COMPATIBILISERS | MATERIALS
Making polymer materials work together
Adding compatibilisers brings harmony to blends of dissimilar materials. Jennifer Markarian reports on new products for blends containing fillers, multiple materials, and PCR
Plastic compounds are often complex mixtures that may include multiple polymers, minerals, fillers, fibres, pigments, and other additives. To make a strong final part, compatibilisers and coupling agents can be used to bond together dissimilar materials – such as different polymers, polymers and fibres, or polymers and inorganic fillers – by acting at the interface. The growing use of post- consumer recyclate (PCR) can add to the number of different materials in a mixture, making compatibi- lisers particularly helpful in applications using PCR. Maleic anhydride (MAH) grafted polymers
produced with a reactive extrusion process are used as compatibilisers for various applications. Turkey-based Tisan Engineering Plastics’ Ole- bond MAH-grafted polymers reduce interfacial
www.compoundingworld.com
surface tension to promote dispersion of fillers in polymers and to compatibilise different kinds of polymers, such as polycarbonate (PC) and acryloni- trile butadiene styrene (ABS) in PC/ABS blends. Other grades use MAH-grafted polypropylene (PP) to improve bonding between PP and glass fibre or mineral fillers, which increases tensile strength and Izod impact, the company reported. An MAH-graft- ed polyethylene (PE) improves the interface between PE and other polymers as well as flame retardant additives, such as in compounds used in cables, for example. The latest from Tisan is a series of MAH-modified polymers to improve adhesion between biode- gradable polymers and organic or inorganic fillers. Biobond PBAT 3 is a highly functionalised polybu-
Main image: Compounders can improve blends of dissimilar materials with new compatibi- lising products
May 2026 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 41
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
