Recycling of polymer wastes

Polymeric materials have been widely used in a spectrum of applications. With the tremendous growth of the automobile industry, a huge amount of non-biodegradable polymer waste continues to accumulate. Recycling of scrap tires that are the major source of rubber waste, has become an environmental concern and a challenging technical problem. Scrap tire piles frequently catch fire, and also provide ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes and rats. The amount of plastics discarded in the form of e-waste has been increasing day by day. Many approaches are being tried worldwide. Use of powdered rubber in polymer matrices is a viable solution for waste disposal problem. Plastics waste could be used in making blends. Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) based on dynamically vulcanized rubber-plastics blends (TPV) are used in many applications. Utilization of waste in TPV formulations has not been much explored. This book describes development of oil-resistant thermoplastic elastomeric blends from waste polymers. The author has developed and studied various properties of TPVs from scrap computer plastics-rubber blends. This book will be handy for those pursuing R&D in the field of recycling & TPV.