| This study summarizes forty-seven dissertations published on various aspects of plastics recycling in the Department of Plastics Engineering from 1973 to 1996. Eight broad-based categories were chosen to simplify the abstracting process. The categories were: polyolefins and plastics lumber, polystyrenes, engineering resins, thermosets, separation and filtration, general automotive scrap, market and technology surveys, and a miscellaneous section that would cover the rest. Automotive plastics, engineering resins, and olefin based resins were the most widely researched materials for recycling. One of the dissertations described a patented method for separating commingled plastics by selective tacking. Studies focusing on automotive carpet scrap and plastics lumber have yielded commercially useful technologies. The number of theses published per year has registered a steady rise since 1990. There is scope for improvement in certain areas like post-consumer vinyl recycling. |
