Recycling of Cross-linked HDPE through Rotomolding**

Acrylon Plastics Inc是北美最大的滚塑成型机，使用滚塑成型来制造薄壁厚度的大型中空聚合物零件，如大型油箱和无支撑油箱。它使用交联高密度聚乙烯（XHDPE）来制造这些部件。这种材料在制造过程中实现的交联除了在负载下的高挠曲温度之外，还导致对蒸汽的更好的阻隔性。然而，它也使材料不可回收。Acrylon将制造过程中产生的工业废物送到北美的垃圾填埋场，处理成本和材料成本相当高（由于浪费）。因此，本研究项目旨在了解通过滚塑再利用这种废物的相关问题，并开发材料和工艺条件，使这种材料能够通过滚塑再利用，以制造相同或不同的零件。预期的效益包括减少处置腈纶的成本和材料浪费，以及减少将废物转移到堆填区。

Acrylon Plastics Inc. is the largest rotomolder in North America and uses rotomolding to manufacture large and hollow polymer parts with thin wall thickness, such as large fuel tanks and unsupported tanks. It uses cross-linkable high-density polyethylene (XHDPE) to manufacture these parts. The cross-linking achieved in this material, during the manufacturing process, results in improved barrier resistance to vapors, in addition to high deflection temperatures under load. However, it also renders the material non-recyclable. Acrylon sends the industrial waste, generated during manufacturing, to landfills in North America, at considerable disposal cost and material cost (due to wastage). Hence, this research project is proposed to understand the issues related to reusing this waste through rotomolding and develop material and process conditions that would enable reuse of this material through rotomolding to manufacture the same or different parts. The envisaged benefits include reduction in the cost of disposal and material wastage for Acrylon and reduction in diversion of waste to landfills.