Abstract
The compatibility of poly (ethylene terephthalate)/low density polyethylene (PET/LDPE) blends was improved by two different methods; the first method was the exposure of the individual polymers to gamma and electron beam irradiation prior mixing, whereas the second method involved the addition of compatibilizers during extrusion mixing. The compatibilizers used in this study were radiation synthesized graft copolymer of LDPE with ethylene glycol/acrylic acid comonomer (LDPE-g-EG/AAc) and radiation synthesized ethylene glycol/acrylic acid copolymer (EG/AAc). The PET/LDPE blends compatibilized were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tensile mechanical testing, and dye affinity for disperse and basic dyes. According to the obtained results of the different properties by using 50 kGy of gamma or electron beam irradiation and 7% ratio of different compatibilizers, the different methods may be arranged as follows: EG/AAc copolymer >LDPE-g-EG/AAc graft copolymer >gamma irradiation >electron beam irradiation.