Giulia Infurna , Alessia Romani , Maria Chiara Riccelli , Marinella Levi , Loredana Incarnato , Nadka Tz Dintcheva
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Despite being one of the most widely used polymers, polypropylene (PP) has a recycling rate of just 5%, mainly due to difficulties in separating it from other polyolefins and contained additives, as well as its tendency to quickly degrade during reprocessing and use. However, face masks, composed of pure PP without additives and designed for short-term use, offer a unique recycling opportunity.
This research explores the recycling potential of PP from disposable face masks, focusing on how different sanitisation methods— ultrasounds and aqueous hypochlorous acid (HClO) solution—impact the material's properties. The research evaluates the extrusion reprocessing of both sanitised and unsanitised PP, in its pure form and when blended with virgin PP at different ratios (90/10, 70/30, 50/50 by weight), for potential applications such as cast film extrusion and additive manufacturing. Results highlight that different PP grades are used in the mask's layers for specific filtrations roles. However, the recycling process considered in this study did not separate these layers, simplifying industrial applicability. After sanitisation and extrusion processes, no evidence of chemical oxidation was found, but rheological analyses revealed polymer chain breakdown and reduced molecular weight. Blending the recycled polymer with virgin PP, modified rheological, thermal and mechanical properties with variations depending on the blend composition.
Incorporating virgin polypropylene to enhance the performance of the recyclate demonstrates the feasibility of recovering a valuable material that, properly sanitised, retains properties suitable for industrial processes such as cast film extrusion and additive manufacturing. This approach underscores the potential of recycling strategies to convert discarded surgical masks from waste into valuable and make a significant contribution to the circular economy model.
期刊介绍：
Polymer Degradation and Stability deals with the degradation reactions and their control which are a major preoccupation of practitioners of the many and diverse aspects of modern polymer technology.
Deteriorative reactions occur during processing, when polymers are subjected to heat, oxygen and mechanical stress, and during the useful life of the materials when oxygen and sunlight are the most important degradative agencies. In more specialised applications, degradation may be induced by high energy radiation, ozone, atmospheric pollutants, mechanical stress, biological action, hydrolysis and many other influences. The mechanisms of these reactions and stabilisation processes must be understood if the technology and application of polymers are to continue to advance. The reporting of investigations of this kind is therefore a major function of this journal.
However there are also new developments in polymer technology in which degradation processes find positive applications. For example, photodegradable plastics are now available, the recycling of polymeric products will become increasingly important, degradation and combustion studies are involved in the definition of the fire hazards which are associated with polymeric materials and the microelectronics industry is vitally dependent upon polymer degradation in the manufacture of its circuitry. Polymer properties may also be improved by processes like curing and grafting, the chemistry of which can be closely related to that which causes physical deterioration in other circumstances.
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