RECYCLING OF PET AND PVC WASTES

A method for recycling mixed PET and PVC wastes is described. Glycolys is of PET leads to oligomers that are polycondensed with caprolactone. The obtained diols are extended with hexamethylene diisocyanate. In c ertain conditions the polyurethanes are totally miscible with PVC, lea ding to acceptable mechanical characteristics for the blend. A relatio n between the structure of the polyurethane and miscibility with PVC i s described. The mechanical characteristics of the blend depends on th e polyurethane chemical structure. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.