Top

Rheologica Acta

Published in:

11-04-2024 | Original Contribution

Shear and extensional rheology of polyethylenes recycled using a solvent dissolution process

Authors: Guinevere Tillinghast, Kevin L. Sánchez-Rivera, George W. Huber, H. Henning Winter, Jonathan P. Rothstein

Published in: Rheologica Acta | Issue 5/2024

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config

AI-assisted search

Off

Abstract

There is high market demand for increasing the viability of current plastic recycling processes. In this work rheology is used to evaluate the mechanical properties of a solvent dissolution recycled polymer compared to its virgin untreated precursor. Solvent dissolution and precipitation are used to target multi-layer, multi-component, industry films, which cannot be mechanically recycled. Polyethylene was chosen as the primary polymer of interest. Polymer thermal stability was monitored via time-resolved rheology; consecutive frequency sweeps over the course of an hour while under isothermal conditions. Additional rheological experiments were performed within the identified thermally stable conditions. Small-angle oscillatory shear was complemented with steady shear viscosity experiments over a wide range of shear rates. Extensional rheology was used to determine changes in molecular weight and cross link density. Rheological characterization is supplemented with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry of the solvent wash to determine components stripped from the virgin polymers during solvent treatment.

Graphical abstract

previous article Melt strain hardening of polymeric systems filled with solid particles: review and supplementary experimental results

next article Interfacial shear and elongational rheology of immiscible multi-micro-nanolayered polymers: contribution for probing the effect of highly mismatched viscoelastic properties and modeling interfacial tension properties

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 67.000 Bücher
über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 102.000 Bücher
über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Available only for authorised users

Anna SL, McKinley GH, Nguyen DA, Sridhar T, Muller SJ, Huang J, James DF (2001) An interlaboratory comparison of measurements from filament-stretching rheometers using common test fluids. J Rheol (N Y N Y) 45:83–114. https://doi.org/10.1122/1.1332388CrossRef

APK (2024) Newcycling - APK AG. https://www.apk.group/en/newcycling/. Accessed 19 Jan 2024

Bahlouli N, Pessey D, Raveyre C, Guillet J, Ahzi S, Dahoun A, Hiver JM (2012) Recycling effects on the rheological and thermomechanical properties of polypropylene-based composites. Mater Des 33:451–458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2011.04.049CrossRef

Baumgaertel M, Winter HH (1989) Determination of discrete relaxation and retardation time spectra from dynamic mechanical data. Rheol Acta 28:511–519CrossRef

Baumgaertel M, Winter HH (1992) Interrelation between continuous and discrete relaxation time spectra. J Nonnewton Fluid Mech 44:15–36CrossRef

Camacho J, Díez E, Ovejero G (2017) Bulk polymer/solvent interactions for polyethylene and EVA copolymers, below their melting temperatures. Polym Bull 74:11–25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-016-1694-3CrossRef

Cervantes-Reyes A, Núñez-Pineda A, Barrera-Díaz C, Varela-Guerrero V, Martínez-Barrera G, Cuevas-Yañez E (2015) Solvent effect in the polyethylene recovery from multilayer postconsumer aseptic packaging. Waste Manag 38:61–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2015.01.034CrossRefPubMed

Chang SS (1974) Heat Capacities of Polyethylene From 2 To 360 K - 2. Two high density linear polyethylene samples and thermodynamic properties of crystalline linear polyethylene. J Res Natl Bur Stand Sect A Phys Chem 78 A:387–400. https://doi.org/10.6028/jres.078a.022CrossRef

Chellamuthu M, Arora D, Winter HH, Rothstein JP (2011) Extensional flow-induced crystallization of isotactic poly-1-butene using a filament stretching rheometer. J Rheol (N Y N Y) 55:901–920. https://doi.org/10.1122/1.3593471CrossRef

Curtzwiler G, Vorst K, Danes JE, Auras R, Singh J (2011) Effect of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) content on properties of extruded poly(ethylene terephthalate) sheets. J Plast Film Sheeting 27:65–86. https://doi.org/10.1177/8756087911405824CrossRef

