The SPE Library contains thousands of papers, presentations, journal briefs and recorded webinars from the best minds in the Plastics Industry. Spanning almost two decades, this collection of published research and development work in polymer science and plastics technology is a wealth of knowledge and information for anyone involved in plastics.
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Various topics related to sustainability in plastics, including bio-related, environmental issues, green, recycling, renewal, re-use and sustainability.
PHA compostable plastic materials demonstrated marine biodegradation per ASTM D-7081
standard. Two PHA-based films and cellulose paper biodegraded over 30% after 180 days while
at 30°C and under conditions of the ASTM D-6691 test method. Biodegradation was measured
by CO 2 evolution from samples in glass jars. PLA based plastic cup, PLA-based snack bag, and
polyethylene film negative control did not meet 30% biodegradation in 180 days. Bio-additive
polyethylene based trash bag and ziplock bags did not meet the marine biodegradation
standards in ASTM D-7081.
An important attribute for many plastics is the ability to be recycled. By melting and
reprocessing thermoplastics for re-use, the carbon footprint can typically be reduced compared
to the use of virgin materials. The benefits of incorporating recycle content into new and
existing applications, however, must be tempered by the reality that recycled plastics may not
have the same performance as virgin materials due to either 1) degradation by
weathering/aging, 2) contamination, or 3) thermo-mechanical degradation from re-processing.
To minimize the intrinsic effects of the recycling process and allow usage of recycled plastics
such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), or streams with mixed content, it is important to
understand the benefits of utilizing impact modifiers and compatibilizers.
Reclamation of polyester waste in the fiber industry is well known and a seemingly well
developed process. It offers numerous benefits to fiber producers. These benefits include but
are not limited to the following: conservation of oil, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,
saving landfill space and energy conservation. Unfortunately, in spite of these benefits, total
recycling of polyester does not exceed 25%. The main reason for low recycling rates is the
hydrolytic instability of polyester resin leading to a severe drop in the polymer’s viscosity. This
deterioration in polyester viscosity is amplified due to high temperatures and shear rates
involved in fiber processing. Existing methods to preserve IV and melt viscosity of polyester
resin include solid state polymerization (SSP), and gaining popularity in the last 25 years, Erema
recycling technology. Both of these approaches include significant capital investment in
equipment and both are rather energy consuming. We are offering an alternative approach to
maintain or even increase IV of polyester resins during recycling or direct processing of fibers
and yarns. Developed by Goulston Technologies, internal polymer additives work like linear
chain extenders and offer a cost effective improvement in IV and melt viscosity of polyester
resins. These additives are based on bi-functional reactive chemicals and are available in a form
of highly concentrated master batches that can be dosed directly into the waste stream. These
additives are capable of significant increase in IV and melt viscosity without cross linking and
corresponding gel formation, and clogging of the spinning packs. This additive technology offers
polyester processors a safe and cost effective alternative to capital intensive investments.
ECO Research Institute (ERI) has developed a dry grinding method that pulverizes waste paper
to the micron size range and that powdered recyclate is then used as filler in thermoplastics.
Using this technology reduces carbon-dioxide emissions by as much as 60-80 percent compared
to using traditional thermoplastics while also enhancing mechanical properties.
ERI has seen its business growth very rapidly in Japan as the technology does not suffer from
any of the processing and performance limitations of other bio-plastics. The ERI materials are
now widely used in automotive, electric, food, housing, transportation and toy industries. ERI is
now expanding capacity through its US subsidiary in cooperation with Michigan Molecular
Institute, which will bring compounding capabilities to the U.S. under the name Eco Bio Plastics
Midland, Inc.
Paper has been one of the oldest products for the history of human being and it has been
produced on a huge scale basis all over the world. The basic application relies on the
technology of utilizing long cellulose fiber for processing. Paper is also known for high level of
recycling, mostly by producing recycled paper.
We have investigated the possibility of:
1. Finding new technology of paper other than the application of long cellulose fiber
2. Recycling paper other than producing recycled paper
3. Creating more environmentally friendly material by utilizing non-hydrocarbon based
paper
We have succeeded in developing new technology of pulverizing paper into micro powders as
minute as 30μm and compounding it with conventional plastics in the form of pellets for the
purpose of mass production. Pellets can contain up to 70% paper. This paper-reinforced plastic
composite can reduce CO2 emission dramatically since the main material is paper. Currently the
technology is commercially available in polypropylene for injection molding or thermosetting
products but other formulation with different based materials such as PE, PS, PLA and PHA for
different processing is on-going.
International Automotive Components Group has developed an internal database to track
manufacturing scrap, material re-use, landfill and team action items among other things. The
database enabled IAC to measure the amount of landfill resulting from various processes and
then target specific areas. Regrind use was optimized to assure quality and best possible
application. Via this database, landfill numbers, regrind use, and projects were graphically
displayed to show the progress in each area. The database proved the adage ‘What is measured
is managed and what is managed is improved” Examples of the capabilities of the database will
be presented. The ability to track and measure also proved this database to be a very useful
tool for management reporting. Based on these efforts, IAC was able to reduce their landfill
from manufacturing by 36 million pounds in 2010.
