Polymer blend compatibilization by copolymers and functional polymers

Abstract

Blending polymers has become an essential and efficient procedure to develop new higher performance polymeric materials having a valuable combination of properties, under relatively short times and with low development and production costs. In fact, polymer blending can create materials with targeted properties and competitive prices, allows for fine tuning of the properties via adjustments of composition, and provides an interesting route for plastics waste recycling. In the field of polymer blends, functionalized polymers are currently employed to improve the compatibility and adhesion between immiscible polymers by a process called reactive blending. Compatibilization is based on a specific chemical reaction between two functional polymeric components during blending, and is known as reactive blending. Compatibilization, or compatibilization by the addition of a pre-synthesized copolymer, provides an opportunity to easily control the molecular architecture of the additive to be used.