High-density polyethylene (HDPE)/poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) blends were prepared by means of melt extrusion with ethylene-butyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer (EBAGMA) as a reactive compatibilizer. The effects of the EBAGMA and PET contents, recovery temperature, and stretch ratio on the thermostimulative shape-memory behavior of the blends were studied. The results show that the addition of EBAGMA to the HDPE/PET blends obviously improved the compatibility and the shape-memory effects of the blends. The response temperature was determined by the melting point of HDPE, and the shape-recovery ratio of the 90/10/5 HDPE/PET/EBAGMA blend reached nearly 100%. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 112: 3341-3346, 2009