Evaluating the properties of recycled polyethylene films from the construction industry

Abstract

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.