Washing Post-Consumer Flexible Polyethylene Packaging Waste

The mechanical and thermal properties of injection-molded recycled polyethylene were studied, specifically with respect to the influence large-scale washing melt-compounding from post-consumer packaging waste. Three types materials studied: those taken after sorting, sorting washing, melt-compounding, including melt-filtration, all a material flow. further processed on laboratory scale compared. results showed that significantly reduced thermo-oxidative stability, as well molar mass melt viscosity. degradation during made susceptible in subsequent extrusion compounding, shown by differences compounding at 240 200 °C using high-shear screw configuration. parameters, configuration, temperature did not stiffness strength unwashed large-scale-washed materials, but elongation-at-break varied, specifically, increased temperature. Washing had an well, provided molded samples measurements approximately 550 MPa, whereas 400 MPa. 15 MPa for both material, between 50 150%. compounded very different properties, 320 20 MPA, 350%. likely due melt-filtration included through removal metal rubber particles, they may also have been compatibilizing stabilizing additive used compounding.