Recycling and Environmental Challenges of Thermoplastics

Abstract

A thermoplastic is plastic/polymer that becomes mouldable at a certain temperature and solidifies after cooling. Thermoplastics usually have a high molecular weight. Thermoplastics contain polymer chains which are held together by intermolecular forces. These intermolecular forces weaken with increased temperature resulting in a viscous liquid. Hence, thermoplastics can be remoulded on heating. These are usually used to produce components by a number of polymer-processing techniques such as injection moulding, compression moulding, extrusion process, etc. Thermoplastics differ from thermosetting polymers. Thermosetting polymers form irreversible chemical bonds during the cool-down stage after heating. In other words, thermosetting polymers do not melt upon heating, instead they decompose and do not reform upon cooling. One of the main advantages of thermoplastics over thermosetting polymers is their property of recyclability. This paper depicts how thermoplastics can be recycled for injection moulding application for the production of plastic cages.