Recycling of post-used PE packaging film using the restabilization technique

The remelting-restabilization technique was applied for the recycling of post-used, polyethylene packaging film. A multiple extrusion cycles procedure was performed at different reprocessing temperatures for monitoring the processing stability of the restabilized material. Furthermore, at different film blowing conditions mechanical properties were evaluated, to study the effect of restabilization on the mechanical performance of the recycled material. The results illustrate that the restabilization of PE film is Very impressive in limiting the degradation effect, which is an essential prerequisite for the re-use in the original application, i.e. for closed-loop recycling. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.