Recycling Of Thermoset Plastics: Challenges, Achievements And Future Prospects

Discuss about the Recycling of Thermoset Plastics.

The article ’Plastics, Recycling and Technology’ by the British Plastics Federation illustrates that for a product to be categorized as sustainable, it must fulfill three dimensions aspects related to sustainability. The three conditions include environmental, economical and social aspect of sustainability. They are known as the Three Pillars of Sustainability. Plastics observe the three pillars.

• Under environmental sustainability, they use a very low percentage of the world’s oil in their production. Plastics are durable and of light weight. This has pushed their usage in planes, phones cars. Their light weight has prompted them to be preferred over other forms of packaging hence saving energy and reducing waste. Cucumbers are covered in plastic to retain their water content as plastics prevent their water loss in moisture form. Plastics play another great role in the construction industry. Plastic foam insulation can be used in making plastic pipes for water, sewerage and electricity purposes. The transport sector also uses plastics. The light weight characteristic entwined with durability makes them even preferable for the sector. They make automobiles light. They are flexible and elastic in that they can be molded into any desired shape for the transport sector. Plastics are also corrosion free.
• In the aerospace industry, planes bodies such as the Airbus A380 is built from carbon reinforced plastics. This facilitates reduction of fuel consumption as they weigh less.

In the article, ‘Plastics Recycling: challenges and opportunities’ plastics are deemed to be inexpensive and durable. The plastic production is on the increase due to increase in number of uses hence its recycling should be highly encouraged as this reduces oil usage and carbon dioxide emissions. Recycling is a key factor to reduce the wastes available. The recycling depends on the type of plastic materials available. The waste plastic management procedures involved include:

• Landfill spaces have reduced drastically as land is becoming scarce due to increase in population in the country. This leads to contamination of soil and the underground water
• The incineration and energy recovery form of waste plastic management is the commonly used one. It has greatly helped in reducing the plastics available in landfills and other waste disposal points. However when plastics are burnt to ashes, they emit fumes which pollute the air. Nonetheless incineration can allow recovery of some energy from the plastics.
• Down gauging advises business entities and packaging sectors in manufacturing points and industries to reduce the amount of materials used for packaging. It suggests that the amount of packaging materials used should as minimum as possible. This decision has not been welcomed by most of the entities as packaging allows them to promote the product which will improve sales. Customers are attracted by the aesthetic nature of packaging materials when buying a commodity. This has discouraged down gauging making it almost ineffective.
• Reusing is the plastic packaging is another way of recycling waste plastic management. Reusing can also be described as repurposing. Upon completion of the purpose a plastic was destined for, it can be converted to other purpose where the user feels it can serve effectively and efficiently. However some plastic bags or containers cannot be repurposed or reused. Direct take-back and refilling schemes have been incorporated in several companies so as to reduce plastic wastage available.
• Plastic recycling has a lot of processes involved. Under this close-loop recycling, tertiary recycling also known as chemical recycling or feedstock recycling are applied.

The ideas presented in the articles are effective and efficient in managing waste plastics not only in their respective countries but also worldwide. All these processes allow recycling of waste but none of them illustrates on how part of the non-recyclable plastics can be made biodegradable or recyclable. These plastics are known as thermoset plastics as stated by Seliger (2011).

The first article illustrates the diversity of plastic uses and how the plastics conquer the pillars of sustainability. The thermoset plastic formerly they did not observe the three pillars as the option of environmental sustainability was not attained. The article generalizes recycling as if it is the processes involved are applicable to all plastics. It does not categorize plastics as different plastics are used for different purposes. The plastics used in the construction industry differ from those used in planes. One sector will require denser and durable products while the other will require simple and lighter plastics.

This report will outline the recycling process of the category of plastics which have not been easily recyclable or repurposed. It will also describe the achievements to be achieved if these plastics are recycled.

Technology is the greatest factor of evolution in the current world. The National institute of industrial research in India states that technology has fundamentally rearranged our lives from how we do our communication to how we treat patients and also travel. Most of the new technologies have great breakthrough promises of solving world’s most pressing matters ranging from globalization to pollution. Just a glimpse of the power of innovation through technology, one will understand how the ideas will transform industries and safeguard our perishing planet (Tolinski 2012).

Conclusion

Waste disposal is a great problem worldwide. It poses significant threat to the environment and the society at large. Apart from eroding the aesthetic value of land they can facilitate survival of disease causing germs. Plastics form a large portion of this waste. This is because they are immensely used in our society for various day to day activities and take time to decompose. Even though some of this waste can be recycled, reused or repurposed to make new product, others cannot be recycled. Plastics are part and parcel of the waste (Eiri Board of Consultants & Engineers 2008 p.12).

Plastics are a common material in the modern life where their usage is well diversified. Their characteristics that make them preferable such as durability, their lightness in terms of weight and low costs also makes them an environmental menace as they are non biodegradable in nature. Some of the plastics form part and parcel of the non-recyclable waste. Even when they are incinerated the fumes they emit are air pollutants, a phenomenon that every environment conserver will want to avoid (Goodman et.al 2014).

Plastics are generally categorized into two. The two categories entail thermo plastics and thermosets. Thermo plastics are those plastics that can be recycled, reused or repurposed. If there is need for them to be recycled a process known as pyrolysis is involved (Alexander et.al 2012). The process transforms plastics back to their original form which is the crude oil where they can be converted into usable fuel. The above articles processes and explanation are well applicable to this form of plastics.