Over the years there has been an on again - off again relationship between consumer electronic
products and post consumer recycled materials. The use of these materials is ultimately desired
for the environmental benefit to our world, but also for the potential financial benefit of
reclaiming a high value waste stream. To most outside the plastics or recycling industries,
recycling plastics seems like a simple and obvious thing to do. The reality of it however is much
more complicated. Ever-changing variables such as supply and demand, shifting waste streams,
environmental regulations, and the price of oil, keep the sand shifting under the feet of those
trying to succeed in this field. We will try to bring to light many of the issues and present some
achievements along the way. With the learning of the past twenty years and new technological
advancements it seems that this industry is beginning to turn a corner and achieve a stable,
quality supply of post consumer recycled (PCR) materials. Coupling this improved supply with a
more stable and increasing demand for Post consumer materials may make it possible for
recycled engineering plastics to soon make their way into more consumer electronic products.
The financial burden that accompanies the recycling of polymers when required by local laws
and regulations will continue to grow in the next decade as more counterfeit products enter
the marketplace. Manufacturers will begin spending more time and money attempting to
recycle materials they did not produce than on actual production. In the same vein, companies
that continue to innovate and produce specialty polymers are susceptible to counterfeiting.
Counterfeiting leads to financial liability from product failures and losses in both customer
confidence and revenue.
When forced to recycle another manufacturer’s polymers, a company exposes themselves to
the possibility of introducing inferior, harmful, and possibly dangerous polymers into their
production facility and eventually into the hands of consumers. This exposes polymer producers
and brand owners to liability if there are illnesses or product failures from recycling counterfeit
materials. If inferior product is not detected prior to the time of recycling, a large amount of
resources will be occupied separating good and bad polymers, increasing the likelihood that the
cost of goods produced from recycled materials will be priced out of the market.
Manufacturers and recyclers need tools that can be used to help them instantly identify their
product from counterfeit materials. This paper will present several options to protect the
polymer supply chain from cradle to grave to and back to cradle, methods to help reduce
liability from inferior raw materials entering the marketplace, and protect intellectual property
by ensuring advanced, specialized polymers are from legitimate sources.
Sustainability is now a business fact, yet many of
those asking for improvements to “sustainable
packaging” lack the fundamental understanding
needed to make the best possible business
decisions. Scientific information is needed from
production to end-of-life to determine what
makes a package more “sustainable”. The 3 Rs
(Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) are often the first steps
for many individuals and businesses on their
journey to becoming more sustainable, although
new “R’s” such as Renew and Recovery are
appearing. Using science-based criteria can help
improve the understanding of how plastic
packaging contributes to a sustainable society.
Plastic packaging can prevent spoilage and
damage to food and other products during
distribution and storage. Plastics are light weight
and frequently require less raw material and
energy than other materials used for packaging.
Plastics can be recycled and recovered at their
end-of-life. Significant progress has also been
made in the development of bio-plastics, but
there continues to be confusion as to what bioplastics
are and how to properly assess their
environmental impact. Sustainability
performance cannot be defined with a single
attribute but must consider a product’s entire life
cycle.
This abstract/presentation will begin with
examples demonstrating the sustainability
benefits of plastic packaging, then define what
bio-plastics are and why the diversity of bioplastics
and their varying properties make it
difficult to make simple, generic assessments as
to whether plastics made from traditional or
renewable feedstocks are “good” or “bad”, and
conclude with a discussion of end-of-life options
for packaging, including recycle-to-energy.
Recycled-content or bioresin packaging will require
more than just the right technology and materials for
sustained growth. Sustainable packaging expansion will
also require increasing the number of informed,
enthusiastic retailers and packaging users that are
interested in being “greener.” This paper examines one
way in which resin, packaging, and packaged-goods
producers are attracting attention to the recycled-content,
recyclability, or bio-basis of new plastics packaging.
Messages on the packaging itself are used to make green
claims and create branding, sometimes approaching (or
overstepping) the boundaries of “greenwashing.” This
paper considers the effectiveness of various messages,
and, referencing proposed 2010 U.S. Federal “Green
Guides,” considers the ways in which a clear, honest
sustainability claim can be communicated to both
informed and skeptical audiences.
Two separate studies were completed to look at recovery of long glass fiber (average glass
length = 10-15 mm) reinforced polypropylene. The LGF PP regrind in one case was molded at
various percentages with virgin material and the other study involved property evaluation of
100% LGF PP regrind. The basis of the study was to evaluate use of typical grinders (grind size of
5/16”) and extruders to simulate conditions commonly found in most plastics molding facilities.
Recommendations for addition of regrind to virgin materials are also presented based on
evaluation of the properties obtained.
