Recycling of Low Density SRIM Interior Trim Panels

A physical recycling scheme for in-house Low Density Structural RIM (LD-SRIM) process scrap has been developed by ICI which uses size-reduced LD-SRIM as a filler for the production of new panels with recycled content. Two pulverization methods, hammer mill and pellet mill, were tested and SEM analysis and particle size distributions of the size-reduced LD-SRIM are presented to show the effectiveness of the pulverization process.

The pulverized LD-SRIM scrap was added to a commercial polyol blend. Parts were molded and physical properties measured varying filler loading, particle sizes, filler type, and part density. The addition of recycle filler had no significant detrimental effect on the urethane system with respect to material reactivities, flow, and part physical properties.