Journal article 22666 views 98 downloads
Recycling high impact polystyrene: Material properties and reprocessing in a circular economy business model
,
mohamed Gabr,
John Pittman,
Abishera Rajkumar
Progress in Rubber, Plastics and Recycling Technology, Volume: 39, Issue: 4, Pages: 343 - 363
Swansea University Authors:
Fawzi Belblidia , mohamed Gabr, John Pittman, Abishera Rajkumar
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DOI (Published version): 10.1177/14777606231168653
Abstract
An account is presented of successfully implemented Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) with recycling to high value products, to help overcome barriers and generate confidence in moving towards Circular Economy (CE) business models. A template for organisations proposing to recycle a thermoplast...
| Published in: | Progress in Rubber, Plastics and Recycling Technology |
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| ISSN: | 1477-7606 1478-2413 |
| Published: |
SAGE Publications
2023
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63437 |
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| Abstract: |
An account is presented of successfully implemented Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) with recycling to high value products, to help overcome barriers and generate confidence in moving towards Circular Economy (CE) business models. A template for organisations proposing to recycle a thermoplastic is provided by describing appropriate tests and considerations in implementing the recovery and re-use of high impact polystyrene (HIPS) based on a practical, industry case. Simulating the repeated 100% closed loop reprocessing of production scrap, original HIPS has been injection molded to produce tensile and impact test pieces, reground and reprocessed eight times. Assessing the present results together with literature, repeated recycling of production scrap is possible without the need for a remedial compounding step, or changes to processing parameters. Integral to the EPR model is recovery of plastic from returned end-of-life (EoL) products, and in relation to the in-use environment, studies of the effects of UV exposure on virgin material show that significant property degradation can occur. However, with indoor use, as in the present case, this is not seen. Within the CE business model it is desirable to use blends of recovered HIPS originating from different original resin manufacturers. Feeding dry blend regrind directly to the molding machine proved satisfactory, avoiding the need for a compounding/pelletizing step. As an outcome of this study, products are being successfully manufactured from 100% HIPS recovered from EoL products in an environmentally and economically positive CE plan. |
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| Keywords: |
High impact polystyrene, recycling, circular economy, extended producer responsibility, end-of-life product recall, degradation by UV exposure, material reprocessing, thermo-mechanical degradation |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
This work was supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). |
| Issue: |
4 |
| Start Page: |
343 |
| End Page: |
363 |