Sustainable Cellulose-Aluminum-Plastic Composites from Beverage Cartons Scraps and Recycled Polyethylene.

Irene Bonadies,Maria Errico,Roberta Capuano,Gennaro Gentile,Roberto Avolio,Rachele Castaldo,Mariacristina Cocca

doi:10.3390/polym14040807

Abstract

The sustainable management of multilayer paper/plastic waste is a technological challenge due to its composite nature. In this paper, a mechanical recycling approach for multilayer cartons (MC) is reported, illustrating the realization of thermoplastic composites based on recycled polyethylene and an amount of milled MC ranging from 20 to 90 wt%. The effect of composition of the composites on the morphology and on thermal, mechanical, and water absorption behavior was investigated and rationalized, demonstrating that above 80 wt% of MC, the fibrous nature of the filler dominates the overall properties of the materials. A maleated polyethylene was also used as a coupling agent and its effectiveness in improving mechanical parameters of composites up to 60 wt% of MC was highlighted.

Highlights

IntroductionPlastic-paper multilayer materials find wide application in the packaging sector
Scraps and Recycled Polyethylene.Plastic-paper multilayer materials find wide application in the packaging sector.Among the most common examples of such systems are the so-called beverage cartons or multilayer cartons (MC)
Paper,aavalorization valorizationstrategy strategyfor forthe the mechanical recycling of multilayer carmechanical recycling of multilayer cartons (MCs)

Summary

Introduction

Plastic-paper multilayer materials find wide application in the packaging sector. Among the most common examples of such systems are the so-called beverage cartons or multilayer cartons (MC). They are widely used for the storage of dairy products, juices and many other liquid foods, such as pre-cooked vegetables and soups. MCs are constituted by a structural paperboard core sandwiched between plastic and aluminum layers with barrier and sealing functions (Figure 1) [1]. Non aseptic MCs for dairies are constituted only by paper (79 wt%) and polyethylene (PE, 21 wt%) layers, while an aluminum foil (5 wt%, partially substituting paper) is used to provide high protection against light and oxygen is used in aseptic cartons for long shelf-life products (UHT milk, juices)

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Results

Conclusion