STM Journals Peer-reviewed research from Consortium e-Learning Network

Journal of Polymer & Composites Original Research Open Access

Quality Sustainability Of Recycled High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

  1. Naydenova-Marinova Petranka Department of Organic Synthesis, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy
  2. Bonchev Marin PMB Industries Ltd
  3. Velev Petar Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy

Abstract

The main way to reduce the generated large amounts of polymer waste is their recycling, their return to the processes of processing and reuse. The main and most commonly used method is mechanical recycling, in which some of the characteristics of the processed material deteriorate. It is known that the properties of the recyclate are most significantly affected by the homogeneity and the degree of aging of the end-of-life plastic products. Since polypropylene is a major pollutant in waste high-density polyethylene, this study tracked to what extent and what content of polypropylene leads to a decrease in the properties of the regranulate. For this purpose, the authors tracked the rheological and mechanical characteristics of high-density polyethylene with polypropylene impurities. The percentage content of polypropylene was established, which affects the mechanical properties of the regranulate. The processability, quality and homogeneity of the collected high-density polyethylene after use were studied, as well as the possibilities for improving the quality of the granulate produced from it. Data from a study of the behavior of fresh high-density polyethylene with admixtures of polypropylene recyclate in a certain percentage were compared with those of high-density polyethylene collected after use. In this way, the working group established the influence of the processing process on the rheology and mechanical properties of the recyclate and the degree of degradation of the polymers.

Keywords

References (30)

