Review on Recycling of Cross-Linked Polyethylene

Cross-linked polyethylene is one of the most widely used thermosetting plastics. Due to its low cost, lightweight, and exceptional insulation properties against electricity and heat, it is frequently used as an insulation material for wires and cables. This polymer attracted interest in several different applications, including building services, piping systems, hydronic radiant heating, cooling systems, etc. However, because XLPE is a thermosetting plastic with limited fluidity and poor moldability, recycling this cross-linked form of polyethylene is extremely important. Due to irreversible covalent cross-linking, recycling XLPE is a very challenging task, and it can contribute to serious environmental issues, including soil and air pollution because most of this industrial waste is buried in landfills or removed by incineration. Therefore, recycling this kind of material with a cross-linked network structure is highly problematic. Therefore, we need an energy-efficient, cost-effective, and eco-friendly recycling process to safeguard our ecosystem. In this article, we are systematically reviewing the recent advances in the recycling of XLPE. The major challenges are also discussed.