{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,12]],"date-time":"2026-06-12T23:04:36Z","timestamp":1781305476955,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"19","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,8]],"date-time":"2024-10-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1728345600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci\u00f3n y Universidades (MICIU)","award":["PID2019-106518RB-I00"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PID2019-106518RB-I00"]}]},{"name":"Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci\u00f3n y Universidades (MICIU)","award":["PID2023-151338NB-I00"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PID2023-151338NB-I00"]}]},{"name":"Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci\u00f3n y Universidades (MICIU)","award":["2021SGR01042"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2021SGR01042"]}]},{"name":"Generalitat de Catalunya","award":["PID2019-106518RB-I00"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PID2019-106518RB-I00"]}]},{"name":"Generalitat de Catalunya","award":["PID2023-151338NB-I00"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PID2023-151338NB-I00"]}]},{"name":"Generalitat de Catalunya","award":["2021SGR01042"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2021SGR01042"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Polymers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>A comparative study of the structural integrity of an opaque recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (rPET-O) has been carried out with two types of modified rPET-O by applying reactive extrusion techniques, namely (a) using a multi-epoxide reactive agent (REx-rPET-O) and (b) a 90\/10 (wt\/wt) rPET-O\/polycarbonate (PC) blend. The chemical modifications introduced during reactive extrusion were confirmed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and rheological dynamic analysis (RDA). For the quantification of the fracture parameters, an instrumented pendulum impact testing machine was used using specimens in SENB configuration. The structural modifications generated during reactive extrusion promote an increase of between 16 (REx-rPET-O) and 20% (rPET-O\/PC) in the stress-intensity factor (KQ) compared to unmodified rPET-O. The most significant differences between both modifications are registered in the \u201cspecific work of fracture\u201d (wf) (alternative parameter to the standardized impact strength), where an increase of 61% is reached for the case of rPET-O\/PC and only 11% for REx-rPET-O. This trend can be attributed to the type of reactive modification that is generated, namely chain branching (REx-rPET-O) vs. the generation of a random copolymer \u201cin situ\u201d (rPET-O\/PC). This copolymer decreases the crystallization capacity and degree of crystalline perfection of rPET-O, promoting an increase in the critical hydrostatic stress conditions for the generation of crazing and crack propagation.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/polym16192843","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,8]],"date-time":"2024-10-08T12:01:54Z","timestamp":1728388914000},"page":"2843","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Performance of Recycled Opaque PET Modified by Reactive Extrusion"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1061-8552","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Noel","family":"Le\u00f3n-Albiter","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Departament de Ci\u00e8ncia i Enginyeria de Materials, Escola d\u2019Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech (UPC), 08019 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3040-6848","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Orlando O.","family":"Santana","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departament de Ci\u00e8ncia i Enginyeria de Materials, Escola d\u2019Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech (UPC), 08019 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Leandro","family":"Martinez Orozco","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departament de Ci\u00e8ncia i Enginyeria de Materials, Escola d\u2019Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech (UPC), 08019 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nicolas","family":"Candau","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departament de Ci\u00e8ncia i Enginyeria de Materials, Escola d\u2019Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech (UPC), 08019 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4813-6412","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria Llu\u00efsa","family":"Maspoch","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departament de Ci\u00e8ncia i Enginyeria de Materials, Escola d\u2019Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech (UPC), 08019 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"865","DOI":"10.1016\/j.resconrec.2011.04.009","article-title":"Twenty years of PET bottle to bottle recycling\u2014An overview","volume":"55","author":"Welle","year":"2011","journal-title":"Resour. Conserv. Recycl."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"295","DOI":"10.1080\/87559129.2015.1015138","article-title":"Recent advances in dairy packaging","volume":"31","author":"Karanan","year":"2015","journal-title":"Food Rev. Int."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"499","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(05)72712-0","article-title":"Protective influence of several packaging materials on light oxidation of milk","volume":"88","author":"Mestdagh","year":"2005","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lago, E.D., Boaretti, C., Piovesan, F., Ruso, M., Lorenzetti, A., and Modesti, M. (2019). The effect of different compatibilizers on the properties of a post-industrial PC\/PET blend. Materials, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/ma12010049"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Candal, M.V., Safari, M., Fern\u00e1ndez, M., Otagi, I., M\u00fagica, A., Zubitur, M., Gerrica-echevarria, G., Sebasti\u00e1n, V., Irusta, S., and Laoeza, D. (2021). Structure and properties of reactively extruded opaque post-consumer recycled PET. Polymers, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/polym13203531"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6647","DOI":"10.1016\/j.polymer.2004.06.056","article-title":"The suppression of strain induced crystallization in PET through sub micron TiO2 particle incorporation","volume":"45","author":"Taniguchi","year":"2004","journal-title":"Polym. J."