Defining quality by quantifying degradation in the mechanical recycling of polyethylene.

ABSTRACT: Polyolefins have a multitude of uses across packaging, automotive and construction sectors. Their resistance to degradation during reprocessing enables recyclability, but variability in recycled polymer feedstocks renders it difficult to assure their manufacturing suitability. The lack of quality control methods has disabled circular economy pathways; product failure is costly, wasteful and time-intensive. Using rheology-simulated and extrusion-based recycling experiments, we explore the degradation pathways of high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Chain scission dominates during the initial degradation of HDPE, and increasing exposure to O₂ shifts the dominant mechanism to long-chain branching. Importantly, extending this method to post-consumer recyclate (PCR), the results show po

SUBMITTER: Patel AD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11464626 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature