Compatibility of Triblock Copolymers in an A/B/Copolymer Ternary Mixture

Dihydroxy Polyethylene Additives for Compatibilization and Mechanical Recycling of Polyethylene Terephthalate/Polyethylene Mixed Plastic Waste

Polymer blend compatibilization is an attractive solution for mechanical recycling of mixed plastic waste because it can result in tough blends. In this work, hydroxy-telechelic polyethylene (HOPEOH) reactive additives were used to compatibilize blends of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). HOPEOH additives were synthesized with molar masses of 1-20 kg/mol by ring-opening metathesis polymerization of cyclooctene followed by catalytic hydrogenation. Melt-compounded blends containing 0.5 wt % HOPEOH displayed reduced dispersed phase LLDPE particle sizes with ductilities comparable to virgin PET and almost seven times greater than neat blends, regardless of additive molar mass. In contrast, analogous blends containing monohydroxy PE additives of comparable molar masses did not result in compatibilization even at 2 wt % loading. The results strongly suggest that both hydroxy ends of HOPEOH undergo transesterification reactions during melt mixing with PET to form predominantly PET-PE-PET triblock copolymers at the interface of the dispersed and matrix phases. We hypothesize that the triblock copolymer compatibilizers localized at the interface form trapped entanglements of the PE midblocks with nearby LLDPE homopolymer chains by a hook-and-clasp mechanism. Finally, HOPEOH compounds were able to efficiently compatibilize blends derived solely from postconsumer PET and PE bottles and film, suggesting their industrial applicability.

Self-assembly of miktoarm star-like ABn block copolymers: from wet to dry brushes

Self-assembly of miktoarm star-like ABn block copolymer in both selective solvent (A- or B-selective) and miscible homopolymer matrix (A or B homopolymer), that is, formation of micelles, was for the first time investigated by theoretical calculations based on self-consistent mean field theory. Interestingly, the calculation revealed that the size of micelles in solvent was smaller than that in homopolymer under the same conditions. In B-selective solvent, with increasing number of B blocks n in miktoarm star-like ABn block copolymer at a fixed volume fraction of A block, the micellar size decreased gradually. In stark contrast, when miktoarm star-like ABn block copolymer dissolved in B homopolymer matrix at molecular weight ratio of B homopolymer to ABn block copolymer fH = 0.30, the overall micellar size decreased nonmonotonically as the number of B blocks n in ABn block copolymer increased. The largest micelle was formed in AB2 (i.e., n = 2). This intriguing finding can be attributed to a wet-to-dry brush transition that occurred from n = 1 to n = 2 in the micellization of miktoarm star-like ABn block copolymer. Moreover, the micellization behaviors of miktoarm star-like ABn block copolymer in A-selective solvent and A homopolymer matrix were also explored, where the overall micellar size in both scenarios was found to decrease monotonically as n in ABn block copolymer increased. These self-assembled nanostructures composed of miktoarm star-like ABn block copolymers may promise a wide range of applications in size-dependent drug delivery and bionanotechnology.

Selective localization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/polylactide blend

Poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/polylactide blend (PCL/PLA) is an interesting biomaterial because PCL and PLA present good complementarity in their physical properties and biodegradability. However, the thermodynamic incompatibility between two component polymers restricts further applications of their blend. In this work, we used functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) to control the morphology of immiscible PCL/PLA blend. The ternary PCL/PLA/MWCNTs composites were hence prepared by melt mixing for the morphology and the properties investigation. It is interesting to find that the functionalized MWCNTs are selectively dispersed in the matrix PCL phase and on the interface between two polymer phases, leading to simultaneous occurrence of thermodynamically and kinetically driven compatibility. Those interface-localized MWCNTs prevent coalescence of the discrete domains and enhance the phase interfacial adhesion as well. As a result, the phase morphology of the ternary composites is improved remarkably in contrast to that of the blank PCL/PLA blend. Owing to that unique selective interface-localization and improved phase morphology, the ternary composites present far lower rheological and conductive percolation thresholds than those of the binary composites, and also present extraordinary mechanical properties even at very low loading levels of the MWCNTs. Therefore, the amphiphilic MWCNTs are believed to act as the reinforcements as well as the compatibilizer in the immiscible PCL/PLA blend.