SUSTAINABILITY IN ENGINEERING. EVALUATION OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF POLYOXYMETHYLENE THROUGH REPEATED INJECTION CYCLES

Gabriela SEVERIN, Sorin ILIE, Alin Florin POP

Abstract


The increasing global production of plastics raises sustainability challenges and underscores the necessity of transitioning to a circular economy. This study evaluates the mechanical behavior of polyoxymethylene (POM) after multiple mechanical recycling cycles to determine its potential for reuse in industrial applications. The research involved the initial injection of POM specimens, followed by successive grinding and reinjection over ten cycles. The analyzed mechanical properties included tensile strength, maximum tensile force, elongation at break, and Young’s modulus. Results indicate a gradual decrease in tensile strength (4.1%) and elongation at break (29.7%), while Young’s modulus remains stable. The study confirms the feasibility of mechanical recycling of POM for non-critical structural applications, with recommendations to limit recycling cycles or blend recycled material with virgin polymer to mitigate property degradation.

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