Recycled Polymers: Chemistry and Processing, Volume 1

Polymers have been one of the most widely used materials in our daily life due to properties including low production costs, light weight, hygiene, durability and design adaptability. However, the increasing consumption of different kinds of polymer-based materials in various fields results in a huge amount of waste material. Once the polymers have fulfilled the function for which they were manufactured, they are disposed of in landfills in large amounts each year, which is incompatible with current environmental goals. The disposal of polymer-based plastics, such as incineration and landfill, results in environmental pollution and land occupation. The current levels of polymer disposal are not sustainable and polymer recycling, which is one of the most important actions currently available to reduce the negative impacts, is receiving increasing attention. Recycling provides opportunities to reduce oil usage, carbon dioxide emissions and the quantities of polymer waste, as well as the negative impacts of disposal. Using recycled polymer wastes to replace virgin materials in some applications, such as nonfood packaging and automotive components, can effectively decrease the demand for imported oil and conserve raw materials. Furthermore, it can also lead to energy saving and create new jobs. Considering all the positive impacts of polymer recycling on the environment, economy and society, considerable attention is being given to recover materials from polymer waste. This book is intended for all those who are interested in the recycling of postconsumer polymer waste and is an outcome of the untiring effort of researchers, from different parts of the world, with extensive research experience in the field of recycled polymers. This book enables the reader to gain a thorough understanding of the chemistry and processing of recycled polymers, and also provides an instrumental resource for those already working in this field. Some of the main features are: • Highlights the chemistry of recycled polymers and compares them with traditional polymers • Discusses the processing of different kinds of recycled polymers • Highlights new frontiers in the different processing techniques • Evaluates the performance of recycled polymers • Focuses on recyclability and up-to-date progress on recycled polymers • Describes the present state of polymer recycling