The recent growth in the post-consumer recycling of plastics presents
an opportunity for developing new, value-added blend products from the
recycled polymers. However, in order to develop blends with useful pe
rformance characteristics, suitable techniques of compatibilization an
d impact modification must be employed. In this study, reactive toughe
ning and compatibilization techniques have been found to be particular
ly useful in achieving high thermal embrittlement resistance in the bl
ends of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) containing functionalize
d ethylene copolymers and polycarbonate. Reactive compatibilization of
recycled polyolefin blends with poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly
amide has also been investigated.