Simulating the recycling of milk bottles in the UK: Influence of blending virgin and repeatedly melt-extruded high-density polyethylene

The UK Dairy Roadmap has set a target of achieving 50 wt.-% high density polyethylene (HDPE) recyclate in their HDPE milk bottles. Such content will lead to the accumulation recyclates that have been subjected different number melt extrusion cycles supply chain. This work investigates structure-property relationship blending virgin (vHDPE) with these grades repeatedly melt-extruded (rHDPE). was 10, 20 and melt-extrusion blended vHDPE. No significant difference terms rheology, tensile properties overall migration acidic aqueous environments blends rHDPEs vHDPE observed when compared study demonstrates feasibility up rHDPE as out Roadmap.