Valorización de un residuo de LDPE de la industria papelera para el desarrollo de un compuesto polimérico de propiedades mejoradas

Abstract

The growing use of petroleum-based plastics generates a severe environmental impact. In fact, projections from the World Economic Forum indicate that by 2050, the mass of plastic in the oceans could surpass that of fish. This crisis motivates the search for valorization strategies for industrial waste. This work evaluates the technical, environmental, and economic feasibility of improving the properties of recycled low-density polyethylene (rLDPE) by blending it with virgin polymers: low-density polyethylene (vLDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). The hypothesis is that their incorporation optimizes the rheological and mechanical properties of rLDPE, making it competitive. To this end, blends were characterized using melt flow index (MFI), rheology, FTIR spectroscopy, and tensile tests. The results showed that virgin polymers significantly improve rLDPE. LLDPE provides greater ductility and elongation, while vLDPE increases tensile strength. Finally, the economic analysis demonstrated the feasibility of implementing this valorization process in a recycling company, aligning economic and environmental benefits under a circular economy approach. Keywords: rLDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, Sustainability, Mixes