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Advance Analysis of the Obtained Recycled Materials from Used Disposable Surgical Masks
Summary
Researchers performed advanced material analysis on recyclates obtained from used disposable surgical masks manufactured from different polymers, using surface, morphology, and mechanical testing to characterize polymer blend compositions and properties. They found that incorporating ear loop material into polypropylene melt increased material toughness, with PP and PA6 forming the surface layer while PU and PET distributed predominantly through the interior of injection-molded samples.
The production of personal protective equipment (PPE) has increased dramatically in recent years, not only because of the pandemic, but also because of stricter legislation in the field of Employee Protection. The increasing use of PPE, including disposable surgical masks (DSMs), is putting additional pressure on waste collectors. For this reason, it is necessary to find high-quality solutions for this type of waste. Mechanical recycling is still the most common type of recycling, but the recyclates are often classified as low-grade materials. For this reason, a detailed analysis of the recyclates is necessary. These data will help us to improve the properties and find the right end application that will increase the value of the materials. This work represents an extended analysis of the recyclates obtained from DSMs, manufactured from different polymers. Using surface and morphology tests, we have gained insights into the distribution of different polymers in polymer blends and their effects on mechanical and surface properties. It was found that the addition of ear loop material to the PP melt makes the material tougher. In the polymer blends obtained, PP and PA 6 form the surface (affects surface properties), while PU and PET are distributed mainly inside the injection-molded samples.
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