Development of tensile properties and crystalline conformation of recycled polypropylene by re-extrusion using a twin-screw extruder with an additional molten resin reservoir unit

Abstract

Plastic mechanical recycling is an attractive method for reducing the amounts of waste plastics. However, the alterations in the mechanical properties (degradation) in recycled plastics is a limitation to the material’s mechanical recycling. In this study, the mechanical recycling was enhanced by the addition of a “molten resin reservoir” unit at the end of the twin-screw extruder. Recycled polypropylene (RPP) obtained from a household was re-extruded with this developed extrusion unit. The tensile properties, type of crystalline, and conformation of polypropylene polymorphs were evaluated and compared for virgin polypropylene (VPP), recycled polypropylene (RPP) without extrusion (RPP-original), and RPP with extrusion by using a new type of extruder (RPP-extrusion). It could be found that the tensile properties of RPP-extrusion were improved, so as to be similar to those of VPP. In addition, the conformation of RPP-extrusion was similar to that of VPP by increasing the ratio between the helix and parallel band. This study succeeded in regenerating the tensile properties and inner structures in recycled PP, which could prolong the used lifetime and decrease the amount of waste from single-use plastic.