Blending of polymers (GPPS and HIPS) : effect on physical and mechanical properties

The production of plastic products continues to grow annually.Thanks to their valuable properties, polymers are widely used across various sectors, including mechanical engineering, the textile industry, agriculture, medicine, automotive and shipbuilding, aircraft manufacturing, and everyday applications.As a result, plastic waste is also increasing, posing serious environmental and health concerns.Plastics degrade very slowly, and their incineration releases highly toxic substances that are harmful and persistent in the human body.Recycling plastic products is therefore essential.In this context, polymer blends have emerged as a key area of innovation in plastic materials.Mixing polymers allows for the enhancement of specific properties, such as impact resistance.This study aims to improve the mechanical performance of a binary blend of General-Purpose Polystyrene (GPPS) and High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS).Eight different formulations were tested: 100% HIPS; 100% GPPS; 90% GPPS + 10% HIPS; 80% GPPS + 20% HIPS; 70% GPPS + 30% HIPS; 60% GPPS + 40% HIPS; 50% GPPS + 50% HIPS; and 40% GPPS + 60% HIPS.The blends were processed using a DSE 25.5 single-screw extruder, where the materials were transported, melted, mixed, plasticized, and compressed at 180C by a plasticizing screw.Mechanical properties of the resulting materials were then evaluated.The results showed that increasing the HIPS content enhances the impact resistance of the Blending of