Mechanical and fracture characterization of 50:50 HDPE/PET blends presenting different phase morphologies

Uncompatibilized and compatibilized blends of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) (50:50 PET/HDPE) have been prepared and characterized. A commercial grade of ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymer was used as compatibilizing agent and added to the blends in two different proportions, 1% and 7%. Compounded blends were processed following three different procedures: compression molding, extrusion, and extrusion followed by annealing. In every case, there is evidence that suggests that HDPE constitutes the matrix and PET is the dispersed phase. The PET phase shape was related to the processing procedure of the blends. PET adopted a globular morphology in the compression molded samples but it took the form of microfibers (microfibrillar-like reinforced composites) in extruded samples, which were flattened during the postextrusion annealing process. According to the results obtained in tensile and fracture tests, extruded blends having 7% of ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymer appeared as the optimum combination of processing method and compatibilizer content. (c) 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers.