Recycling poly(ethyleneterephthalate)

Recycling of PET from bottles has been carried out by using multiple extrusions, considering in particular, the effect of drying of the material before processing. Hydrolytic chain scission and thermomechanical degradation induce a remarkable reduction of the properties of PET. It is worth noting, however, that the rate of decrease of the properties drops after three extrusions; with further recycling steps no remarkable changes of the properties are observed.