Studies of the 3D morphology of Polymer Parts fabricated by co-injection using recycled materials for increased circularity.

This proposal forms part of a National Project RN21 Packaging for the Future. Currently in such applications, the use of recycled materials is particularly low due to the food hygiene challenges of working with recycled plastics. In this work we have identified an alternative approach for food packaging in food contact applications such as with food trays as shown in Figure 1. The interior part in contact with the food is prepared using virgin materials, whereas the outpart is fabricated from recycled material. Of particular focus is the nature of the interface between the two materials which are injected at different times. We will use SAXS/WAXS to explore if the second injection is able to modify the morphology of the first injected material so as to create a strong bond. We will scan across the interface so as to determine if the morphology changes as the junction of the two materials is reached. Secondly we will explore the use of heating to determine if the behaviour at selected points far from the interface and close to the interface are different. We are examining polypropylene and polyethylene for this co-injected part, in both cases using recycled versions of the virgin materials, we have several cycles of recycled material. This proposal can be seen within the framework of the Nephews Project(Portuguese team) in extending the use of Large scale Facilities.