ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Reactive compatibilization

So, you know how sometimes things don't fit together very well, like when you try to put a square peg into a round hole? That's kind of like what happens when different types of plastic materials try to stick to each other.

Reactive compatibilization is like magic glue that helps these different types of plastics bond together. It's called "reactive" because it involves a chemical reaction that happens between the different plastics. The magic glue is actually a molecule that has two special parts: one part that loves one type of plastic, and another part that loves the other type of plastic.

When the different types of plastic are mixed together with this magic glue, the two special parts of the molecule start reacting with each other and binding the different types of plastic together. It's like putting a puzzle together where the magic glue are the puzzle pieces that help everything fit together just right.

This is really important because it can help reduce waste and save money. Instead of throwing away different types of plastics that can't be recycled together, reactive compatibilization can make it possible to reuse them in new products. It's like giving these plastics a second chance at being useful!