After general consideration of the factors currently influencing recycling practice, the main physical and Chemical routes for recycling polyurethanes are briefly presented.
A new process now under development to improve the glycolysis of flexible foams and elastomers is described. It is particularly suitable for recycling classified post-user materials, mainly from the automotive industry, back into simiiar applications. Glycolysis technology is thus brought closer to the point where a partially closed loop cycle can be realised.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
WeigandE., Recycling and Reuse of Polyurethanes - Possibilites and Limitations, European Plastics News, Conference, September 1991
2.
FransenH., Polyurethanes: Recyclable Materials for Automotive Applications, Automotive and Environment Conference, Brussels, November 1991
3.
SinghN.S., PiccolinoE., BergenholtzJ.B. and SmithR.C., Recycling of RIM Polyurea Elastomers by Thermal processing, S.A.E.International Congress, Detroit, February 1991
4.
BauerG., Alkoholyse, Chemisches Recycling verfahren fur PUR und gemischte Kunstoffabfalle, 81, 4, 1991, p. 301
5.
ModestiM., SimioniF. and RienziS.A., Recycling of Microcellular Polyurethane Elastomer Waste, SPI/1SOPA Polyurethane Conference, Nice, September 1991
6.
NiederdellmanG., HetzelH. and PetersonH., Hydrolyse von PU abfallen, BMFT.FB-T report 83-199, (Ministry for Research and Technology, Bonn, September 1983)
7.
SinnH., Moglichkeiten und Grenzen pyrolytischer Werkstoff -Ruckgewinnung aus Kunststoff abfallen.Proceedings of German-Japanese Polymer colloguium, (Berliner Verband fur Polymerforschung), September 1990
