Analysis of flame retarded polymers and recycling materials

Recycling activities on polymeric materials are increasing and becoming mor e and more important in recent years. For polymers containing no flame reta rdants, suitable recycling strategies already exist. In order to investigat e the recyclability of flame retarded polymers that contain brominated flam e retardants, a number of samples were analysed as received from a recyclin g company. Following the identification and sorting of the samples accordin g to type of polymers and flame retardants, material recycling was tested f or the flame retarded polymers identified to occur most frequently. The rea ctivity of the flame retardants during the recycling procedure was studied by analysing for brominated dioxins and furans. The results demonstrate tha t flame retarded polymers can be recycled under certain experimental condit ions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.