The effect of polyester recycled tire fibers mixed with ground tire rubber on polyethylene composites. Part I: Morphological analysis

The effect of polyester recycled tire fibers (RTFs) mixed with ground tire rubber (GTR) in linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) with and without styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene-grafted maleic anhydride was studied. In particular, different RTF contents (10, 25, and 50 wt%) and compounding screw speed (110, 180, and 250 r min？1), as well as temperature profiles (extrusion and injection molding) were used to optimize the processing conditions. In this first part, a complete physical and morphological analysis for the RTF fibers and GTR particles was performed. The results show that the compatibilized compounds have lower RTF length and GTR particle size but better distribution of rubber particles in the LLDPE matrix. Overall, lower processing temperatures used in both extrusion and injection molding showed better interfacial adhesion between the components due to higher shear and mechanical energy imparted on the different particles