Mitigating Composition Variability in Post-Industrial PC/ABS Recycling via Targeted Compatibilization

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Sustainable Engineering

Background:

• Growing demand for sustainable plastics necessitates effective recycling of post-industrial polymer waste.
• Automotive scraps containing polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), and PC/ABS blends present recycling challenges.
• Improving the mechanical properties of recycled polymer blends is crucial for high-performance applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the mechanical recycling of automotive polymer waste (PC, ABS, PC/ABS).
• To identify effective compatibilizers and impact modifiers to enhance recycled blend properties.
• To develop a predictive model for impact performance based on blend composition and additive content.

Main Methods:

• Compositional analysis of representative automotive scrap batches.
• Screening of seven commercial compatibilizers and impact modifiers.
• Mixture design approach varying polymer phase composition and additive content (0-10 wt.%).
• Rheological, mechanical, and thermal analyses to characterize recycled blends.

Main Results:

• An ethylene-methyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate (E-MA-GMA) terpolymer was identified as the most effective additive for improving impact strength.
• A significant increase in impact resistance was observed in PC-rich formulations with increasing E-MA-GMA content.
• A response surface model was developed to predict impact performance across various compositions, indicating improved matrix compatibility and reduced processing degradation.

Conclusions:

• Targeted compatibilization with E-MA-GMA terpolymer significantly enhances the impact strength of recycled PC-rich automotive blends.
• The developed predictive model provides a practical tool for optimizing recycled blend compositions for specific performance requirements.
• These findings support the feasibility of closed-loop recycling strategies in the automotive sector through effective compatibilization.