Degradation of Styrenic Plastics During Recycling: Impact of Reprocessing Photodegraded Material on Aspect and Mechanical Properties

Abstract

The major technical limitations in polymer recycling are their incompatibility between each other and their ageing. In this study, impact reinforced styrenics, namely HIPS and ABS, were evaluated in the scope of their alterations through recycling photooxidized material. In this purpose, plates were photodegraded in both natural and accelerated conditions. FTIR-ATR was used to monitor their ageing. After the desired ageing durations, plates were ground, extruded and injected into ISO1 dumbbell tensile test specimens to simulate recycling of degraded polymers. Strong interactions were observed between photooxidation and polymer processing through photometry measures, associated color changes, tensile and impact properties. It was noticed that unaged materials displayed only moderated alterations through recycling. Because of their close chemistry, HIPS and ABS share several modifications but ABS was less altered and mainly impact properties were affected. HIPS and ABS difference of sensibilities could be rooted in PB phases different morphologies and grafting between the two materials.

Valorization of Recycled Tire Rubber for 3D Printing of ABS- and TPO-Based Composites

“…In addition, the incorporation of GTR seems to be the best approach for the valorization of recycled tire rubber, since it requires less preparation than chemically devulcanized rubber. Such formulations could present some interest, especially for recycled ABS materials that are known to lose impact resistance along the materials ageing process [ 21 ], often resulting in oxidation and partial crosslinking of polybutadiene nodules induced by UV irradiation [ 22 , 23 , 24 ].…”

Degradation of Styrenic Plastics during Recycling: Accommodation of PP within ABS after WEEE Plastics Imperfect Sorting

“…Especially, 6 wt% contaminated ABS is even less resistant than SAN Luran 368 R. Finally, for both notched and unnotched impact, the initial force slope gets slightly weaker with contamination. As the Charpy impact is basically a high-speed flexion test, a flexion modulus can be extracted from these curves as performed by other authors [ 30 ] on photodegraded and recycled HIPS. However, in the present case, comparisons to Young’s moduli measured from tensile test were not conclusive even if general trends are more or less in agreement ( Figure S3 of supporting information ).…”

“…Since ABS/HIPS blends were thoroughly studied [ 27 , 28 , 29 ] as well as contaminated HIPS [ 26 ], another interesting case would be ABS contaminated with PP. Especially, ABS presents several interesting properties compared to HIPS (higher chemical resistance, Young’s Modulus, resilience and stress at peak [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ] and thus could present better added-value upon recycling.…”

“…In either case, it results in improved impact properties and lower modulus. Sadly, the difference between PPH and PPC is rarely highlighted during WEEP characterization even though it is easily possible through FTIR [ 30 ]. In WEEE, PPC seems more adequate, however.…”

Componentes Constructivos con Agregado de Plástico Reciclado hecho en base a Residuos de Aparatos Eléctricos y Electrónicos

“…70% en peso) son ABS (acrilonitrilo-butadieno-estireno) y HIPS (poliestireno de alto impacto). Además, en su composición se encuentran compuestos de elevada toxicidad como retardantes de llama polibromados (BFRs), metales pesados, antimonio, entre otros, lo que dificulta aún más el tratamiento y revalorización de la FPR (Signoret et al, 2020). Es por esto que se vuelve imperativo el considerar rigurosamente la toxicidad de estos plásticos y la dificultad para manipularlos en pos de la seguridad de los operarios que trabajarán en la línea de producción, tanto como de los futuros usuarios de los componentes que se fabriquen con dichos residuos plásticos.…”