The effect of recycling on LDPE foamability: Elongational rheology

The purpose of this work was to investigate changes in the elongational rheology of low density polyethylene (LDPE) when recycled. Both foamed and unfoamed LDPE were submitted up to 10 generations in a closed loop using constant extrusion conditions and azodicarbonamide as a chemical blowing agent. For both foamed and unfoamed polymers, decreasing elongational properties in terms of strain hardening was observed, indicating progressive loss of foamability with the number of time the polymer is recycled. It was also found that the elongational properties of the foamed polymer decreased more rapidly than its unfoamed counterpart. It is believed that higher mechanical degradation of polymer may be the result of higher deformation rates (biaxial) associated with foaming and the accumulation of blowing agent residues limiting polymer chain mobility and entanglement.