid films, fibres and engineering polymers.