  1. Cheng, J., Mechanical and Chemical Properties of High Density Polyethylene: Effects of Microstructure on Creep Characteristics, Canada, 2008, ISBN: 978-0-494-55490-6.
  2. Xometry, What is High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Apr 29, 2022. Available from: https://www.xometry.com/resources/materials/high-density-polyethylene-hdpe/.
  3. Zheng J, Suh S. Strategies to reduce the global carbon footprint of plastics. Nature Climate Change. 2019;9(5):374-378. doi:10.1038/s41558-019-0459-z
  4. Sustainable Wave, Carbon Footprint of HDPE, Aug 19, 2023, Available from: https://sustainablewave.com/carbon-footprint-of-hdpe/.
  5. Schyns ZOG, Shaver MP. Mechanical Recycling of Packaging Plastics: A Review. Macromolecular Rapid Communications. 2020;42(3). doi:10.1002/marc.202000415
  6. Vidakis N, Petousis M, Maniadi A. Sustainable Additive Manufacturing: Mechanical Response of High-Density Polyethylene over Multiple Recycling Processes. Recycling. 2021;6(1):4. doi:10.3390/recycling6010004
  7. Jin H, Gonzalez-Gutierrez J, Oblak P, Zupančič B, Emri I. The effect of extensive mechanical recycling on the properties of low density polyethylene. Polymer Degradation and Stability. 2012;97(11):2262-2272. doi:10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2012.07.039
  8. Beltrán FR, Lorenzo V, Acosta J, de la Orden MU, Martínez Urreaga J. Effect of simulated mechanical recycling processes on the structure and properties of poly(lactic acid). Journal of Environmental Management. 2018;216:25-31. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.05.020
  9. Aurrekoetxea J, Sarrionandia MA, Urrutibeascoa I, Maspoch ML. Effects of recycling on the microstructure and the mechanical properties of isotactic polypropylene. Journal of Materials Science. 2001;36(11):2607-2613. doi:10.1023/a:1017983907260
  10. Zhang J, Hirschberg V, Rodrigue D. Mechanical fatigue of recycled and virgin high‐/low‐density polyethylene. Journal of Applied Polymer Science. 2022;140(2). doi:10.1002/app.53312
  11. Oblak P, Gonzalez-Gutierrez J, Zupančič B, Aulova A, Emri I. Processability and mechanical properties of extensively recycled high density polyethylene. Polymer Degradation and Stability. 2015;114:133-145. doi:10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2015.01.012
  12. Abad MJ. Effects of a mixture of stabilizers on the structure and mechanical properties of polyethylene during reprocessing. J Appl Polym Sci 2004;92(6): 3910e6.
  13. Kotiba H, Mosab K, Fawaz D. Effect of recycling on rheological and mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid)/polystyrene polymer blend. Jurnal Mater Sci 2011;46:3013e9.
  14. Al-Salem SM, Lettieri P, Baeyens J. Recycling and recovery routs of plastic solid waste (PSW): a review. Waste Manag 2009;29:2625e43.
  15. Dostal J, Kasparkova V, Yatloukal M, Muras J, Simek L. Influence of the repeated extrusion on the degradation of polyethylene. Structural changes in low density polyethylene. Eur Polym J 2008;44:2652e8.
  16. da Costa HM, Ramos VD, Rocha MCG. Rheological properties of polypropylene during multiple extrusion. Polym Test 2005;24:86e93.
  17. Oblak P, Gonzalez-Gutierrez J, Zupančič B, Aulova A, Emri I. Processability and mechanical properties of extensively recycled high density polyethylene. Polymer Degradation and Stability. 2015;114:133-145. doi:10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2015.01.012
  18. Pinheiro LA, Chinelatto MA, Canevarolo SV. The role of chain scission and chain branching in high density polyethylene during thermo-mechanical degradation. Polymer Degradation and Stability. 2004;86(3):445-453. doi:10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2004.05.016
  19. Goecke, A. Rheological Investigation of Mechanically Recycled PE and Investigation of PE Pyrolysis Condensates with a 1 H-NMR Spectrometer. Master Thesis, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany, 2022;
  20. Cuadri AA, Martín-Alfonso JE. The effect of thermal and thermo-oxidative degradation conditions on rheological, chemical and thermal properties of HDPE. Polymer Degradation and Stability. 2017;141:11-18. doi:10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2017.05.005
  21. Zhang J, Hirschberg V, Rodrigue D. Blending Recycled High-Density Polyethylene HDPE (rHDPE) with Virgin (vHDPE) as an Effective Approach to Improve the Mechanical Properties. Recycling. 2022;8(1):2. doi:10.3390/recycling8010002
  22. IMARC Group, Global High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Jan 7, 2025, Available from: https://www.imarcgroup.com/global-high-density-polythylene-market.
  23. Recycling Today, Still gaining, March 29, 2021, Available from: https://www.recyclingtoday.com/article/recycled-plastic-market-report-april-2020/
  24. Knovel, Standard Specifications for Transportation Materials and Methods of Sampling and Testing (35th Edition) and AASHTO Provisional Standards, M 330-13 - Polypropylene Pipe, 2015, Available from: https://app.knovel.com/kn/resources/kpSSTMMS55/toc
  25. Statista, S. domestic recycled HDPE bottle end use market, Jul 10, 2025, Available from: https://www.statista.com/statistics/623528/us-domestic-recycled-hdpe-bottle-end-use-market-breakdown.
  26. Global Plastic Sheeting, Available from: https://www.globalplasticsheeting.com/high-density-polyethylene-liners.
  27. Vatnsvirkinn, TECHNICAL DATA SHEET HDPE, 4, 2022, Available from: https://vatnsvirkinn.is/wp-content/uploads.
  28. Insumos Internacionales GC, S.A. de C.V., SABIC HDPE CC862, 2018, Available from: https://iigc.mx/Fichas/HDINM-CC862-SABIC.pdf
  29. LUKOIL, POLYPROPYLENE BUPLEN HOMOPOLYMER 6131 AND 6231, Available from: https://www.b2bpolymers.com/TDS/Lukoil_Buplen_6231.pdf
  30. Jin H, Gonzalez-Gitierrez J, Oblak P, Zupancic B, Emri I. The effect of extensive mechanical recycling on the properties of low density polyethylene. Polym Degrad Stab 2012;97:2262e72;
Support