TY - JOUR

T1 - Processability of Different Polymer Fractions Recovered from Mixed Wastes and Determination of Material Properties for Recycling

AU - Möllnitz, Selina

AU - Feuchter, Michael

AU - Duretek, Ivica

AU - Schmidt, Gerald

AU - Pomberger, Roland

AU - Sarc, Renato

PY - 2021/1/31

Y1 - 2021/1/31

N2 - To achieve future recycling targets and CO2 and waste reduction, the transfer of plastic contained in mixed waste from thermal recovery to mechanical recycling is a promising option. This requires extensive knowledge of the necessary processing depth of mixed wastes to enrich plastics and their processability in polymer processing machines. Also, the selection of a suitable processingmethod and product application area requires appropriate material behaviour. This paper investigates these aspects for a commercial processed, mixed waste, and two different mixed polyolefin fractions. The wastes are processed at different depths (e.g., washed/not washed, sorted into polyethylene,polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene/unsorted) and then either homogenised in the extruder in advance or processed heterogeneously in the compression moulding process into plates. The produced recyclates in plate form are then subjected to mechanical, thermal, and rheological characterisation. Most investigated materials could be processed with simple compression moulding. The results show that an upstream washing process improves the achievable material properties, but homogenisation does not necessarily lead to an improvement. It was also found that a higher treatment depth (recovery of plastic types) is not necessary. The investigations show that plastic waste recovery with simple treatment from mixed, contaminated wastes into at least downcycling products is possible.

AB - To achieve future recycling targets and CO2 and waste reduction, the transfer of plastic contained in mixed waste from thermal recovery to mechanical recycling is a promising option. This requires extensive knowledge of the necessary processing depth of mixed wastes to enrich plastics and their processability in polymer processing machines. Also, the selection of a suitable processingmethod and product application area requires appropriate material behaviour. This paper investigates these aspects for a commercial processed, mixed waste, and two different mixed polyolefin fractions. The wastes are processed at different depths (e.g., washed/not washed, sorted into polyethylene,polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene/unsorted) and then either homogenised in the extruder in advance or processed heterogeneously in the compression moulding process into plates. The produced recyclates in plate form are then subjected to mechanical, thermal, and rheological characterisation. Most investigated materials could be processed with simple compression moulding. The results show that an upstream washing process improves the achievable material properties, but homogenisation does not necessarily lead to an improvement. It was also found that a higher treatment depth (recovery of plastic types) is not necessary. The investigations show that plastic waste recovery with simple treatment from mixed, contaminated wastes into at least downcycling products is possible.

KW - mixed wastes

KW - polymer reycyling

KW - processability

KW - material characterisation

KW - material properties

KW - circular economy

U2 - 10.3390/polym13030457

DO - 10.3390/polym13030457

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85100458974

VL - 13.2021

SP - 1

EP - 43

JO - Polymers

JF - Polymers

SN - 2073-4360

IS - 3

M1 - 457

ER -