Polymers and enery conservation workshop summary, Washington, D. C. , November 3--4, 1977

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:6647625

The workshop was held to introduce members of the polymer community to the energy conservation programs of the Department of Energy and to determine what DOE programs related to the use, production, and recycling of polymers should be pursued. The general conclusions and recommendations of the Polymers and Energy Conservation Workshop are as follows: There is a need for more technology transfer on the part of the Federal Government in order to assist industry in adopting some of the new energy efficient technologies. Emphasis should be placed on development of new polymeric materials and processes which consume less energy and/or can utilize feedstocks or energy sources other than petroleum and natural gas. The DOE should consider sponsoring fundamental research in areas which are related to recycling of polymeric materials. The Federal Government should initiate tax incentives or subsidies to stimulate the plastics recycling area. More R and D should be sponsored in investigation of combustion of solid municipal waste including the problems of chlorine-containing polymers. Materials research related to recycling polymers including corrosion and materials of construction for heat recovery devices should be increased. It would be very useful to have a comprehensive economic study of recycling/reuse of plastics versus using waste plastics as a fuel. The safety aspects of increased use of plastics in automobiles should be considered by the Federal Government. An important general area for polymer R and D as related to energy would be investigations of basic mechanisms of polymer degradation and the effects of the environment on the degradation rates and mechanisms.

• Research Organization: Courtesy Associates, Inc., Washington, DC (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EC-77-C-03-1387
• OSTI ID: 6647625
• Report Number(s): TID-28553
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ENERGY CONSERVATION
MEETINGS
POLYMERS
PRODUCTION
RECYCLING
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
COMBUSTION
ECONOMICS
SAFETY
US DOE
USES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OXIDATION
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
US ORGANIZATIONS
320302* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Materials
360400 - Polymers & Plastics- (-1987)