Composite of low-density polyethylene and aluminum obtained from the recycling of postconsumer aseptic packaging

The recycling process of postconsumer aseptic packaging composed of paper, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and aluminum consists of recovering paper, the major component, through centrifugation. The remaining mixture of LDPE and aluminum, a recycled composite called PEAL, offers an interesting combination of properties, especially because of the presence of a small amount of poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid (EMAA). In this work, this composite is characterized, and the properties are compared with those of pure LDPE and EMAA, the polymers that constitute the recycled material. PEAL is around 15% aluminum particles with different shapes and sizes. The composite presents higher thermooxidative stability, higher crystallinity, lower impact resistance, and higher tensile strength than the other olefin polymers. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.