Polymer Recyclates for Technical Parts - Rec2TecPart

Rec2TecPart (Recyclates to Technical Parts) is an innovative process design for a cradle-to-cradle material flow of technical thermoplastics. The Rec2TecPart process is separated in modules (procurement, input management, recipe, production, technical part and LCC/LCA) which simplifies the implementation later on. Beforehand a company analysis should provide weaknesses and strengths of the actual process, implementation of the needed and adapted modules leads to the Rec2TecPart process subsequently. Once implemented, the process upgrades plastic waste by compounding to fabricate tailor-made materials (“RecHQ”) for technical components in high quality. A key issue for success was the focus on product properties instead of trying to reach the material properties of virgin material. Compounding was done on an intermeshing, co-rotating twin screw extruder including melt filtration and pumping. Mechanical, rheological, thermal and optical properties of RecHQ were determined and compared. Furthermore, an environmental life cycle costing was conducted. To prove the suitability for daily use for both post-industrial and post-consumer waste, three case studies were executed. They verified that components made of 100 % RecHQ save at least 25 % CO 2 eq. and 20 % costs providing technical equal properties compared to virgin material.