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The properties of recycled PVC bottle compounds. 2: Reprocessing stability
Author(s) -
Arnold J. C.,
Maund B.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.11511
Subject(s) - bottle , flake , materials science , degradation (telecommunications) , granulation , polyethylene , composite material , polyethylene terephthalate , rheometer , rheology , telecommunications , computer science
Following a study of the mechanical properties of recycled PVC recovered from post‐consumer bottles, this study focuses on the effects of recycled material on processing. In particular, the effects of multiple recycling were studied to investigate any problems that may arise due to the repeated incorporation of recycled material into the processing stream. Batches of recycled flake and powder as well as pure but processed bottle flake material were subjected to simulated multiple recycling using a Torque Rheometer. Ten minutes at 170°C followed by granulation represented one recycle. Molecular weight and Infrared analyses were performed to assess the degree of degradation occurring during reprocessing. The results indicated a rapid degradation of the two recycled grades when compared with the purer bottle flake PVC. Further multiple recycling was then performed on bottle flake mixed with 0.2% polyethylene, which showed that the PE impurities accelerate the degradation process. Finally, the effects of restabilizing by adding new bottle flake material at each step were investigated. It was shown that surprisingly small levels of new material (30%) prevented degradation, even after 15 recycle steps.