Title: PMMA Composite Recycling – A Shift Towards Net Zero Discharge

Authors: Jinfeng Zhuge, Kapil Inamdar

DOI: 10.33599/nasampe/c.22.0004

Abstract: Toray Performance Materials Corporation (Toray PMC) is the leading supplier of Continuous Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic (CFRT®) composite materials to a range of high-volume markets including Athletic Footwear, Medical, Industrial, and Sports & Recreation. Some of these applications are based on continuous fiber reinforced polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) resin and can involve significant amount of scrap generation that can end up in landfill. In line with the corporate strategy to reduce waste and offer sustainable product solutions to our customers, a study was conducted to assess the feasibility of recycling the waste stream of PMMA composites. An investigation was conducted to screen numerous technologies to chop/shred the composite scrap into a well-controlled size for easy feeding into an extruder. Further, the chopped composite scrap was combined with various thermoplastic polymers to achieve value added performance. A range of mechanical property testing and part injection molding trials were conducted. This report details the undertaken effort and highlights the success achieved in creating high impact injection moldable compounds based on PMMA resin based composite scrap that otherwise would end up in a landfill. In conclusion, this initiative lays down a line of sight for scalable pathway to recycling and repurposing PMMA composites.

Authors: Jinfeng Zhuge, Kapil Inamdar

References: 1. Z. Wen, Y. Xie, M. Chen, C.D. Dinga, China’s plastic import ban increases prospects of environmental impact mitigation of plastic waste trade flow worldwide. Nature Communications. 12, 425, 2021 2. A. Chaudhari, Recycling Rethink: What to Do with Trash Now That China Wont’ Take It: The Wall Street Journal, 2019. 3. M. Iqbal, Compression Molding of Chopped Woven Thermoplastic Composite Flakes, PhD Thesis, University of Twente, 2016. 4. Ville et al, Influence of Extrusion Conditions on Fiber Breakage Along the Screw Profile During Twin Screw Compounding of Glass Fiber-Reinforced PA, Internal Polymer Processing Journal of the Polymer Processing Society, 2012. 5. Seegar P, Ratfisch R, Moneke M and Burkhart T, Addition of thermo-plastic polyurethane (TPU) to poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to improve its impact strength and to change its scratch behavior. Wear. 406-407 68-74, 2018.

Conference: CAMX 2022

Publication Date: 2022/10/17

SKU: TP22-0000000004

Pages: 9

Price: $18.00