The Effect of Coupling Agents and Graphene on the Mechanical Properties of Film-Based Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic
This study aims to improve the mechanical properties of post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic composed primarily of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), which generally exhibit poor miscibility, by applying coupling agents and graphene. Here, we compare a commercially available coupling agent wi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/3/380 |
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| author | Sungwoong Choi Jianxiang Zhao Patrick C. Lee Duyoung Choi |
| author_facet | Sungwoong Choi Jianxiang Zhao Patrick C. Lee Duyoung Choi |
| author_sort | Sungwoong Choi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study aims to improve the mechanical properties of post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic composed primarily of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), which generally exhibit poor miscibility, by applying coupling agents and graphene. Here, we compare a commercially available coupling agent with a directly synthesized maleic anhydride (MA) coupling agent. When applied to a 5:5 blend of recycled PP and PE, an optimum tensile strength was achieved at a 3 wt% coupling agent concentration, with the MA coupling agent outperforming the commercial one. Characterization through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) revealed a PP:PE ratio of approximately 3:7 in the PCR plastics, with 4.86% heterogeneous materials present. Applying 3 wt% of the commercial and MA coupling agents to the PCR plastics resulted in a significant 53.9% increase in the tensile strength, reaching 11.25 MPa, and a remarkable 421.54% increase in the melt flow index (MFI), reaching 25.66 g/10 min. Furthermore, incorporating 5 wt% graphene led to a notable 64.84% increase in the tensile strength. In addition, the application of MA coupling agents and graphene improved the thermal stability of the PCR plastics. These findings show significant promise for addressing environmental concerns associated with plastic waste by facilitating the recycling of PCR plastics into new products. The utilization of coupling agents and graphene offers a viable approach to enhance the mechanical properties of PCR plastics, paving the way for sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:50:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-91bbed1e61514c62b507bd1b059da1c8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:50:52Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-91bbed1e61514c62b507bd1b059da1c82024-02-09T15:20:53ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602024-01-0116338010.3390/polym16030380The Effect of Coupling Agents and Graphene on the Mechanical Properties of Film-Based Post-Consumer Recycled PlasticSungwoong Choi0Jianxiang Zhao1Patrick C. Lee2Duyoung Choi3Carbon & Light Materials Group, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Jeonju 54853, Republic of KoreaMultifunctional Composites Manufacturing Laboratory (MCML), Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, CanadaMultifunctional Composites Manufacturing Laboratory (MCML), Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, CanadaCarbon & Light Materials Group, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Jeonju 54853, Republic of KoreaThis study aims to improve the mechanical properties of post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic composed primarily of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), which generally exhibit poor miscibility, by applying coupling agents and graphene. Here, we compare a commercially available coupling agent with a directly synthesized maleic anhydride (MA) coupling agent. When applied to a 5:5 blend of recycled PP and PE, an optimum tensile strength was achieved at a 3 wt% coupling agent concentration, with the MA coupling agent outperforming the commercial one. Characterization through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) revealed a PP:PE ratio of approximately 3:7 in the PCR plastics, with 4.86% heterogeneous materials present. Applying 3 wt% of the commercial and MA coupling agents to the PCR plastics resulted in a significant 53.9% increase in the tensile strength, reaching 11.25 MPa, and a remarkable 421.54% increase in the melt flow index (MFI), reaching 25.66 g/10 min. Furthermore, incorporating 5 wt% graphene led to a notable 64.84% increase in the tensile strength. In addition, the application of MA coupling agents and graphene improved the thermal stability of the PCR plastics. These findings show significant promise for addressing environmental concerns associated with plastic waste by facilitating the recycling of PCR plastics into new products. The utilization of coupling agents and graphene offers a viable approach to enhance the mechanical properties of PCR plastics, paving the way for sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/3/380recyclingrecycled plasticpolymer compositescoupling agentmaleic anhydridenanofiller |
| spellingShingle | Sungwoong Choi Jianxiang Zhao Patrick C. Lee Duyoung Choi The Effect of Coupling Agents and Graphene on the Mechanical Properties of Film-Based Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic Polymers recycling recycled plastic polymer composites coupling agent maleic anhydride nanofiller |
| title | The Effect of Coupling Agents and Graphene on the Mechanical Properties of Film-Based Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic |
| title_full | The Effect of Coupling Agents and Graphene on the Mechanical Properties of Film-Based Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of Coupling Agents and Graphene on the Mechanical Properties of Film-Based Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of Coupling Agents and Graphene on the Mechanical Properties of Film-Based Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic |
| title_short | The Effect of Coupling Agents and Graphene on the Mechanical Properties of Film-Based Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic |
| title_sort | effect of coupling agents and graphene on the mechanical properties of film based post consumer recycled plastic |
| topic | recycling recycled plastic polymer composites coupling agent maleic anhydride nanofiller |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/3/380 |
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