pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S09 - Thermoforming, Blow Molding and Rotomolding
Poster Presentation
 
 

A Study on Usage of Regrind Polyethylene in Rotational Molding Technology

Ghanbarpour Barmak (1), Alavitabari Seyedemad (1)*, Raeisy Maryam (1)

(1) R&D Department of Tabarestan Plastic Complex - Mazandaran - Iran

Rotational molding is a forming process to produce hollow plastic parts from simple to complex geometries. Benefits of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) such as processability, availability, low cost, good mechanical and chemical properties made it as one of the most extensively used polymers in this technology. Nowadays, recycling is a significant challenge, and lots of worldwide efforts are being made to reduce the amounts of plastics in the waste stream. Due to the amount of scraps and other kinds of reusable plastic waste which are produced during rotational molding process, investigation on the applicability of HDPE recycling process in rotomolding industry is a necessity. The current work is aimed to evaluate the effect of different amounts of regrind polyethylene on the mechanical properties (include tensile strength, elongation at break, flexural modulus and low temperature falling dart impact test) of rotomolded parts, produced from a mixture of virgin and regrind HDPE. For all samples, virgin and regrind HDPE were dry-blended prior to rotomolding process. Four samples were produced in a laboratory rotomolding machine with different ratios of virgin and regrind HDPE (from virgin PE to 50% regrind+50% virgin PE). The sample which has the most regrind material only experienced a drop of 20%, 3.5%, 16%, and 18% in flexural modulus, tensile strength, elongation at break, and low temperature falling dart impact, respectively. So, rotomolded parts from regrind polyethylene still has enough value of mechanical properties in comparison with rotomolded samples from virgin PE and it can be used in production of some parts which require moderate mechanical properties.