The production of electric cables is a mature sector that provides to numerous sectors: construction, automotive, aeronautics, naval, electronic equipment … It is estimated that an average of 350,000 tons of plastic materials are consumed by this industry every year in Spain alone.
The coating of electrical wires is generally composed of a majority (above 60%) of PVC and a minority (below 30%) of PE, i.e. thermoplastic polymers. Theoretically, these separated polymers can be reprocessed using heat as many times as desired.
Composition of the electric cables.
The electric cables’ diameter varies between 500 μm and 5 cm, and can have three parts.
- Core conductive element: copper or aluminum.
- Insulation: PVC, PE, rubber, neoprene, nylon…
- Protective cover: steel, brass, copper or aluminum.
At least the core and insulation are always present, and the protective cover depends on the structural characteristics of the cord.
When electrical cords become debris they become in fact a source of new materials, as long as it is possible to separate them properly.
The Project and the technology.
The objective of this project was to study the technical and economic viability of the use of plastic waste, from electric cords in the manufacturing process of new products by means of extrusion, with special focus on the fraction of PE, given the current lack of output that often ends up in landfills.
The mechanical recycling allows to transform PE residues into similar products with alternative applications, without changing the chemical properties. It is a simple technique when the residue is homogeneous or when its separation is possible and fast. Thus, the plastic waste is separated (by hand and / or with machines), crushed, cleaned, molten and transformed into pellets that can be used to make new plastic products.
The Results.
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