Smithers Rapra Publishing Releases New Book on Chemistry and Processing of Recycled Polymers

The increasing consumption of different kinds of polymer based materials results in huge amount of waste materials. Once the polymers have fulfilled the function for which they have been manufactured, they are disposed of in landfills in large amounts each year, which is incompatible with current environmental goals. The disposal of polymer based plastics such as incineration and landfill results in environmental pollution and land occupation.

These current levels of polymer disposal are not sustainable and polymer recycling, which is one of the most important actions currently available to reduce the negative impacts, receives increasing attention. Recycling provides opportunities to reduce oil usage, carbon dioxide emissions and the quantities of polymer wastes, as well as the negative impacts of disposal. Using recycled polymer wastes to replace virgin materials in some applications, such as non-food packaging and automotive components, can effectively decrease the demand of the amount of import oil and conserve raw materials. Further it can also lead to the energy saving and creating new jobs. Considering all the positive impacts of polymer recycling on environment, economy and society, considerable attention is being given to recover materials from polymer wastes.

This book is ideal for all those who are interested in recycling of post-consumer polymer waste. It is the outcome of untiring efforts of the researchers with extensive experience in the field of recycled polymers. The book enables the reader to gain a thorough understanding of the chemistry and processing of recycled polymers and also provides an instrumental resource for those already working in this field.

Some of the main features are:

• Highlights the chemistry of recycled polymers and compares with traditional polymers
• Discusses the processing of different kinds of recycled polymers
• Highlights new frontiers in the different processing techniques
• Evaluates the performance of recycled polymers
• Focus on recyclability and up-to date progress on recycled polymers
• Present state of polymer recycling