Swiss researcher suggests PET recycling breakthr - sportstextiles: Lea SportsTextiles

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Swiss researcher suggests PET recycling breakthrough

22/05/2019
A researcher from Swiss institute Empa may have discovered a way to improve the recycling of PET, a plastic often used in the manufacture of sportswear.

According to the association, PET cannot be recycled an unlimited number of times. If the material is remelted too often, chemical reactions take place within the material: The molecules oxidize, cross-link and form lumps, and the material becomes viscous and translucent.

Empa researcher Sabyasachi Gaan says adding DOPO-PEPA could change this by allowing the PET to flow more smoothly, and early trials have been promising.

Empa says the Swiss collected almost 48,000 tonnes of PET bottles in 2018. From this, industry gained 35,000 tonnes of recycled PET. 


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