Analysis shows decreased plasticity and molecular weight in recycled PET, indicating limits for reuse in thermomechanical processing.
This article examines the physicomechanical and rheological properties of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in comparison with the virgin polymer. The effects of repeated recycling on the polymer structure, viscosity, mechanical strength, and plasticity were determined. Experimental data indicate a significant decrease in the plasticity and molecular weight of recycled PET after several recycling cycles, which restricts its potential for further reuse. The dependence of viscosity and shear stress on temperature and shear rate was analyzed, confirming the degradation of the material during thermomechanical processing. The obtained results can be applied to optimize PET recycling processes and to improve the quality of recycled polymers.
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Pavliuk et al. (2025) studied this question.
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