(328f) Thermal Decomposition of High Molecular Weight Polyethylene to Obtain Low Molecular Weight Polyethylene Wax

Polyethylene (PE) waxes find a number of uses in industry.  They are used in a diverse range of applications from abrasive resistance inks, to rheology modifiers for hot melt adhesives, to coatings for fruit protection and preservation.  Due to the rise in the cost of fossil fuels which supply the raw materials for the synthesis of PE waxes, it is desired to find a method of recycling high molecular weight PE as an alternative method of supplying PE waxes.  A series of experiments were carried out to examine the viability of using a thermal degradation process (thermolysis) to convert high molecular weight straight chain polyethylene to lower molecular weight polyethylene waxes.  A discussion of the methods and setup used to carry out the thermolysis reaction, both with and without catalyst, as well as the various characterization methods used evaluate the final products will be presented.