The Polymer Society of Korea

박진영 (인하대학교)

오동엽 (인하대학교)

박제영 (서강대학교)

Increased use of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) creates significant plastic waste. This study upcycles these materials into a high-value polymer blend via mechanical recycling. A key challenge is the poor compatibility between polymers, which causes phase separation and degrades mechanical properties. To address this, we developed a novel compatibilizer—a random block copolymer synthesized via transesterification of PET, PBT, and Polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG). Its structure promotes adhesion within the blend (PET:PBT:TPU at a 2:2:1 ratio, with 10 wt% compatibilizer). Adding the compatibilizer increased the blend's crystallization rate by over 1.5 times and improved tensile toughness by over 20%. This confirms that a tailored compatibilizer can significantly enhance the value of recycled polymer blends. Future work will focus on mixed waste streams and industrial scaling.