Solid-state shear extrusion pulverization: A novel process for recycling of unsorted post-consumer polymer waste

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:430480

Khait, K; Nesarikar, A R; Carr, S H ^[1]

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1. Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)

The mechanochemistry of a novel economical Solid-State Shear Extrusion (SSSE) pulverization is investigated. SSSE process has great potential in recycling of post-consumer plastic waste (PCPW). It is proposed that SSSE causes in-situ self compatibilization of incompatible blends by rupturing polymer chains and allowing them to recombine with their neighboring chains. When this recombination involves dissimilar chains block copolymers are formed, and if the chain transfer reactions are possible graft copolymers are formed. These copolymers at the interfaces in the phase-separated, incompatible blend lower the interfacial tension and increase the adhesion at the interfaces, thus compatibilizing the blend. Our Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and rheology studies reveal the formation of long chain branches (LCBs) in an LLDPE, which is equivalent to the formation of graft copolymers in blends. With NMR, an increase from {approximately}0.2 to {approximately}2.0 of the number of LCBs per 1000 carbon atoms is observed due to pulverization of the LLDPE. 11 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 430480
• Report Number(s): CONF-960730--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COMMINUTION
COMPATIBILITY
EXTRUSION
MATERIALS RECOVERY
POLYMERS
RECYCLING
SHEAR PROPERTIES