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Loaeza, D., Cailloux, J., Santana, O.O., Sanchez-Soto, M., and Maspoch, M.L. (2021). Impact of titanium dioxide in the mechanical recycling of post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate bottle waste: Tensile and fracture behavior. Polymers, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/polym13020310"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2801","DOI":"10.1016\/j.polymdegradstab.2013.09.025","article-title":"Recycling of waste from polymer materials: An overview of the recent works","volume":"98","author":"Kaseem","year":"2013","journal-title":"Polym. Degrad. Stabil."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"72","DOI":"10.1002\/pen.760350110","article-title":"Performance blends based on recycled polymer","volume":"35","author":"Akkapeddi","year":"1995","journal-title":"Polym. Eng. Sci."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"250","DOI":"10.1016\/j.polymdegradstab.2005.02.019","article-title":"Recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate\/polycarbonate blends","volume":"90","author":"Verney","year":"2005","journal-title":"Polym. Degrad. Stab."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"12319","DOI":"10.1007\/s00289-022-04646-9","article-title":"Optimization of catalyst content for recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polycarbonate (PC) blending","volume":"80","author":"Lotfi","year":"2023","journal-title":"Polym. Bull."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1016\/S1566-1369(03)80085-7","article-title":"Essential work of fracture of injection moulded samples of PET and PET\/PC blends","volume":"32","author":"Sanchez","year":"2003","journal-title":"Eur. Struct. Integr. Soc. (ESIS)"},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"Sanchez, J.J. (2003). Comportamiento T\u00e9rmico y Mec\u00e1nico del Poli (Etil\u00e9n Tereftalato) (PET) Modificado con Resinas Polim\u00e9ricas Basadas en Bisfenol-A. [Ph.D. Thesis, Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya]."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"693","DOI":"10.1002\/mame.200700006","article-title":"Inmiscible blends of PC and PET, current knowledge and new results: Rheological properties","volume":"292","author":"Carrot","year":"2007","journal-title":"Macromol. Mater. Eng."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"26","DOI":"10.1016\/j.polymdegradstab.2015.11.021","article-title":"Chain extension of virgin and recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate): Effect of processing conditions and reprocessing","volume":"124","author":"Duarte","year":"2016","journal-title":"Polym. Degrad. Stab."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107420","DOI":"10.1016\/j.resconrec.2024.107420","article-title":"Superior glycidol-free chain extenders post-consumer PET bottles and PET thermoform blends","volume":"203","author":"Mestry","year":"2024","journal-title":"Resourc. Conserv. Recycl."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"860","DOI":"10.1080\/15583724.2022.2033765","article-title":"Chain-extending modification for value-added recycled PET: A review","volume":"62","author":"Jang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Polym. Rev."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1404","DOI":"10.1007\/s10924-019-01435-w","article-title":"Development of PBT\/Recycled-PET blends and the influence of using chain extender","volume":"27","author":"Nofar","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Polym. Envirom."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"719","DOI":"10.1007\/s10924-021-02238-8","article-title":"Thermal stabilization of recycled PET through chain extension and blending with PBT","volume":"30","author":"Guclu","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Polym. Environ."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"887","DOI":"10.1007\/s00397-017-1043-y","article-title":"Rheological and molecular characterization of long-chain branched Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate)","volume":"56","author":"Kruse","year":"2017","journal-title":"Rheol. Acta"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"396","DOI":"10.1002\/pen.24936","article-title":"Analysis of high melt-strength Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) produced by reactive processing by shear and elongational rheology","volume":"59","author":"Kruse","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Polym. Eng. Sci."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"06052","DOI":"10.1051\/matecconf\/20166706052","article-title":"Chain extension and thermal behavior of recycled Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) modified by reactive extrusion with Triphenyl Phosphite","volume":"Volume 67","author":"Qin","year":"2016","journal-title":"MATEC Web of Conferences"},{"key":"ref_23","first-page":"e00886","article-title":"PET mechanical recycling. A new principle for chain extender introduction","volume":"40","author":"Vozniak","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sustain. Mater. Technol."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8290","DOI":"10.1021\/acsapm.2c01231","article-title":"Influence of chain extenders on recycled standard and Opaque PET rheology and melt-spun filament properties","volume":"4","author":"Odet","year":"2022","journal-title":"ACS Appl. Polym. Mater."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"296","DOI":"10.1080\/15583724.2021.1918710","article-title":"A review of multifunctional epoxy-based Joncryl\u00ae ADR chain extended thermoplastics","volume":"62","author":"Standau","year":"2021","journal-title":"Polym. Rev."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"H\u00e4rth, M., and D\u00f6rnh\u00f6fer, A. (2020). Film blowing of linear and long-chain branched Poly(Ethylene-Terephthalate). Polymers, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/polym12071605"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"50110","DOI":"10.1002\/app.50110","article-title":"Molecular structure and rheological properties of a Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) modified by two different chain extenders","volume":"138","author":"Kaschta","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Appl. Polym. Sci."