Modification of recycled polymer blends with activated natural zeolite

The growing interest in the natural zeolite is based on some specific peculiarities of its structure, which after dehydration enables adsorption processes of some polymer molecules and/or segments to take place on the zeolite surface. The main goal of the study is to investigate the effect of dehydrated zeolite on the flow behavior, mechanical properties and morphology of immiscible blends from unsorted polymer wastes. A tetra-component blend consisting of 40 wt.% polypropylene (PP), 40 wt.% high-density polyethylene (HDPE), 15 wt.% low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and 5 wt.% polystyrene (PS), was studied as a model system of commingled plastic wastes. Compositions from recycled blend and dehydrated zeolite in a wide concentration range (from 0 to 20 wt.%) were prepared using a twin-screw extruder Brabender DSE 35/17D in the temperature range from 140 to 190 degreesC. The compositions were characterized by capillary rheometry, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), site-resolved wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and mechanical tests. The results show a compatibilizing effect of dehydrated zeolite at low concentration levels (1-2 wt.%) and open wide possibilities for utilization of dehydrated zeolite in the recycling of unsorted polymer wastes.