Assessing the Impact of Recycling Cycles on PET Plastics Manufactured in Qatar
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Abstract
This experiment focuses on the environmental and industrial implications of recycling Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) in Qatar, a critical step in addressing plastic pollution and global warming. The research hypothesized that repeated recycling cycles degrade PET's mechanical properties. In the primary phase, a two-by-two factorial design was used with the two factors being "Temperature profile" and "Number of recycling cycles". The secondary phase was a 3 factors by two levels design which was used to evaluate mold temperature (30, 40, 50°C), the addition of Virgin PET (0%, 15%, 30%), and the number of recycling cycles (1-3). The procedure of this experiment consisted of decontaminating, shredding, mixing virgin PET (vPET), injection molding, and tensile testing the PET specimen. Tensile tests corresponding to the ASTM standard D638 which assessed the Yield Strength and Young's modulus of PET specimens. The primary phase results showed that the highest yield strength, 0.026 GPa, was at temperature profile 1 for PET recycled once. The lowest yield strength, 0.007 GPa, was at temperature profile 1 for PET recycled twice. The Young's modulus highest value was 3.334 Gpa at temperature profile 2 for PET recycled twice. The secondary phase results showed that the highest yield strength, 0.041 GPa, was achieved at a mold temperature of 30°C, with 30% added virgin PET, and after one recycling cycle. Conversely, the lowest yield strength of 0.008 GPa was observed at a mold temperature of 30°C with no vPET added and after three recycling cycles. The highest Young's Modulus recorded was 4.272 GPa under conditions of a 50°C mold temperature with no vPET added after three recycling cycles. The optimization in the tertiary phase extended recycled PET's lifespan to five cycles, enhancing it from three. A decrease in mechanical properties was observed, with yield strength reducing by 0.0296 GPa and Young's modulus increasing by 0.164 GPa through the cycles. These findings highlight the significant impact of recycling cycles on PET's mechanical properties and provide insights for sustainable waste management and industrial applications in Qatar. The study underscores the need for strategic recycling practices to maintain the mechanical integrity of PET, contributing to effective plastic waste management.
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Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Recycling, Degradation, Mechanical Properties, Tensile Testing, Qatar.