Thesis (M.Sc.)--Chulalongkorn University, 2000

Describes an investigation of the use of HDPE as a carrier resin in universal masterbatch for blending with olefinic and styrenic polymers. Olefinic polymers are comprising of PP, HDPE and LDPE while styrenic polymers are HIPS and ABS. The composition of universal masterbatch is consisting of 40 to 60% HDPE, 38 to 58% TiO2, and 2% by weight Zn-st. When 5% of this universal masterbatch was blended with pure olefinic and styrenic polymers, the mechanical properties of olefinic and styrenic polymer blends were similar to those of pure olefinic and styrenic polymers. When LDPE was used as a carrier resin in universal masterbatch, the 5% blending with olefinic and styrenic polymers gave inferior mechanical properties to those of pure olefinic and styrenic polymers. The results of this study show that HDPE is a better color carrier than LDPE. The compatibility test using Scanning Electron Microscopy showed that polymer blends using universal masterbatch, which has HDPE as a carrier resin and olefinic and styrenic polymers were rather homogeneous.