Recycled high-density polyethylene resins lose approximately 20% of their properties compared to virgin resins, although efforts are made to mitigate this by adding additives to the resin.
The properties that are most affected are density, tensile strength, and elongation, which are related to the moisture content and type of contaminants present; this can be seen in the table on the following page.
When processed under optimal conditions, the material can contain 25% regranulate combined with virgin material without compromising the product's functionality or quality. The contaminants that affect the recycling of high-density polyethylene are as follows:
• Food waste and dust
• Inks and labels
• Elastomers
• Copper
Comparison of the Properties of Virgin High-Density Polyethylene vs. Recycled High-Density Polyethylene
