Thesis Title «Durability of plastic composites manufactured from recycled plastics»

Monday 7 October 2019, at: 12:00, Venue: Hall Κ2.A3

Examination Committee

• Assistant Professor Apostolos Giannis (advisor)
• Professor  Alexandros Gotsis
• Professor  Evangelos Gidarakos

Abstract:

A vast amount of plastic waste worldwide ends up in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, endangering organisms and human lives, while at the same time aesthetically degrading the region and human well-being. Plastics are one of the most common wastes found in seas and coasts. The purpose of this thesis is to study the durability of composite plastics made from mixed plastic materials. For this reason plates were made from 4 different mixtures[ 1)30% LDPE   30% HDPE  40% PP, 2) 30% LDPE 30% HDPE  20% PP 20% PS,3) 30%LDPE  30%HDPE 20% PP 20% PET 4)30% LDPE 30% HDPE 20% PP 10% PET 10% PS] of 5 different plastics ( HDPE, LDPE , PS, PP, PET) that were imposed in different periods (from 1 to 9 months) and in different environmental conditions (dark, UV,sea, water, UV+seawater, freeze-thaw). Furthermore, it was studied the strength of the plastic mixtures by using the instron instrument. Differences in strength were observed, based on the exposure time and the environmental conditions. In particular, there was a decrease in the resistance of plastics from the combination of UV radiation and seawater with a greater difference in the 4th mixture.The chemical structure of the surface of each material was  also analysed by FTIR in order to assess changes after imposing the materials in different environmental conditions.