The study of the influence of additives in the crystallinity of recycled LDPE by IR and XRD analysis

Abstract

In this study, the influence of additives used during the recycling process, to the crystallinity of LDPE was analyzed. The usage of LDPE recycled is growing, as well as other types of recycled plastics, due to its flexibility and other properties. The spectroscopic method of infrared vibration is used for microstructure analysis of the samples. The presence of low-intensity peaks to infrared spectrum at 1300-800 cm-1 for all samples indicates the presence of additives. The additives used in the recycled polymers influence their degree of crystallinity that is closely linked with their physical and mechanical properties. Due to the different rates of crystallinity the samples show different intensities of peak at 726 cm-1. XRD techniques are used to calculate the degree of crystallinity and to study the phase compound of recycled LDPE. Rutile’s and calcite’s peak were identified by diffractgrams analyses as the additives added in the recycled LDPE.