Introduction to Plastics Recycling - Second Edition

"Although recycling has a long history, it is only relatively recently that environmental protection and waste management issues have come to the forefront of both public and political awareness. Outside the fields of expertise, generally little is known about either plastics or their recyclability. As in the successful first edition, this book provides straightforward information on plastic materials and technology, including the options for recycling plastics, with special focus on mechanical recycling. It touches on all the major problems associated with recovering and recycling plastics at a level intended to be accessible to any reader with an interest in this field, whatever their background. It also looks at some of the broader issues surrounding successful waste management of plastics. This new edition reflects the great strides that have been made to increase recycling rates worldwide in recent years. It considers the expansion of infrastructure in the UK to support plastic recycling and major achievements that have been made in gaining widespread public support and participation for recycling schemes; specifically the need to manage waste on an individual household level. Current issues surrounding council recycling of plastic bottles, and the practice of providing free plastic carrier bags by supermarkets, are also considered. Biopolymers are expected to have a major impact on plastic markets in the future and therefore some of the issues of biodegradability versus recycling are expanded in this second edition, as is the wider context of life cycle analysis and legislation. Key features... Clear, easy to understand text Written for a broad audience both within and outside the polymer industry Good introduction to plastic materials and technology with useful illustrations Explains recycling terminology, technology and material quality issues Up-to-date information on the plastics recycling infrastructure and recent developments " Contents......Page 5 Preface......Page 9 1 Introduction......Page 13 2.1 Polymers......Page 19 2.2 Thermoplastics......Page 23 2.2.2 Polyamides......Page 25 2.3 Thermosets......Page 26 2.4 The Formulation of Plastics......Page 28 2.5 Why Does Recyclate Always Seem to be Black?......Page 29 2.6 What Are Recyclates Used For?......Page 30 3.1 Rheology......Page 33 3.2 Heat......Page 36 3.3 Physical and Chemical Changes......Page 39 3.4 Assessing Property Deterioration Caused by Repeated Cycling by Injection Moulding......Page 40 3.5.1 Tensile Testing......Page 43 3.5.2 Impact Testing......Page 45 3.5.3 Tensile and Impact Testing of Recycled Expanded Polystyrene......Page 46 4 Why Plastics Need to be Sorted......Page 49 5 Reprocessing of Thermoplastic Recyclates......Page 53 5.1 Contaminants......Page 57 5.2 Recycling Techniques......Page 59 5.4 Washing......Page 63 5.5 Identification and Sorting of Plastics......Page 64 5.6 Agglomeration......Page 67 6.1.1 Introduction......Page 71 6.1.2 Compounding......Page 73 6.1.3 Single-Screw Extruders......Page 76 6.1.4 Twin-Screw Extruders......Page 77 6.1.5 Co-Extrusion......Page 78 6.2 Supply Chains for Compounds......Page 79 6.3 Injection Moulding......Page 81 6.3.1 Waste During the Injection Moulding Process......Page 83 6.3.2 Co-Injection Moulding......Page 84 6.4 Blow Moulding......Page 86 6.4.1 Extrusion Blow Moulding......Page 87 6.4.2 Injection Blow Moulding......Page 92 6.5 Weld Lines......Page 93 6.6 Film Blowing......Page 94 6.7 Compression Moulding......Page 96 6.8 Thermoforming......Page 97 6.9.2 Transfer Moulding......Page 98 6.9.3 Sinter Moulding......Page 100 6.10 Conclusion......Page 101 6.11 Case Study: Plastic Lumber......Page 103 7.2 The Degradation of Plastics......Page 105 7.4 Testing the Effects of Stabilisers......Page 106 7.4.2 Heat Stability......Page 107 7.5.1 Thermal Stabilisation......Page 108 7.5.2 Light Stabilisation......Page 109 7.5.3 Additive Combinations for Specific Purposes......Page 110 7.6.1 Degradable Plastics......Page 111 7.6.2 Compatibilisers......Page 112 8 Other Methods of Recycling and Waste Disposal Options......Page 117 8.1 The Case of Thermosets......Page 118 8.2 Chemical Recycling......Page 120 8.3 Thermal Conversion Technologies......Page 123 8.3.1 Pyrolysis......Page 124 8.3.3 Gasification......Page 125 8.4 Energy Recovery......Page 126 9 Creation of a Recycling and Recovery Infrastructure for Plastics......Page 131 9.1 Development......Page 132 9.2 Developing Recyclate Markets......Page 135 10 The Problem in Perspective: Europe......Page 139 10.1 Case Study: Packaging......Page 141 10.2 Integrated Product Policy......Page 144 10.2.1 Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) 2002/96/EC......Page 146 10.2.2 End of Life Vehicles Directive (ELV) 200/53/EC......Page 148 10.3 Conclusion......Page 149 11 Rise of the Biopolymers: Recycling versus Degradation......Page 151 Abbreviations and Acronyms......Page 159 Glossary......Page 163 Index......Page 169 Titles of Related Interest......Page 181