The separation and recycling technologies of shredded
plastic mixture from waste household appliances have
been developed. The separation technology was based on
the characteristics of specific gravity, electrostatic charge
and X-ray transparent of the plastics. The separated
plastics were recycled by the technologies of contaminant
reduction and material reformation. Furthermore, the first
massive and high purity plastic recycling plant for
polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS) and acrylonitrilebutadiene-
styrene (ABS) in Japan has launched in 2010.
This plant is able to separate the shredded plastic mixture
up to 10,000 ton annually, and the recycled PP, PS and
ABS have high purity more than 99%.
Reclaim extrusion lines rely on high quality
reclaimed resin, which must come from balanced, high
performance, and properly designed reclaim lines. These
systems must be properly configured for the tasks at hand, and
the implementation must allow for the complete business plan.
Material volume is not the only data point upon
which such a system must be judged on. If simple volume
were the judgment, reclaimers, recyclers, and reprocessors
would simply buy the largest and cheapest solutions available.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Inadequate processing
capabilities of the size reduction equipment can cause many
problems, including the following:
• Poor quality regrind
• High levels of material degradation
• Possible material contamination
• Poor performance due to machine maintenance and
overall condition
• Poor material ingestion and processing
• Improper operation due to machine design
Extrusion lines rely on the feeding and blending systems,
and other auxiliary equipment, that work with them. This
equipment supplies the regrind, resin and additive
materials, cools the process, maintains critical
temperatures and can even monitor the entire operation.
Inadequate process cooling, material handling or size
reduction equipment can cause many problems, including
the following:
• Inadequate process cooling can reduce product
output
• Poor temperature control can cause product
quality problems
• Material can be contaminated if not handled and
stored properly
• The output of the line can be reduced, and even
interrupted, if the material is not conveyed to the
extruder at the required rate
• Product quality will suffer if the material is not
blended and metered into the extruder throat at
the correct ratios
• Excess dust caused by poor size reduction
equipment can create processing problems
Many reclaim lines require moisture removal from the
regrind material, and a PET reclaim extrusion line will not
operate properly if the drying and crystallizing system cannot
supply the material into the feed throat at the desired moisture
content, temperature and intrinsic viscosity (I.V.). A proper
drying and crystallizing system can be the difference between
quality product and junk, so it is worthwhile to consider some
features of the new equipment for your system:
• Correct sizing and proper operation
• New filter systems for increased performance
• High-efficiency motors
• New user-friendly PLC-based control systems
• Heat recovery systems
• Gas-fired options
• Integration with extruder control system
The following equipment is crucial to any reclaim extrusion
line:
• Hot air dryer (material dependent)
• Crystallizer (material dependent)
• Dust collection system
• Dryer and hopper sized for the application
• Loading system
Norhaniza Yusof , Ahmad Fauzi Ismail, September 2011
Polymer precursors of carbon fibers made using an environmentally friendly process show mechanical and thermal properties comparable to those prepared by conventional methods.
The heavy transport industry has a significant amount of scrap generated in the manufacture of parts such as trailer bodies and structural components. Presently that scrap is landfilled. This paper presents the processing and resulting properties of recycled thermoplastic composites into useful products for reuse in transportation and related applications.
The Automotive Composites Consortium (ACC) a partnership of Chrysler Group LLC Ford Motor Company General Motors Company and the U.S. Department of Energy conducts pre-competitive research on structural and semi-structural polymer composites to advance high strength lightweight solutions in automotive technology. An ACC focal project concerning the development of a structural composite underbody was established to provide methodologies and data for each ACC member company to implement lightweight cost-effective structural composites in high volume vehicles. This objective will be fulfilled through design analysis fabrication and testing of a structural composite underbody. A key design element required for implementation of the underbody structure is an understanding of the affects of environmental temperature and impact damage on the axial fatigue performance of the SMC composite material selected for the underbody structure fabrication. Research efforts have been made on fatigue performance of different type of composite materials (Ref. 1-5). In this study specimens were tested with no damage as well as two levels of impact damage. Environmental temperatures for the undamaged specimens were -40°C 21°C and 80°C. It was observed that fatigue life increased at low temperature conditions and decreased at high temperatures. The affect of temperature had a greater influence on fatigue life than the impact damage in this study. Temperature increases as measured at the specimen surfaces were observed as test frequency increased. Similar observations were made by Bellenger et al (Ref.6). The relationship between stress loading frequency and temperature will be investigated. Optical and scanning electron microscopy will be used to examine the crack locations and characteristics for specimens tested under different conditions.
A high-molecular-weight copolymer blend based on poly(lactic acid), possessing both amorphous and crystalline segments, features excellent mechanical performance and thermal properties.
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Any article that is cited in another manuscript or other work is required to use the correct reference style. Below is an example of the reference style for SPE articles:
Brown, H. L. and Jones, D. H. 2016, May.
"Insert title of paper here in quotes,"
ANTEC 2016 - Indianapolis, Indiana, USA May 23-25, 2016. [On-line].
Society of Plastics Engineers
Available: www.4spe.org.
Note: if there are more than three authors you may use the first author's name and et al. EG Brown, H. L. et al.
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