Feldman D (1989) The theory of polymer dynamics, by M. Doi and S. F. Edwards, the Clarendon Press, Oxford University Press, New York, 1986, 391 pp. Price: $78.50. J Polym Sci Part C Polym Lett 27:239–240. https://doi.org/10.1002/pol.1989.140270706CrossRef

Fraunhofer (2024) Recycling plastics - The CreaSolv® Process - Fraunhofer IVV. https://www.ivv.fraunhofer.de/en/recycling-environment/recycling-plastics-creasolv.html. Accessed 4 Oct 2023

Gao J, Duan L, Yang G, Zhang Q, Yang M, Fu Q (2012) Manipulating poly(lactic acid) surface morphology by solvent-induced crystallization. Appl Surf Sci 261:528–535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2012.08.050CrossRef

Geyer R, Jambeck JR, Law KL (2017) Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. Sci Adv 3:25–29. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1700782CrossRef

Huang Q, Mangnus M, Alvarez NJ, Koopmans R, Hassager O (2016) A new look at extensional rheology of low-density polyethylene. Rheol Acta 343–350. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00397-016-0921-z

Jehanno C, Alty JW, Roosen M, De Meester S, Dove AP, Chen EYX, Leibfarth FA, Sardon H (2022) Critical advances and future opportunities in upcycling commodity polymers. Nature 603:803–814. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04350-0CrossRefPubMed

Kaiser K, Schmid M, Schlummer M (2018) Recycling of polymer-based multilayer packaging: a review. Recycling 3. https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling3010001

Li H, Aguirre-Villegas HA, Allen RD et al (2022) Expanding plastics recycling technologies: chemical aspects, technology status and challenges. Green Chem 24:8899–9002. https://doi.org/10.1039/d2gc02588dCrossRef

Mckinley GH, Sridhar T (2002) Filament-stretching rheometry of complex fluids. Annu Rev Fluid Mech 34:375–415CrossRef

Morelly SL, Alvarez NJ (2020) Characterizing long-chain branching in commercial HDPE samples via linear viscoelasticity and extensional rheology. Rheol Acta 59:797–807. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00397-020-01233-5CrossRef

Mours M, Winter HH (1994) Time-resolved rheometry. Rheol Acta 33:385–397CrossRef

Münstedt H, Laun HM (1981) Elongational properties and molecular structure of polyethylene melts. Rheol Acta 20:211–221. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01678022CrossRef

Pillin I, Montrelay N, Bourmaud A, Grohens Y (2008) Effect of thermo-mechanical cycles on the physico-chemical properties of poly(lactic acid). Polym Degrad Stab 93:321–328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2007.12.005CrossRef

Poh L, Narimissa E, Wagner MH, Winter HH (2022) Interactive shear and extensional rheology—25 years of IRIS software. Rheol Acta 61:259–269. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00397-022-01331-6CrossRef

Purecycle (2024) PureCycle | The sustainable plastic revolution has arrived. https://www.purecycle.com/. Accessed 19 Jan 2024

Qureshi MS, Oasmaa A, Pihkola H, Deviatkin I, Tenhunen A, Mannila J, Minkkinen H, Pohjakallio M, Laine-Ylijoki J (2020) Pyrolysis of plastic waste: opportunities and challenges. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2020.104804

Rothstein JP (2003) Transient extensional rheology of wormlike micelle solutions. J Rheol (N Y N Y) 47:1227–1247. https://doi.org/10.1122/1.1603242CrossRef

Rothstein JP, McKinley GH (2002a) A comparison of the stress and birefringence growth of dilute, semi-dilute and concentrated polymer solutions in uniaxial extensional flows. J Nonnewton Fluid Mech 108:275–290. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0377-0257(02)00134-9CrossRef

Rothstein JP, McKinley GH (2002b) Inhomogeneous transient uniaxial extensional rheometry. J Rheol (N Y N Y) 46:1419–1443. https://doi.org/10.1122/1.1516788CrossRef

Sánchez-Rivera KL, Huber GW (2021) Catalytic hydrogenolysis of polyolefins into alkanes. ACS Cent Sci 7:17–19. https://doi.org/10.1021/acscentsci.0c01637CrossRefPubMed

