Abstract
Several mixed recycled plastics, namely, mixed bilayer polypropylene/poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PP/PET) film, mixed polyolefins (MPO) and talc-filled PP were selected for this study and used as matrices for the preparation of microfibrillar composites (MFCs) with PET as reinforcement fibres. MFCs with recycled matrices were successfully prepared by a three-step processing (extrusion—cold drawing—injection moulding), although significant difficulties in processing were observed. Contrary to previous results with virgin PP, no outstanding mechanical properties were achieved; they showed little or almost no improvement compared to the properties of unreinforced recycled plastics. SEM characterisation showed a high level of PET fibre coalescence present in the MFC made from recycled PP/PET film, while in the other MFCs, a large heterogeneity of the microstructure was identified. Despite these disappointing results, the MFC concept remains an interesting approach for the upcycling of mixed polymer waste. However, the current study shows that the approach requires further in-depth investigations which consider various factors such as viscosity, heterogeneity, the presence of different additives and levels of degradation.
Highlights
Polymer products are an integral part of our modern life
It is well known that the recycling of plastic waste can reduce the need to access virgin resources, reducing the energy used in production and as a result minimise the overall impact on the environment over the life cycle of the product; in general, it is the most favourable option at the end-of-life of plastics [4]
Contrary to RMPO injection moulding blend (IMB) and RMPO microfibrillar composites (MFCs), the impact strength of RMPO MFCPOEgMA shows an increase of 11% in comparison to R mixed polyolefins (MPO), which is not significant if we consider that both PET and POE-g-MA were added to the recycled matrix
Summary
Polymer products are an integral part of our modern life. This leads to a tremendous increase in the consumption of plastics which presents major challenges concerning plastic waste disposal and how to minimise the total impact on the environment [1,2,3]. Packaging materials typically have very short lifetimes and create a huge amount of plastic waste at their end of life. It is well known that the recycling of plastic waste can reduce the need to access virgin resources, reducing the energy used in production and as a result minimise the overall impact on the environment over the life cycle of the product; in general, it is the most favourable option at the end-of-life of plastics [4]. There are several methods of plastic waste valorisation: energy recovery (incineration), feedstock recycling (including pyrolysis, hydrogenation, gasification), chemical recycling (de-polymerisation) and mechanical recycling [6]
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