C1-01 Investigation of the relationship between impurities in recycled MMA monomers and the properties of recycled PMMA products, and identification and validation of design requirements for a reliable and transparent recycled MMA supply chain using information management systems, including traceability systems
Collaborating Organization
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
Research and Development Overview
PMMA Chemical Recycling
To establish a chemical recycling process for poly(methyl methacrylate) PMMA that suppresses the formation of carbonized by-products, we elucidate the formation mechanism of by-products by using high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) and data analysis techniques.
PP Material Recycling
- Had the sample trials of compound materials with recycled PP to clarify the potential opportunity to apply the compound for various types of automotive parts.
- Had the sample trials of Glass Mat reinforced Thermoplastics (GMT) with recycled PP and the evaluation of their mechanical properties to clarify the applicability of automotive parts produced by press molding.
Outputs of Research and Development
PMMA Chemical Recycling
- By applying pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) using high-resolution TOF-MS, we successfully captured subtle changes in chemical structure and reaction-indicative species accompanying the progress of carbonization. As a result, we elucidated the PMMA carbonization mechanism at the molecular level, which is the key issue in the thermal decomposition process of PMMA chemical recycling.
PP Material Recycling
- Achieved the target properties of some automotive parts by the sample trials with compound materials by recycled PP.
- Had the sample trials of GMT with recycled PP and the evaluation of the mechanical properties to confirm the almost same performance of GMT materials with recycled PP compared to GMT materials with virgin PP.