Abstract

Various compatibilizers, including PPO-g-MAH , SEBS-g-MAH , POE-g-MAH, SMA-1000, and E-MA-GMA, were incorporated into a 60/40 rPA66/PPE blend to investigate their effects on mechanical properties and thermal behaviors. The mechanical properties varied by compatibilizer type. At a 5 wt% compatibilizer content, the PPO-g-MAH-compatibilized blend exhibited higher tensile and flexural strengths, elongation at break, and modulus than the unmodified rPA66/PPE blend. The addition of POE-g-MAH yielded the highest impact strength of 8.5 kJ/m² owing to its elastomeric backbone structure. Both tensile and impact properties improved simultaneously through binary compatibilization using two different compatibilizers. The compatibilization restricted segmental mobility in the PPE-rich phase and enhanced interfacial interactions within the rPA66/PPE blends, thus increasing the glass transition temperature to 212°C for PPO/SEBS and PPO/POE. These findings demonstrate that the strength, ductility, impact resistance, and thermal transition of rPA66/PPE can be optimized by adjusting the molecular structure and reactive-compatibilizer combination.

Keywords: recycled polyamide 66, poly(phenylene ether), polymer blend, reactive compatibilizer, mechanical properties