Compatibilisation

Polyolefins such as PE and PP are not fully miscible. With different solidification and crystallisation temperatures they tend to phase separate as they cool, leading to poor or inconsistent mechanical properties. Much recycled polyolefin is intimately mixed PE and PP and difficult or impossible to separate through NIR sorting. A way to make this material suitable for engineered applications with good properties is to compatibilise the mix through the use of a suitable additive. This additive in some case changes the miscibility and in the case of Imerlink, links the PE and PP together and makes it behave like a single polymer.

 www.imerys-performance-additives.com