Implementing Plastic Recycling Experiments for Improvement of Undergraduate Laboratory Education in Materials Technology

由于塑料包装约占固体废物体积的20%，回收塑料将在减少全国数量和空间日益减少的垃圾填埋场的固体废物体积方面发挥重要作用。必须教育学生回收材料的方法，以减少未来的浪费。该项目旨在通过介绍一系列典型的塑料回收实验，包括回收塑料的收集、研磨、加工、测试和分析，来改进专业和非专业本科生的材料实验教学。所需设备包括一台塑料造粒机、一台挤出机、一台光学显微镜和一台塑料硬度计。这些仪器和设备是用于塑料回收、质量控制和性能鉴定的典型仪器和设备。材料回收的理论和实践经验将使学生在减少固体废物、节约自然资源和保护环境方面有更深刻的见解。这个项目可以作为全国本科院校的典范，让他们了解回收材料在保护我们的环境和自然资源方面的效果和需求。

Since plastic packaging accounts for approximately 20 per cent in volume of the solid waste, recycling plastics will play a significant role in reducing the volume of solid waste to the landfills of decreasing number and space in the nation. Students must be educated in the methods to recycle materials in order to reduce future waste. This project is intended to improve materials laboratory instruction for major and non- major undergraduates by presenting a series of typical plastics recycling experiments, including collecting, grinding, processing, testing and analyzing of recycled plastics. The requested equipment includes a plastics granulator, an extruder, an optical microscope and a plastics hardness tester. These instruments and equipment are typical of those used in the recycling, quality control and property identification of plastics. The theoretical and practical experience in materials recycling will give students knowledgeable insight in reducing solid waste, conserving natural resources and protecting the environment. This project could serve as a model for undergraduate institutions in the nation for creating an understanding of the effect and need of recycling materials for the conservation of our environment and natural resources.