On The Structure‐Property‐Relationships of Textile Coated and Mechanical Recycled Polycarbonate Based Thermoplastic Blends for Automotive Interior Applications

This work introduces a convenient low technology recycling process of textile covered bezels based on polycarbonate thermoplastic materials. The recycled polymers are suitable starting materials for the reuse in automotive interior applications. Specifically, this work focuses on changes in thermal, morphological, rheological and mechanical properties caused by the recycling process. Fabric back-injected polycarbonate (PC) based blends are semi-automatically produced, shredded, pre-dried and granulated using a single-screw extruder. TEM images of the recycled materials show a fine droplet phase distribution of textile polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in PC, PC blend respectively, as well as the formation of a PET matrix in a neat PC/PET blend. DSC analyses indicated a shift in glass transition temperatures, suggesting partial miscibility of the blends. Compounding of textile PET with PC based blends led to decrease in viscosity at 280 °C. The blends show a slight decrease in strength and strain at break, due to hindered plastic deformation in PC blends, but increase of strength and strain at break of neat PC/PET due to PET becoming the matrix phase. This work highlights the potential of a partial miscibility of textile PET and polycarbonate which is used for a novel recycling approach for textile covered bezels contributing to sustainability by reducing waste and costs.