Recycled Polymers: Identification and Optimization of Properties

In this project, recycled and virgin polyethylene terephthalate grades have been characterized, identifying parameters that allow their differentiation and evaluated blends with different compositions with the aim of optimizing final products properties.For that purpose, amorphous films were prepared by compression molding and carrying out a quenching process. These films then underwent FTIR, DSC, viscosity, GC/MS, TGA, MH and stress-strain tests.

After analyzing material behaviors, DSC was observed to be the most effective procedure to distinguish recycled material from virgin one, which shows more impediment to crystallize.