Enhanced performance of recycled polyethylene-integrated trilayer low-density polyethylene/linear low-density polyethylene heat-shrink films for brick packaging: A comprehensive study

Abstract

Recycling is a waste-management method, but it may also be considered as one modern example of putting the notion of industrial ecology into practice, whereas in a natural ecosystem, waste is absent and only products are occurring. Therefore, this study engaged within the identical framework which concerns investigating recycled plastic granulates that came from non-compliant polyethylene (PE) products as industrial waste and their reinsertion into the production lines of a trilayered heat shrink film. Firstly, the investigation started with the attribution of 2 types of recycled polyethylene (RPE1 and RPE2) then each type of these granulates was added to the trilayered film’s core layer. Whereby the preparation of two witness samples and targeting four weight charges of RPE substitution (10, 30, 50, and 70 wt%), respectively, for RPE1 and RPE2. The as-produced specimens were then examined for their behaviour during the blow film extrusion process. Dynamomechanical properties, such as Young’s modulus at machine direction (MD), were improved significantly from 173 MPa to 200 MPa by adding 50 wt% of RPE to the core layer correlated with increased shrinkability from 74 to 80%, as well as the colour appearance of the finished product has been evaluated. Nonetheless, these samples have been exposed to accelerated weathering and re-evaluated mechanically. It was found that the coupling between the RPE and virgin PE has resulted in an accelerated degradation effect on the dynamomechanical of the aged trilayered film.