Polypropylene (PP) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) are two polymers that are frequently found in disposable waste. Both of these polymers are restricted from being separated in several ways. An easier way to reuse them in new applications, without the need for separation, would require them to be less immiscible. In this work, cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), a sub-product of the cashew agroindustry, was added as a third component to PP-HIPS mixtures and its effect as a compatibilizing agent was investigated. Morphological results showed that CNSL acted as an emulsifier by promoting reduction in the domains of the dispersive phase, HIPS, thus stabilizing the blends morphology. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis suggests that CNSL is preferably incorporated in the HIPS phase. Its plasticizing effect leads to more flexible materials, but no significant effect could be detected on impact resistance or elongation at break.
Keywords: blends; cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL); compatibilization; high impact polystyrene; polymer mixtures; polypropylene.