Glossary

Additive: A material added to the polymer to increase its functionality or reduce costs.
Agglomeration: A process to increase the bulk density of the polymer.

Biodegrade: To be broken down into carbon dioxide and water by microorganisms.
Bioplastic: A material made up of biopolymer and other biodegradable additives.
Biopolymer: A naturally occuring polymer found in micro organisms, plants and animals.
Blow moulding: A process for production of hollow articles such as bottles.

Cellulose: Naturally occurring biopolymer, found in plants.
Chemical recycling: A process to create petrochemical feestock from plastics.
Co-injection moulding: A variation of injection moulding that uses two materials instead of one to create a sandwich structure.
Commingled: Mixed plastics.
Compatibiliser: An additive that chemically glues materials together.
Compostable: To be compostable a biomaterial requires a controlled microbial environment such as an industrial compost facility before they will degrade.

Degradation: Molecular breakdown of a polymer, for example, by the action of shear, light or heat.
Design for recycling: New component design that takes into account disposal.
Die: The part of an extruder where the material exits.

Energy recovery: Burning waste materials to recover energy in the form of electricity and heat.
Extrusion: A processing technique for thermoplastics used to produce granules, pipes, sheets or profiles.

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Introduction to Plastics Recycling, Second edition