Nanosilicates in Compatibilized Mixed Recycled Polyolefins: Rheological Behavior and Film Production in a Circular Approach
Currently, plastic packaging represents a global challenge and has become a key point of attention for governments, media and consumers due to the visibility of the waste it generates. Despite their high resource efficiency, the perceived non-recyclability of polymeric films risks precluding them fr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/8/2128 |
| _version_ | 1797522564186112000 |
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| author | Emilia Garofalo Luciano Di Maio Paola Scarfato Annalisa Apicella Antonio Protopapa Loredana Incarnato |
| author_facet | Emilia Garofalo Luciano Di Maio Paola Scarfato Annalisa Apicella Antonio Protopapa Loredana Incarnato |
| author_sort | Emilia Garofalo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Currently, plastic packaging represents a global challenge and has become a key point of attention for governments, media and consumers due to the visibility of the waste it generates. Despite their high resource efficiency, the perceived non-recyclability of polymeric films risks precluding them from being a relevant packaging solution in a circular economy approach. In this regard, the aim of this study was to implement a strategy to try closing the loop, via the mechanical recycling of post-consumer flexible packaging of small size (denoted as Fil-s) to obtain new films. In particular, two lots of Fil-s were used, which are PE/PP blends differing for the PP content and the presence of polar contaminants. The suitability for film blowing extrusion of these recycled materials, as such and after the addition of a compatibilizer and/or a lamellar nanosilicate, was evaluated. It was first evidenced that the difficulty of producing blown films with the pristine recycled materials, due to the frequent bubble breakages, occurring even at low draw ratios. Moreover, the shear and extensional rheological behavior of all Fil-s based systems was usefully correlated with their processability features, evidencing the key roles of the nanofiller to stabilize the bubble and of the compatibilizer to ensure a uniform film deformation, avoiding its premature breakage. Even if the adopted upgrading strategies allowed the production of blown films with both types of Fil-s, the different components of the recycled matrices were proven to significantly affect their processability and final film performances. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:31:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-637c7abae27a448a825912dadf95a25f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:31:12Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-637c7abae27a448a825912dadf95a25f2023-11-22T09:00:54ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912021-08-01118212810.3390/nano11082128Nanosilicates in Compatibilized Mixed Recycled Polyolefins: Rheological Behavior and Film Production in a Circular ApproachEmilia Garofalo0Luciano Di Maio1Paola Scarfato2Annalisa Apicella3Antonio Protopapa4Loredana Incarnato5Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 84084 Fisciano, ItalyDepartment of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 84084 Fisciano, ItalyDepartment of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 84084 Fisciano, ItalyDepartment of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 84084 Fisciano, ItalyCOREPLA-Italian Consortium for the Collection and Recycling of Plastic Packages, Via del Vecchio Politecnico, 20121 Milano, ItalyDepartment of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 84084 Fisciano, ItalyCurrently, plastic packaging represents a global challenge and has become a key point of attention for governments, media and consumers due to the visibility of the waste it generates. Despite their high resource efficiency, the perceived non-recyclability of polymeric films risks precluding them from being a relevant packaging solution in a circular economy approach. In this regard, the aim of this study was to implement a strategy to try closing the loop, via the mechanical recycling of post-consumer flexible packaging of small size (denoted as Fil-s) to obtain new films. In particular, two lots of Fil-s were used, which are PE/PP blends differing for the PP content and the presence of polar contaminants. The suitability for film blowing extrusion of these recycled materials, as such and after the addition of a compatibilizer and/or a lamellar nanosilicate, was evaluated. It was first evidenced that the difficulty of producing blown films with the pristine recycled materials, due to the frequent bubble breakages, occurring even at low draw ratios. Moreover, the shear and extensional rheological behavior of all Fil-s based systems was usefully correlated with their processability features, evidencing the key roles of the nanofiller to stabilize the bubble and of the compatibilizer to ensure a uniform film deformation, avoiding its premature breakage. Even if the adopted upgrading strategies allowed the production of blown films with both types of Fil-s, the different components of the recycled matrices were proven to significantly affect their processability and final film performances.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/8/2128post-consumer plastic filmsmixed polyolefinsmechanical recyclingfilm blowingextensional rheology |
| spellingShingle | Emilia Garofalo Luciano Di Maio Paola Scarfato Annalisa Apicella Antonio Protopapa Loredana Incarnato Nanosilicates in Compatibilized Mixed Recycled Polyolefins: Rheological Behavior and Film Production in a Circular Approach Nanomaterials post-consumer plastic films mixed polyolefins mechanical recycling film blowing extensional rheology |
| title | Nanosilicates in Compatibilized Mixed Recycled Polyolefins: Rheological Behavior and Film Production in a Circular Approach |
| title_full | Nanosilicates in Compatibilized Mixed Recycled Polyolefins: Rheological Behavior and Film Production in a Circular Approach |
| title_fullStr | Nanosilicates in Compatibilized Mixed Recycled Polyolefins: Rheological Behavior and Film Production in a Circular Approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nanosilicates in Compatibilized Mixed Recycled Polyolefins: Rheological Behavior and Film Production in a Circular Approach |
| title_short | Nanosilicates in Compatibilized Mixed Recycled Polyolefins: Rheological Behavior and Film Production in a Circular Approach |
| title_sort | nanosilicates in compatibilized mixed recycled polyolefins rheological behavior and film production in a circular approach |
| topic | post-consumer plastic films mixed polyolefins mechanical recycling film blowing extensional rheology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/8/2128 |
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