Core–shell structure and segregation effects in composite droplet polymer blends

Tuning the Morphology of HDPE/PP/PET Ternary Blends by Nanoparticles: A Simple Way to Improve the Performance of Mixed Recycled Plastics

Due to a very low mixing entropy, most of the polymer pairs are immiscible. As a result, mixing polymers of different natures in a typical mechanical recycling process leads to materials with multiple interfaces and scarce interfacial adhesion and, consequently, with unacceptably low mechanical properties. Adding nanoparticles to multiphase polymeric matrices represents a viable route to mitigate this drawback of recycled plastics. Here, we use low amounts of organo-modified clay (Cloisite® 15A) to improve the performance of a ternary blend made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephtalate (PET). Rather than looking for the inherent reinforcing action of the nanofiller, this goal is pursued by using nanoparticles as a clever means to manipulate the micro-scale arrangement of the polymer phases. Starting from theoretical calculations, we obtained a radical change in the blend microstructure upon the addition of only 2-wt.% of nanoclay, with the obtaining of a finer morphology with an intimate interpenetration of the polymeric phases. Rather than on flexural and impact properties, this microstructure, deliberately promoted by nanoparticles, led to a substantial increase (>50 °C) of a softening temperature conventionally defined from dynamic-mechanical measurements.

Morphology evolution and the tri-continuous morphology formation of a PVDF/PS/HDPE ternary blend in melt mixing

Manipulate the perfect tri-continuous structure of the PVDF/PS/HDPE system successfully and it can allow preparation for the functionalization of tri-continuous morphology!

Tailoring the impact behavior of polyamide 6 ternary blends via a hierarchical core–shell structure in situ formed in melt mixing

The hierarchical core–shell structure in PA6/HDPE-g-MA/EPDM ternary blend was firstly formed using simple melt mixing. A super toughness PA6 ternary blends with HDPE-g-MA multi-core structure was obtained.