Mechanical properties of virgin ABS/post-consumer ABS blends

Blends of virgin ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene terpolymer) and post-consumer ABS coming from waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) was studied. Virgin ABS/post-consumed ABS blends were obtained by extrusion in five different proportions: 100 - 75/25 -50/50 - 25/75 -100 (wt%) using a co-rotational twin-screw extruder. Samples for flexural and impact tests were obtained by injection molding. After this procedure, some specimens were select for characterization and others were ground and injected again. Samples obtained by the first and second injection molding cycle were characterized by flexural and impact tests. Significant differences in mechanical properties were assessed by analysis of variance (ANOVA). vABS/pcABS blends, subjected to two injection molding cycles presented an increase in flexural modulus and flexural strength. Blends subjected to one or two injection molding cycles presented a slight increase in flexural modulus and flexural strength with increasing pcABS concentration. Impact strength of vABS/pcABS blends decreased with increasing pcABS concentration and with increasing the number of injection molding cycles.