Application of aluminum-plastic packaging and new recycling technology of the waste

doi:10.11949/0438-1157.20220699

Abstract

Abstract:

Packaging is an important guarantee for the use, storage and transportation of products. Due to the lightweight, easy processing and high performance, plastic packaging become the main packaging material in modern society. Aluminum-plastic packaging has the advantages of plastic and aluminum, which meet the barrier, antimicrobial, mechanical and printing performance for multi-functional requirements. However, the fast development and single-use of aluminum-plastic packaging cause serious environmental problems and waste of resources. Aluminum-plastic packaging waste is difficult to separate for recycling, unable to degrade, and difficult to burn, so the caused pollution becomes an urgent problem to be solved. This article introduced the structure, properties and application of aluminum-plastic packaging, and the challenges in waste recycling. We emphatically introduced the works focused on self-designed solid-state shear milling equipment and technology, which achieved ultra-fine grinding and excellent dispersion of waste aluminum-plastic packaging at room temperature. We further produced removable logistics packages and thermal conductive function products by aluminum-plastic packaging powder with improved processability and mechanical properties.

Key words: solid state shear milling, aluminum-plastic packaging, value-added recycling, composites

摘要：

包装是商品使用、储存、运输的重要保障，不可或缺。塑料包装轻质、易加工、性价比高，增长极快，成为现代社会主要的包装材料，其中铝塑复合包装通过材料优势互补，可满足阻隔性、抗菌性、力学性能和印刷性能等多功能要求，应用广泛，但即用即弃，废弃物难分离难回收利用，无法降解，也难焚烧处理，污染环境，浪费资源，亟待治理。本文综述了铝塑复合包装结构性能和应用，以及废弃物回收利用难点，重点介绍了本团队采用自主创新的固相剪切碾磨加工装备和技术，实现废弃铝塑复合包装的室温超细粉碎和均匀分散，改善加工性和力学性能，制备可拆卸物流包装箱及导热导电功能制品的研究工作。

关键词: 固相剪切碾磨加工, 铝塑复合包装, 高值回收, 复合材料

CLC Number:

TQ 32

Shuangqiao YANG, Baojie WEI, Dawei XU, Li LI, Qi WANG. Application of aluminum-plastic packaging and new recycling technology of the waste[J]. CIESC Journal, 2022, 73(8): 3326-3337.

杨双桥, 韦宝杰, 徐大伟, 李莉, 王琪. 铝塑复合包装的应用及废弃物回收利用新技术[J]. 化工学报, 2022, 73(8): 3326-3337.

Figures/Tables 15

Table 1 Oxygen and moisture permeability of common plastic packaging［5］

Materials	Thickness/μm	Oxygen permeability/(cm³/(m²·d·(0.1 mPa)))	Water vapor permeability/ (g/(m²·d))
PE	50	2187.7	7.8
BOPP	50	582.5	3.0
PET	50	25.2	7.0
PA	15	41.2	290.6
PET/PE	50	88.7	5.6
PET/CPP	50	75.4	5.8
PET/Al/PE	60	0.13	0.48
BOPA/Al/CPP	60	0.07	0.51
PET/Al/CPP	60	0.12	0.45

Fig.1 Schematic diagram of mill pan (a), shear region of milling and static pan (b) and trajectory route of polymer during pan milling (c) [26]

Fig.2 Industrial equipment of solid-state shear milling

Table 2 Particle size of micro/nano polymer powder prepared by solid-state shear milling ［21， 28-31］

Polymer type	Particle size
PA6	~80 nm
PP, PS	0.3—2 µm
PC, PPS	10—50 µm
PES, PEEK	1—10 µm
HDPE, waste rubber, SBS	micro-scale

Fig.3 Multicomponent plastics waste recycled by solid-state shear milling technology[22,32-35]

Fig.4 Photos of pre-crushed aluminum plastic packaging waste (APPW) (a), powders prepared by solid-state shear milling technology (b), SEM morphology of APPW powders [(c),(d)] and the distribution of aluminum after 1 (e) and 10 (f) milling cycles

Fig.5 Particle size distribution of APPW after 1(a) and 10 (b) milling cycles, mean particle size (c) and Rosin-Rammler Bannet fitting curve of particle size (d)

Table 3 Development of Rosin-Rammler Bennet coefficient during the solid-state shear milling

Parameter	1 cycle	5 cycles	10 cycles
De/μm	321	152	106
b	1.03×10^-4	5.03×10^-5	5.09×10^-5
n	1.59	1.97	2.12

Fig.6 Photos of APPW powders after 0 (a), 1 (b) and 10 (c) milling cycles during the mixing processing, torque curve (d), balance torque time (e) and melt index (f)

Fig.7 SEM images of reused APPW composites with 0 cycle [(a),(e)], 1 cycle [(b),(f)], 4 cycles[(c),(g)], and 10 cycles [(d),(h)], relation between filler size and milling cycle (i) and tensile strength (j)

Table 4 Properties of recycled APPW composites

Samples	Tensile strength /MPa	Elongation at break/%	Electrical conductivity/ (S/cm)	Thermal conductivity/ (W/(m∙K))
after milling	22.1	47.1	10^-12	0.6
without milling	8.5	7.9	10^-14	—

Fig.8 Molded APPW part (a), load test (b), industrial detachable logistics packer prepared by injection molding (c), stress-strain cure (d) and relation between deformation rate and load (e)

Fig.9 TEM of Al in APPW thermal conductive material (a), mechanism of thermal conductivity (b), prepared industrial cooling plates (c), relation between conductivity and expandable graphite loading (d) and relation between thermal conductivity and conductivity (e) [40]

Fig.10 Photos of APPW filaments for 3D printing (a), SEM image of APPW filaments (b), schematic diagram of 3D printing process (c), photos of 3D printing process (d), relation between compressive strength and strain (e) and relation between E/η and shear rate (f) [41]

Fig.11 3D printed radiators from APPW (a), relation between thermal conductivity and filler loading [(b),(c)], schematic diagram of thermal conductive mechanism (d) and comparison of heat dissipation effect of composites (e) [41]

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