Evaluating the properties of recycled polyethylene films from the construction industry
Typ
Program
Publicerad
2022
Författare
Nord Nilsson, Hannes
Andersson, Julia
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
The construction industry generates tonnes of plastic waste every year and only a small
minority of this is recycled. This study looks into possible new film products in the
construction industry, if the waste is collected, by evaluating the properties of the mechanically
recycled film. The plastic in question is transparent polyethylene (PE) film from a
construction specialist shop, sorted into four categories; shrink and stretch films, clean
film, dirty film, and thick film. The evaluation of the properties was done through
various tests, these were; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential
scanning calorimetry (DSC), melt flow index (MFI), oxidative induction time (OIT),
tensile strength test, density and thickness measurements, falling dart, and tear strength
and the results were analyzed separately. The results show that it is possible to turn all
categories into covering film, hoods, and garbage bags, although the clean film is the only
one that does not require any extra measures. The others need to be washed or mixed
with virgin material to stabilize some property in order to be made into new products.
In addition, an environmental system analysis was performed which revealed that it is
environmentally beneficial to recycle PE in terms of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
recycling , polyethylene , construction industry