Repurposing Post-consumer Polyethylene to Access Cross-linked Polyethylene with Reprocessability, Recyclability, and Tunable Properties

Abstract

Polyethylene (PE) is the most widely produced plastic but accumulation and resistance to degradation has significantly contributed to the plastic waste crisis. Upcycling has presented promising solutions to transform PE waste into value-added products. Herein, mixed post-consumer PE was successfully repurposed into reprocessable and chemically recyclable cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE). This process involved converting PE into telechelic oligomers, followed by repolymerization using a hybrid cross-linking system consisting of a dynamic cross-linker 2,4,6-triethoxy-1,3,5-triazine (TETA) and non-dynamic cross-linker tris(6-isocyanatohexyl)isocyanurate (Tri-HDI). In the resulting XLPE, TETA facilitated iterative reprocessing with minimal property degradation across cycles, while Tri-HDI helped preserve functional performance throughout service life. Compared to PE, XLPE exhibited enhanced mechanical properties, reduced creep deformation under application-relevant temperatures, and high temperature structural stability. Notably, copolymerizing PE oligomers with commercial macrodiols was employed to create composite XLPEs, enabling tuning material properties. After use, XLPE can be efficiently and selectively depolymerized under mild conditions, even when mixed with commercial insulator cables. This depolymerization allows for the recovery of the constituent building blocks, enabling purification and subsequent repolymerization for reuse. This approach demonstrates the potential of repurposing plastic waste into sustainable materials and fostering the development of a circular economy.