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100843","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jics.2022.100843","article-title":"Recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) plastics\u2014An alternative to obtain value added products: A review","volume":"100","author":"Bhander","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Indian Chem."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100673","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cscee.2024.100673","article-title":"Polyethylene therephthalate (PET) recycling: A review","volume":"9","author":"Joseph","year":"2024","journal-title":"Case Stud. Chem. Environ. Eng."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112507","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jece.2024.112507","article-title":"Chemical recycling of polyethylene terephthalate: A mini-review","volume":"12","author":"Babaei","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Environ. Chem. Eng."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e202300142","DOI":"10.1002\/cssc.202300142","article-title":"Chemical recycling processes of waste polyethylene terephthalate using solid catalysts","volume":"16","author":"Bohre","year":"2023","journal-title":"ChemSusChem"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kirshanov, K., Toms, R., Melnikou, P., and Gervald, A. (2022). Unsaturaded polyester resin nanocomposites based on post-consumer polyethylene. Polymers, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/polym14081602"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"164","DOI":"10.32362\/2410-6593-2022-17-2-164-171","article-title":"Obtaining phthalate substituted post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate and its isothermal crystallization","volume":"17","author":"Kirshanov","year":"2022","journal-title":"Fine Chem. Tech."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"43775","DOI":"10.1002\/app.43775","article-title":"Influence of the notch sharpening technique on styrene-acrylonitrile fracture behavior","volume":"133","author":"Salazar","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Appl. Polym. Sci."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"296","DOI":"10.1016\/j.engfracmech.2017.06.007","article-title":"Effect of specimen notch quality on the essential work of fracture of ductile polymer films","volume":"180","author":"Segovia","year":"2017","journal-title":"Eng. Fract. Mech."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"180","DOI":"10.1016\/j.polymertesting.2017.08.022","article-title":"The fracture testing of ductile polymer films: Effect of the specimen notching","volume":"63","year":"2017","journal-title":"Polym. Test."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4110","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apsusc.2005.06.008","article-title":"Femtosecond laser ablation of carbon reinforced polymers","volume":"252","author":"Moreno","year":"2006","journal-title":"Appl. Surf. Sci."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"270","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tafmec.2018.03.011","article-title":"Notch effect on the fracture of a polymeric film","volume":"95","year":"2018","journal-title":"Theor. Appl. Fract. Mec."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102995","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tafmec.2021.102995","article-title":"Notch effect on the linear elastic fracture mechanics values of a polysulfone thermoplastic polymer","volume":"114","author":"Maspoch","year":"2021","journal-title":"Theor. Appl. Fract. Mech."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1337","DOI":"10.1002\/(SICI)1099-0518(199605)34:7<1337::AID-POLA22>3.0.CO;2-9","article-title":"Chain extension of polyesters PET and PBT with two new diimidodiepoxides","volume":"34","author":"Bikiaris","year":"1996","journal-title":"J. Polym. Sci. Pol. Chem."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"122920","DOI":"10.1016\/j.matchemphys.2020.122920","article-title":"Nucleation effect of aliphatic polycarbonate in its blends with poly(ethylene terephthalate)","volume":"248","year":"2020","journal-title":"Mater. Chem. Phys."},{"key":"ref_42","first-page":"S937","article-title":"Morphological and thermal characterization of an immiscible catalyzed polymer blends (PC\/PET)","volume":"29","author":"Meziane","year":"2021","journal-title":"Polym. Polym. Compos."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"012008","DOI":"10.1088\/1757-899X\/213\/1\/012008","article-title":"Effect of chain extenders on mechanical and thermal properties of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) and polycarbonate blends","volume":"Volume 213","author":"Srithep","year":"2017","journal-title":"IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1297","DOI":"10.1002\/pi.6081","article-title":"Compatibility and toughening mechanism of poly(ethylene terephthalate)\/polycarbonate blends","volume":"69","author":"Liu","year":"2020","journal-title":"Polym. Int."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"857","DOI":"10.1177\/00952443221087351","article-title":"From polymeric waste to potential industrial product: Modification of recycled polycarbonate","volume":"54","author":"Karsli","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Elastom. Plast."}],"container-title":["Polymers"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4360\/16\/19\/2843\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T16:09:24Z","timestamp":1760112564000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4360\/16\/19\/2843"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,8]]},"references-count":45,"journal-issue":{"issue":"19","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,10]]}},"alternative-id":["polym16192843"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/polym16192843","relation":{},"ISSN":["2073-4360"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2073-4360","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,8]]}}}