PET Plastic Recycling Workflow

Basics

• PET (Plastic) undergoes hydrolysis when even slightly damp at it's melting point
• THUS it is best to store it at least moderately dry, and/or dry pre-use (in some process/machine integrated dryer)

To Do

• Specific data on water level vs degradation (a graph of water g/kg vs tensile strength or something?)
• Find Methods of in-machine drying (fluidized in hot air, like a hot air corn popper?)

Research Paper Trashcan

• Hydrolytic and thermal degradation of PET fibers and PET granule: The effects of crystallization, temperature, and humidity -seems spot on on what is needed, need to read
• Article on Drying PET
• Moisture Content vs Melt Flow Index

Workflow

1. "Raw" plastic recycling in
2. Shredding
3. "Basic Drying" via being spread thin on a sheet, and left out (in a non-humid area with good airflow)
   1. Can be stored as is, and do only drying pre-use (ie integrated before the hopper etc)
4. IF NOT "Machine Dry" using some sort of device such as a hot air food dehydrator, etc
5. Storage in a sealed container with either an attached dehumidifier, or internal package of dessicant
6. (If stored dry, this is optional-ish) "Post Storage - Pre Use" Machine Dry
7. Use Flakes in any Precious Plastic Machine or the Open Source FDM Filament Maker

Internal Links

• Filament Maker
• Precious Plastic
• PET (Plastic)

External Links

• The Wikipedia Page on PET Plastic
• A Section of the Page "PET Bottle Recycling" on the need for proper drying