Ergun Neslihan, Oksuz Mustafa, Ekinci Aysun
Institute of Graduate Education, Polymer Materials Engineering, Yalova University, Yalova 77200, Turkey.
Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Rize 53100, Turkey.
Materials (Basel). 2025 Feb 26;18(5):1027. doi: 10.3390/ma18051027.
To develop novel materials through the recycling of waste polymers and to enhance their mechanical and thermal properties, composites were synthesized using chain extenders (CEs), compatibilizers (PP-g-MA), and short carbon fiber (CF) reinforcements within recycled polyamide 6 (rPA6) and polypropylene (rPP) blends. The recycling of waste polymers holds paramount importance in the context of environmental sustainability. This study investigates the role of additives in effectively improving the properties of recycled polymers. The composites were fabricated using the twin-screw extrusion method and subjected to a comprehensive range of characterizations, including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), molecular weight analysis, melt flow index (MFI), heat deflection temperature (HDT), tensile testing, impact testing, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Additionally, ANOVA statistical methods were applied to analyze HDT, tensile, and impact test results. The findings of this research demonstrate that chain extenders and compatibilizers significantly enhance the mechanical properties of rPA6/rPP blends, while carbon fiber reinforcements markedly improve both tensile strength and impact resistance. Furthermore, the incorporation of rPP led to an approximately 4% reduction in hardness values; however, this loss was effectively compensated by the addition of chain extenders and CF reinforcements, resulting in an overall increase in hardness. It was observed that chain extenders enhanced the elastic modulus and tensile strength by reinforcing interphase bonding, whereas CF reinforcements strengthened the polymer matrix, leading to improved impact resistance. These findings emphasize the synergistic role of chain extenders, compatibilizers, and CF reinforcements in enhancing the mechanical properties of rPA6/rPP blends. The study underscores recycling as both an environmentally beneficial and effective strategy for developing durable, high-performance composites for industrial use. Consequently, the utilization of recycled polymers contributes substantially to the circular and sustainable materials economy, demonstrating the potential for the widespread industrial adoption of such composites.
为了通过回收废聚合物来开发新型材料并提高其机械和热性能，在回收聚酰胺6（rPA6）和聚丙烯（rPP）共混物中使用扩链剂（CEs）、增容剂（PP-g-MA）和短碳纤维（CF）增强材料合成了复合材料。在环境可持续性的背景下，废聚合物的回收至关重要。本研究调查了添加剂在有效改善回收聚合物性能方面的作用。采用双螺杆挤出法制备了复合材料，并进行了一系列全面的表征，包括傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）、差示扫描量热法（DSC）、分子量分析、熔体流动指数（MFI）、热变形温度（HDT）、拉伸试验、冲击试验和扫描电子显微镜（SEM）。此外，还应用方差分析统计方法分析HDT、拉伸和冲击试验结果。本研究结果表明，扩链剂和增容剂显著提高了rPA6/rPP共混物的机械性能，而碳纤维增强材料显著提高了拉伸强度和抗冲击性。此外，加入rPP导致硬度值降低约4%；然而，通过添加扩链剂和CF增强材料有效地弥补了这种损失，导致硬度总体增加。据观察，扩链剂通过增强相间键合提高了弹性模量和拉伸强度，而CF增强材料增强了聚合物基体，从而提高了抗冲击性。这些发现强调了扩链剂、增容剂和CF增强材料在提高rPA6/rPP共混物机械性能方面的协同作用。该研究强调回收既是一种环境有益的策略，也是开发用于工业用途的耐用、高性能复合材料的有效策略。因此，回收聚合物的利用对循环和可持续材料经济做出了重大贡献，证明了此类复合材料在工业上广泛应用的潜力。
