Influence of Compatibilizer and Short Hemp Fibres on the Mechanical, Rheological and Morphological Properties of Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate

The purpose of the paper is to evaluate the influence of maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (PE-g-MA) and untreated/treated hemp fibers on the properties of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PETr). Blends based on PETr, PETr/PE-g-MA (70:30wt%) and composites (67.30:28.85:3.85wt%) based on PETr/PE-g-MA/untreated/treated short hemp fibres with 1-5wt% TiO2 were obtained. Composites were processed using Brabender Plasticorder mixer at 240°C for 7min and pressed to fabricate test specimens. The decoration of hemp fibres with oxide nanoparticles followed by embedding in PETr leads to the fabrication of composites with improved mechanical and thermal properties, this technology being suitable to reuse PET and to develop added-value products.