Upcycling of Polypropylene through Mechano-Chemical Functionalization

Chemical recycling of polypropylene (PP) is a promising path to restore or add value into polypropylene waste upcycling. Low temperature thermal pyrolysis of PP has been tuned to selectively yield a solid degraded product with controlled molecular weight and therefore preservation of physical and mechanical properties. However, during conventional high temperature pyrolysis, low molecular weight residues result in higher concentrations of functional end groups. In order to develop functionalization and molecular weight control as independent parameters of the degradation process, we assess the efficiency of functional group formation through mechano-chemical pathways. Our work here describes the understanding of the combination of thermal, mechanical and chemical degradation of polypropylene to result in functional controlled molecular weight PP moieties to be integrated in upcycling of PP. These studies aim to investigate the properties of chemically recycled functionalized polypropylene and establish a foundation for the design of a new class of polymers.