Rheological and Functional Properties of Mechanically Recycled Post-Consumer Rigid Polyethylene Packaging Waste
Journal article, 2024

The properties of recycled post-consumer rigid polyethylene packaging waste were studied, using sorted waste washed in the laboratory with water alone and with added detergent, and compared with large-scale high-intensity washed flakes. The washed flakes were compounded using three different temperature profiles in a twin-screw extruder and then injection molded. A higher compounding temperature reduced the thermo-oxidative stability, the average molecular mass, and the viscosity of the samples. Rheological measurements suggested that changes in chain branching occurred at different compounding temperatures. The strength and the elongation at break were also influenced by the compounding temperature in both the molten and solid states. Detergent washing maintained the thermo-oxidative stability in contrast to washing with water. The large-scale washed samples had a relatively high thermo-oxidative stability, a higher melt elasticity, and a lower elongation at break in both the molten and solid states than the laboratory-scale washed samples. The thermal properties, melt elasticity, Young’s modulus, yield stress, and yield strain of the samples were not, however, significantly affected by either the compounding temperature or the washing medium and intensity. The results indicated that recycled post-consumer rigid polyethylene packaging waste has properties that can support further applications in new products.

polyethylene

washing

rigid plastic packaging waste

mechanical properties

melt strength

plastic recycling

rheological properties

Author

Ezgi Ceren Boz Noyan

Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Engineering Materials

Franziska Rehle

Université de Montréal

Antal Boldizar

Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Engineering Materials

Materials

19961944 (eISSN)

Vol. 17 8 1855

Återvinning av insamlad plast från förpackningar

Plastkretsen (PK) AB:s Stiftelse för forskning (-), 2020-06-01 -- 2024-12-31.

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Subject Categories

Materials Engineering

Polymer Technologies

Other Materials Engineering

Roots

Basic sciences

Areas of Advance

Materials Science

DOI

10.3390/ma17081855

More information

Latest update

5/8/2024 5