Sánchez-Rivera KL, Zhou P, Kim MS, González Chávez LD, Grey S, Nelson K, Wang SC, Hermans I, Zavala VM, Van Lehn RC, Huber GW (2021) Reducing antisolvent use in the STRAP process by enabling a temperature-controlled polymer dissolution and precipitation for the recycling of multilayer plastic films. ChemSusChem 14:4317–4329. https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202101128CrossRefPubMed

Sturm DR, Caputo KJ, Liu S, Danner RP (2018) Solubility of solvents in polyethylene below the melt temperature. Fluid Phase Equilib 470:68–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fluid.2017.09.004CrossRef

Sur S, Chellamuthu M, Rothstein J (2019) High-temperature extensional rheology of linear, branched, and hyper-branched polycarbonates. Rheol Acta 58:557–572. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00397-019-01157-9CrossRef

Sur S, Chellamuthu M, Rothstein J (2020) High temperature extensional rheology of commercially available polycarbonate mixed with flame retardant salts. Korea Aust Rheol J 32:47–59. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13367-020-0006-5CrossRef

Szabo P (1997) Transient filament stretching rheometer. I: Force balance analysis. Rheol Acta 36:277–284. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00366669CrossRef

Ügdüler S, Van Geem KM, Roosen M, Delbeke EIP, De Meester S (2020) Challenges and opportunities of solvent-based additive extraction methods for plastic recycling. Waste Manag 104:148–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.01.003CrossRefPubMed

Walker TW, Frelka N, Shen Z, Chew AK, Banick J, Grey S, Kim MS, Dumesic JA, Van Lehn RC, Huber GW (2020) Recycling of multilayer plastic packaging materials by solvent-targeted recovery and precipitation. Sci Adv 6:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aba7599CrossRef

White EEB, Winter HH, Rothstein JP (2012) Extensional-flow-induced crystallization of isotactic polypropylene. Rheol Acta 51:303–314. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00397-011-0595-5CrossRef

Wiesinger H, Wang Z, Hellweg S (2021) Deep dive into plastic monomers, additives, and processing aids. Environ Sci Technol 55:9339–9351. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c00976CrossRefPubMed

Wypych G (2017) Introduction. In: Handbook of plasticizers, 3rd edn. Elsevier, pp 1–6

Yasuda K, Armstrong RC, Cohen RE (1981) Shear flow properties of concentrated solutions of linear and star branched polystyrenes. Rheol Acta 20:163–178. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01513059CrossRef

Zhao D, Wang X, Miller JB, Huber GW (2020) The chemistry and kinetics of polyethylene pyrolysis: a process to produce fuels and chemicals. ChemSusChem 13:1764–1774. https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201903434CrossRefPubMed

Zhao YB, Lv XD, Ni HG (2018) Solvent-based separation and recycling of waste plastics: a review. Chemosphere 209:707–720. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.06.095CrossRefPubMed

Zhou P, Sánchez-Rivera KL, Huber GW, Van Lehn RC (2021) Computational approach for rapidly predicting temperature-dependent polymer solubilities using molecular-scale models. ChemSusChem 14:4307–4316. https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202101137CrossRefPubMed

Title: Shear and extensional rheology of polyethylenes recycled using a solvent dissolution process
Authors: Guinevere Tillinghast
Kevin L. Sánchez-Rivera
George W. Huber
H. Henning Winter
Jonathan P. Rothstein
Publication date: 11-04-2024
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Rheologica Acta / Issue 5/2024
Print ISSN: 0035-4511
Electronic ISSN: 1435-1528
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00397-024-01446-y

Springer Professional

Abstract

Graphical abstract

Please log in to get access to your license.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Technik"

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Other articles of this Issue 5/2024

Interfacial shear and elongational rheology of immiscible multi-micro-nanolayered polymers: contribution for probing the effect of highly mismatched viscoelastic properties and modeling interfacial tension properties

Variable entanglement density constitutive rheological model for polymeric fluids

Gelation of PU elastomers: rheological characterization for liquid additive manufacturing

Melt strain hardening of polymeric systems filled with solid particles: review and supplementary experimental results

Premium Partners