Production and Characterization of crosslinked low-density polyethylene foams using waste of foams with the same composition

• Published in: Polymer engineering and science 2012-04, Vol.52 (4), p.751-759
• Main Authors: Saiz-Arroyo, C., de Saja, J.A., Rodríguez-Pérez, M.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemical processes; Chemical properties; Crosslinked polymers; Crosslinking polymerization; Exact sciences and technology; Foam; Heat conductivity; Low density polyethylenes; Mechanical properties; Physicochemistry of polymers; Plastic foams; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polyolefins; Production processes; Technology of polymers; Waste management
• ISSN: 0032-3888; 1548-2634
• DOI: 10.1002/pen.22138

A process to recover residues of crosslinked polyolefin foams is described in this paper. Low‐density foam scraps coming from discarded products or cuts from secondary manufacturing processes are heated and pressed to obtain a new material. The main target to reach with the used recovering process was to keep the density of the recycled specimens as low as possible, and similar to that of the starting products. The structure and properties of both recovered and virgin commercial materials with similar densities have been analyzed. It has been found that due to the recovering process cell size slightly decreased and at the same time the cells become orientated. Mechanical properties of recovered foams were lower than those of commercial products, even though thermal conductivity remained in the range of the values presented by virgin products, and recovered products were better sound absorbers than virgin foams. It is concluded that due to its low density and good balance of properties the recovered materials can substitute virgin materials in applications in which the key properties are excellent thermal insulation, good acoustic absorption, and medium compressive strength. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers