Blending of recycled mixed polyolefins with recycled polypropylene: Effect on physical and mechanical properties

Hubo, Sara; Delva, Laurens; Damme, Nicolas Van; Ragaert, Kim

doi:10.1063/1.4965586

Cited by 29 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Also, those polymers represent most of the post-consumer plastic wastes and the separation into the individual polymer and complete sorting during mechanical recycling processes are expensive and sometimes impossible. However, valorization of these polyolefins is possible because they can be easily recycled by converting them into good performance polymer blends [ 6 , 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Injection Molding of Coir Coconut Fiber Reinforced Polyolefin Blends: Mechanical, Viscoelastic, Thermal Behavior and Three-Dimensional Microscopy Study

et al. 2020

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In this study, the properties of a polyolefin blend matrix (PP-HDPE) were evaluated and modified through the addition of raw coir coconut fibers-(CCF). PP-HDPE-CCF biocomposites were prepared using melt blending processes with CCF loadings up to 30% (w/w). CCF addition generates an increase of the tensile and flexural modulus up to 78% and 99% compared to PP-HDPE blend. This stiffening effect is caused by a decrease in the polymeric chain mobility due to CCF, the higher mechanical properties of the CCF compared to the polymeric matrix and could be an advantage for some biocomposites applications. Thermal characterizations show that CCF incorporation increases the PP-HDPE thermal stability up to 63 °C, slightly affecting the melting behavior of the PP and HDPE matrix. DMA analysis shows that CCF improves the PP-HDPE blend capacity to absorb higher external loads while exhibiting elastic behavior maintaining its characteristics at higher temperatures. Also, the three-dimensional microscopy study showed that CCF particles enhance the dimensional stability of the PP-HDPE matrix and decrease manufacturing defects as shrinkage in injected specimens. This research opens a feasible opportunity for considering PP-HDPE-CCF biocomposites as alternative materials for the design and manufacturing of sustainable products by injection molding.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Injection Molding of Coir Coconut Fiber Reinforced Polyolefin Blends: Mechanical, Viscoelastic, Thermal Behavior and Three-Dimensional Microscopy Study

et al. 2020

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“…However, since MPO consists of PPs and PEs, which are considered to be compatible but only partially miscible [39], their blends tend to separate at the interface. Therefore, these blends may achieve limited mechanical properties, such as a reduced ductility, due to the immiscibility of the components [36,40,41]. Attempts to improve the properties of MPOs have proven challenging so far [40][41][42].…”

Section: Selection Of Recycled Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, these blends may achieve limited mechanical properties, such as a reduced ductility, due to the immiscibility of the components [36,40,41]. Attempts to improve the properties of MPOs have proven challenging so far [40][41][42]. Reinforcing the MPO matrix by PET microfibres could yield recycled composites with improved stiffness, without sacrificing too much of their ductility.…”

Section: Selection Of Recycled Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Feasibility of Using the MFC Concept to Upcycle Mixed Recycled Plastics

et al. 2021

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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.

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“…Furthermore, the morphological properties influenced the inter-crystalline links between lamellae and interactions between the two incompatible phases and their mutual boundaries [10]. The differences in tensile strength and modulus between r-PP/PE and v-PP/PE were also caused by impurities found in r-PP/PE which increased the phase separation and reduced the stress transfer between PP and PE inside the blend [11]. Morphological analysis in Figure 6(a) highlights the existence of impurities in the form of fibre-like element which originated from actual recycled disposable diapers.…”

Section: Scanning Electron Microscopymentioning

confidence: 99%

Utilisation of recycled thermoplastics sourced from rejected-unused disposable diapers as polymer blends

Taufiq¹,

Mustafa²,

Mansor³

2017

J. MECH. ENG. SCI.

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The blending of two or more thermoplastics could produce polymer blends, which are preferable compared to developing a new type of plastic. This paper presents the study on the utilisation of recycled thermoplastic polymers which are recovered from rejectedunused disposable diapers. The aim of study is to characterise the effect of manufacturing temperature on the tensile and morphological properties of recycled plastic blend. Besides that, the polymer blend sourced from virgin materials was also prepared to compare the properties. The recycled and virgin materials were blended by using an internal mixer with fixed parameters. Later, the blended materials were crushed and moulded using hot compression moulding with temperature variations of 180 °C, 190 °C and 200 °C. The tensile tests were conducted in accordance with the ASTM D638 using a universal testing machine, followed by scanning electron morphological analysis. The results showed that as temperature increases, tensile strength decreases and tensile strain increases for both recycle and virgin blends. Tensile strength and strain for the recycled blend were also lower than the virgin blend at all temperatures, due to low miscibility in the recycled blend compared to the virgin one. The low miscibility caused more macrophase separation and resulted in poor adhesion between the polymer components. Also, the increase of temperature caused the tensile modulus to be reduced for the recycled blend. Meanwhile for the virgin blend, the modulus reduced at 190 °C but increased suddenly at temperature of 200 °C.

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Blending of recycled mixed polyolefins with recycled polypropylene: Effect on physical and mechanical properties

Cited by 29 publications

References 2 publications

Injection Molding of Coir Coconut Fiber Reinforced Polyolefin Blends: Mechanical, Viscoelastic, Thermal Behavior and Three-Dimensional Microscopy Study

Injection Molding of Coir Coconut Fiber Reinforced Polyolefin Blends: Mechanical, Viscoelastic, Thermal Behavior and Three-Dimensional Microscopy Study

The Feasibility of Using the MFC Concept to Upcycle Mixed Recycled Plastics

Utilisation of recycled thermoplastics sourced from rejected-unused disposable diapers as polymer blends

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