abstract
Aiming at minimizing the issues associated with the disposal of polymers, in this study, elastomeric materials derived from 100% recycled feedstocks were produced. Residues of polyurethane (PU) foams (from 0 to 100%) were blended with residues of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) derived from the shoe-soles industry (from 0 to 100%) to produce films by hot compression. The experimental values obtained by the characterization of the blends were compared with the predicted values derived from the rule of mixtures. Despite of the two-phase morphology observed, the high correlation between the experimental and predicted values suggest that phase segregation did not have a significant effect on the properties of the blends. Voids were also observed on the PU derived materials, due to the source of PU (foams), which reduced their density and increased the water absorption. Yet, this did not jeopardize the mechanical performance of the ensuing materials. In addition, higher amounts of PU resulted in stiffer materials, while higher amounts of EVA induced higher thermal stability. From the results, it was demonstrated that the PU/EVA blends, produced from 100% recycled feedstock, presented suitable properties to be used in shoe-soles applications.
keywords
POLYMER BLENDS; THERMAL-DEGRADATION; MORPHOLOGY; BEHAVIOR; RICINOLEATE
subject category
Engineering; Polymer Science
authors
Gama, N; Godinho, B; Barros-Timmons, A; Ferreira, A
our authors
Ana Margarida Madeira Viegas de Barros Timmons
Associate Professor
Artur Jorge Faria Ferreira
Professor Coordinator
Bruno Miguel Marques Godinho
Researcher
Nuno Vasco da Costa Gama Batista de Melo
Junior ResearcherProjects
CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020)
CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDP/50011/2020)
Collaboratory for Emerging Technologies, CoLab (EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES)
acknowledgements
This work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, UIDB/50011/2020 & UIDP/50011/2020, financed by national funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology/MCTES and by ERDF Funds through Operational Competitiveness and Internationalization Programme - COMPETE 2020 in the frame of the project FlexiRecover - POCI-01-0247-FEDER-003369.