The main additives used in the water-based recycling process vary depending on the type of material being recycled and the desired properties of the recycled product. Key categories of additives include:
- Performance Polymers and Lubricants: Additives such as those from Clariant’s product lines (e.g., Licocene® Performance Polymers and Licolub® lubricants) are used to improve recyclability and enhance properties like melt flow, mold release, and processability of recycled plastics, especially polyolefins and electronic waste components.
- Water-based Acrylics and Laminating Adhesives: In recycling processes involving paper and packaging materials, water-based acrylic adhesives (generally ≤ 2.5% concentration) are used for lamination. Such adhesives are designed to be compatible with recycling processes, facilitating easier separation and less contamination. More complex laminating adhesives (e.g., polyurethane-based or epoxy) may require testing for recyclability compatibility.
- Amphiphilic Additives: These are employed in water-based systems to modify behaviors such as adhesion or dispersion, particularly relevant in recycling operations like paper recycling where pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) need to be managed to prevent efficiency loss and increased costs.
- Barrier Coatings: Water-based barrier coatings are added to improve recyclability by minimizing contamination and microplastic release. These coatings help enhance the recycling process by reducing waste and supporting more straightforward reprocessing.
- Eco-friendly Water-based Emulsions: In industrial applications relevant to recycling, water-based emulsions such as styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) latex serve as flexible adhesives or modifiers. These emulsions reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions compared to solvent-based products and can be used to improve product performance and sustainability.
In summary, the main additives used in water-based recycling include polymer performance enhancers, lubricants, compatible water-based adhesives, amphiphilic agents, and eco-friendly emulsions and coatings. These collectively aid in maintaining material properties, improving process efficiency, and supporting environmental goals by minimizing contaminants and VOC emissions during recycling.
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