| Title |
From Bottle Caps to Frisbee-A Case Study on Mechanical Recycling of Plastic Waste towards a Circular Economy |
| ID_Doc |
21728 |
| Authors |
Akhras, MH; Freudenthaler, PJ; Straka, K; Fischer, J |
| Title |
From Bottle Caps to Frisbee-A Case Study on Mechanical Recycling of Plastic Waste towards a Circular Economy |
| Year |
2023 |
| Published |
Polymers, 15.0, 12 |
| DOI |
10.3390/polym15122685 |
| Abstract |
This study demonstrates an open-loop recycling process of a specific post-consumer plastic waste stream. The targeted input waste material was defined as high-density polyethylene beverage bottle caps. Two methods of waste collection, informal and formal, were employed. Thereafter, materials were hand-sorted, shredded, regranulated, and then injection-molded into a flying disc (i.e., frisbee) as a pilot product. To observe the potential changes in the material throughout the entire recycling process, eight different test methods including melt mass-flow rate (MFR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and mechanical tests were carried out on the various material states. The study showed that the informal collection led to a relatively higher purity in the input stream, which also appeared to have a 23% lower MFR value compared to that of the formally collected materials. The DSC measurements revealed a cross-contamination by polypropylene, which clearly affected the properties of all investigated materials. The cross-contamination led to a slightly higher tensile modulus in the recyclate, while the Charpy notched impact strength declined after processing by approximately 15% and 8% compared to those of the informal and formal input materials, respectively. All materials and the processing data were documented and stored online as a practical implementation of a digital product passport as a potential digital traceability tool. Furthermore, the suitability of the resulting recyclate to be used in transport packaging applications was also investigated. It was found that a direct replacement of virgin materials for this specific application is not possible without proper material modification. |
| Author Keywords |
plastics recycling; mechanical recycling; high-density polyethylene; post-consumer waste; packaging waste; digital product passport; regranulation; recyclates |
| Index Keywords |
Index Keywords |
| Document Type |
Other |
| Open Access |
Open Access |
| Source |
Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED) |
| EID |
WOS:001017830200001 |
| WoS Category |
Polymer Science |
| Research Area |
Polymer Science |
| PDF |
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/12/2685/pdf?version=1686796840
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