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Recycling vinyl packaging materials from the city of akron municipal wastes
Author(s) -
Summers James W.,
Mikofalvy Bela K.,
Wooton Gerald V.,
Sell W. Alan
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of vinyl technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.295
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1548-0585
pISSN - 0193-7197
DOI - 10.1002/vnl.730120307
Subject(s) - materials science , polypropylene , ultimate tensile strength , vinyl ester , polyethylene , municipal solid waste , composite material , waste management , polymer , engineering , copolymer
In this paper we show the ability to hand separate a vinyl stream from municipal waste. We find about 80% accuracy in identifying vinyl by this method. We diagram a process to remove paper, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene by water flushing; remove aluminum and some polyethylene terephthalate by sinking in a 1.35 specific gravity bath; and remove polycarbonate and PETG by floating on a 1.30 specific gravity bath. This is the first data on recovery of vinyl from municipal solid waste. Hand sorting is not sufficient to give a vinyl stream with good properties and further purification is needed to improve properties. The properties of the vinyl improve as the purification improves. The purified vinyl shows excellent tensile, elongation, modulus, heat deflection temperature, and thermal stability properties. Such a purified compound should make a suitable drain, waste, and vent (DWV) material or a sewer pipe and fittings material, however the standards must be changed to various extents to accommodate recycled vinyl. The recycled vinyl has more impact modifier and is much tougher than required in the DWV and sewer standards. While added impact modifier makes a quality compound form must needs, it also lowers tensile, modulus, and chemical resistance.