Recycling of polymer laminated aluminum packaging (PLAP) materials into carbonaceous metallic microparticles

This research describes the recycling of laminated metal packaging into multiple products by utilizing three different techniques. PLAP materials have been thermally disengaged at 550 degrees C for 20 min in an argon gas created inert atmosphere to recycle into solid Al and graphitic carbon. In a different route, in the presence of gaseous N-2 at 600 degrees C for 1h, the PLAP materials are degraded into bio-oil. A new technique to produce powdered materials from the ductile metal (Al) has been introduced in this study. In this technique, recycled Al and C from the first route at 550 degrees C, undergoes mechanical milling at cryogenic temperature (-196 degrees C) created by liquid N-2. The translatory high energy ball milling process varied for 2, 4, 6, and 8 cycles (time: 17, 29, 41, and 53 min respectively). As the milling process is extensively high impact loaded at a very low temperature, the foil-like Al recycled from the packaging waste transforms into smaller particles within a very short time (20 min). Upon further milling (41 min), the microparticles (particle size below 100 mu m) of Al can be observed. The microparticles received from the cryo-mill are characterized to investigate the particle size, morphology, crystallographic structure, thermal behavior, chemical state, and dispersibility in different liquid media. Flake shaped, and microsized carbonaceous Al microparticles are contamination-free and thermally stable and can be useful in the fields of additive manufacturing. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.