title: Combining polyethylene and polypropylene: Enhanced performance with PE/iPP multiblock polymers.
abstract: Polyethylene (PE) and isotactic polypropylene (iPP) constitute nearly two-thirds of the world's plastic. Despite their similar hydrocarbon makeup, the polymers are immiscible with one another. Thus, common grades of PE andiPP do not adhere or blend, creating challenges for recycling these materials. We synthesized PE/iPP multiblock copolymers using an isoselective alkene polymerization initiator. These polymers can weld common grades of commercial PE andiPP together, depending on the molecular weights and architecture of the block copolymers. Interfacial compatibilization of phase-separated PE andiPP with tetrablock copolymers enables morphological control, transforming brittle materials into mechanically tough blends.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors.forename: James M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4010-9353
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Eagan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7012-041X
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Rocco
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8815-2997
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Girolamo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7742-7243
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Thurber
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher W
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2892-3267
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Macosko
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. lapointe@cornell.edu bates001@umn.edu coates@cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7830-0922
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: LaPointe
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. lapointe@cornell.edu bates001@umn.edu coates@cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Frank S
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3977-1278
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. lapointe@cornell.edu bates001@umn.edu coates@cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Geoffrey W
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3400-2552
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Coates