Hung et.al (2014) and Goodship (2007) emphasize that Thermoset plastics can only be heated and shaped once, after which they cannot be recycled back, hence retaining their shape and strength even when the heat and pressure is intensified. Due to this characteristic, the thermoset plastics are used in  making parts belonging to airplanes, tires, cars, part of medical equipments, mobile phone casings, circuit boards and  others this facilitates their large quantity production. The plastics occupy a large portion of the chunks that fill our environment and even water bodies.

However, in relation to Alexander (2015) technological advancements have divulged into the waste recycling sector leading to the development of fully recyclable thermoset plastics which can replace the non-recyclable ones. If the new plastic product is proven fit for use, it will be better and cheaper to use. This new plastic is known as polyhexahydrotriazine (PHTs).

References

This type of plastic can be dissolved in strong acids breaking it into component monomers which can be later reassembled to make new products or it can be melted and reshaped into other useful products. These PHTs will help in achieving a sustainable environment and reduce landfill waste (Yam 2009).

Researchers have come up with a solution by creating two thermosetting polymers. Polyhexahydritriazine (PHT’s) is one of the discoveries. The plastic has an added advantage of durability when carbon nanotubes are added to it. In the process of carrying out the PHTs research, a gel has been discovered which, when used on plastics, gives damaged plastics the ability to heal themselves. This process is known as elastic organogel. (Letcher et.al 2012, Andersen et.al 2015: Gaurina 2015)

The PHT will lead to increase the source of sustainable raw materials to the industry. It will also reduce environmental impacts brought about by the numerous products that use plastics. The discovery will reduce the utilization of oil stocks as much of plastics will be recycled.

Apart from the above, other achievements expected include:

• Improving resource efficiency and enable closed-loop material flows.
• It will give organization easy time to concentrate on innovating products and process. Most industries and manufacturing firms have taken a lot of time and effort in researching for ways of producing recyclable plastics at the same time maintaining their characteristics that suit them best for their functions (Curran 2008). This has led to dedicating massive resources for the same. The discoveries of PHT will ease the budgets and concentrate on serving clients with environmentally sustainable products for their use.
• According to Alexander et.al (2012) The new thermoset is less expensive than the current alternatives under use which are non-biodegradable and expensive. Incorporation of PHT into use will not be as costly as the current non-biodegradable thermoset polymers. This can lower budgetary strain on the entities or manufacturers who want to use them.
• Unruh outlines that the new thermoset are also flexible and elastic in that they utilize materials that are already available in the industry. Installing the new polymers doesn’t require any changes in the current to the existing compounds and synthetic methods as it can be easily and quickly adopted by the industry (Unruh 2010).
• The thermoset will solve the demanding situation of recycling ability of the old hardware available.

Conclusion

In conclusion, recycling is a significant way of ending plastic waste landfill eyesore and managing waste. Through reduction of these materials on the earth’s surface thanks to the introduction of recyclable thermo sets we will be walking towards sustainability. Recyclable plastic wastes can be converted into other useful plastic based products, thus reducing the hazard caused by plastic waste on the environment and on people(Wolf 2012; Denbratti et.al 2015).

More funds should be directed by both the country and individual companies to bring out enhance utilization of these plastics.

References

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ANDERSEN, L., WEIDLING, A., & NEIDEL, T. L. (2015). Plastic sorting at recycling centres Background report. Copenhagen K, Nordic Council of Ministers.

ANDRADY, A. L. (2015). Plastics and Environmental Sustainability.

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EIRI BOARD OF CONSULTANTS & ENGINEERS. (2008). Plastic waste recycling technology. Delhi, India, Engineers India Research Institute.

GAURINA-MEDJIMUREC, N. (2015). Handbook of research on advancements in environmental engineering. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=945915.

GODSEY, L. (2013). Interior design: materials and specifications. Pg 229

GOODMAN, S. H., & HANNA, D. (2014). Handbook of thermoset plastics. San Diego, William Andrew. Available online at:  https://www.books24x7.com/marc.aspx?bookid=58849.

GOODSHIP, V. (2007). Introduction to plastics recycling. Shawbury, UK, Smithers Rapra.

HUNG, Y.-T., WANG, L. K., & SHAMMAS, N. K. (2014). Handbook of environment & waste management.

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LETCHER, T. M., & SCOTT, J. L. (2012). Materials for a sustainable future. Cambridge, UK, RSC Pub.

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH (INDIA). (2007). Hand book on biodegradable plastics: eco-friendly plastics. Delhi, India, Publication Division, National Institute of Industrial Research.

SELIGER, G., KHRAISHEH, M. M., & JAWAHIR, I. (2011). Advances in Sustainable Manufacturing Proceedings of the 8th Global Conference on Sustainable Manufacturing. Berlin, Springer Berlin

TOLINSKI, M. (2012). Plastics and sustainability: towards a peaceful coexistence between bio-based and fossil fuel-based plastics. Hoboken, N.J., John Wiley & Sons. https://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=818539.

UNRUH, G. (2010). Earth, Inc.: using nature's rules to build sustainable profits.

WOLF, R. A. (2012). Atmospheric Pressure Plasma for Surface Modification. New York, NY, John Wiley & Sons. https://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:101:1-201502137113.

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