Rheology of Recycled PET

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a thermoplastic material that is widely used in many application fields, such as packaging, construction and household products. Due to the relevant contribution of PET to global yearly solid waste, the recycling of such material has become an important issue. Disposed PET does not maintain the mechanical properties of virgin material, as exposure to water and other substances can cause multiple chain scissions, with subsequent degradation of the viscoelastic properties. For this reason, chain extension is needed to improve the final properties of the recycled product. Chain extension is generally performed through reactive extrusion. As the latter involves structural modification and flow of PET molecules, rheology is a relevant asset for understanding the process and tailoring the mechanical properties of the final products. This paper briefly reviews relevant rheological studies associated with the recycling of polyethylene terephthalate through the reactive extrusion process.

Automated summary

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is widely used in various fields, and its recycling has become important due to its contribution to global solid waste. The mechanical properties of recycled PET are inferior to those of virgin material, so chain extension is needed to improve the final product. Reactive extrusion is commonly used for chain extension, and rheological studies play a crucial role in understanding the process and tailoring the mechanical properties of recycled PET.