Several kinds of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene（PP-g-MA） were added as compatibilizers in Linear low-density polyethylene（LLDPE）/ polyamide 6（PA6）blends, which are the model blends of recycled multilayer film. Grafting amounts of maleic anhydride（MA）in the PP-g-MAs and PP-g-MA content in the LLDPE / PA6 / PP-g-MA ternary blends influenced morphology and mechanical properties. Size of PA6 particles in the LLDPE was minimized by the interaction between maleic anhydride（MA）group in the PP-g-MA and amide group of PA6. The most important factor which influences morphology and mechanical properties was the ratio of MA amount to PA6 amount in the blends. Impact strength was significantly improved by the PP-g-MA. On the other hand, tensile yield stress was a little improved and modulus was hardly changed by the PP-g-MA.

Structural adhesives that fail in cohesive fracture mode under fatigue loading are required from the viewpoint of long-term reliability. In this paper, fatigue properties of the epoxy adhesives achieving the cohesive fracture mode were investigated. Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A was used as the epoxy resin, and graphene nanoplatelets were selected as the functional fillers which introduced cracks into the adhesive resin layer under fatigue loading. The graphene nanoplatelets were well dispersed in the epoxy resin using a twinscrew extruder. Fatigue tests were carried out using lap shear joint specimens. The epoxy adhesive joints without the graphene failed in the interfacial fracture mode along the aluminum substrate. Whereas the almost all adhesive joints with the graphene even at the graphene concentration of 0.1wt％ failed in cohesively in the adhesive resin layer. However, the number of cycles to failure in the fatigue tests decreased as the graphene concentration increased. The epoxy matrix was toughened by core-shell rubber particles in order to improve the fatigue resistance. The adhesive with 0.1wt ％ graphene nanoplatelets and 5wt ％ core-shell rubber particles achieved the five-folded fatigue cycles to failure of unmodified adhesive while maintaining a high cohesive failure ratio. It was found that increased fracture energy of the epoxy matrix between the dispersed graphene nanoplatelets was the key for the fatigue long life.

Nanophase polymeric mixtures that show a phase transition through the application of pressure have developed by Mayes et al., being termed “baroplastics”. Block copolymers comprised of a low-Tg and a high- Tg component, such as poly（butyl acrylate）-b-polystyrene, can be processed at ambient temperature under pressure by a pressure-induced phase transition from ordered（solid）state to disordered（melt/solid）state. The low-temperature formability can not only reduce the required energy in processing, resulting in CO2 mitigation, but also suppress thermal degradation of the polymer chains with enhancing recyclability. The author developed degradable baroplastic block copolymers from renewables, which were expected further reduction of environmental impact of polymeric materials. The idea of low-temperature formability can be an effective solution toward the climate change and the end-of-life plastic issues. In this review, mechanism of the pressure-induced phase transition of block copolymers is outlined. Characterization and pressure-processability of degradable baroplastic block copolymers, such as poly（ε-caprolactone） derivative-b-polylactide and poly （trimethylene carbonate）-b-polylactide, are also introduced. The elastomeric properties of the block copolymers can be alternative to petroleum-based thermoplastic elastomers. In addition, potential applications of the block copolymers and the perspectives are also discussed.