Post Industrial and Post Consumer Recycled LLDPE: Where it Comes from and What it Is

The Recycled LLDPE is a polymer belonging to the polyethylene family, defined linear due to the short branching of its molecules.

Low density polyethylenes are in fact distinguished in LDPE and LLDPE where the first is made up of molecules with long branches, while the second, as we said he short.

But what are the differences between the two products?

LLDPE is more resistant to tearing than LDPE at impact and puncture, it is also very flexible and stretches under traction.

Can be used to make thinner films with greater resistance. It also has good chemical resistance, good electrical properties.

However, LLDPE is less easy to work with than LDPE , has a lower gloss and transparency, and a longer range. limited for heat sealing.

During a process such as extrusion, the LLDPE remains more viscous and therefore more difficult to process of an LDPE with an equivalent melt flow index value.

Where is LLDPE used?

The use of LLDPE has now entered many products, from the main market which remains the from packaging, such as packaging films, bags, industrial bags, up to applications where it is used in compounds, such as toys, tubes, lids, buckets, and many other products.

How do you recycle the LLDPE?

LLDPE recycling can take place through the work of post-consumer waste or, therefore, from separate collection, or from industrial processing waste .

It can be presented in a thin or ultra thin form such as packaging films or as rigid waste.

According to the consistency of the post-consumer waste , different recycling routes are applied which will include selection, grinding, washing, drying or densification and subsequent granulation.

As regards post industrial waste , normally already selected and cleaned, they will be ground, deferred and finally granulated. 

In the rMIX recycling portal you can find the LLDPE which is the polymer par excellence with which the bottles of water and soft drinks and food trays containing the products we find in the shops are produced.