Experimental tests and technical characteristics of regenerated films from agricultural plastics

Current agricultural practices require the use of large quantities of plastics, which contribute to a significant increase of the quantity and quality of agricultural production, but also require high quantities of plastic waste to be disposed in such way that will not have a negative effect on the landscape and the agro-ecosystem. In this paper the results of an experimental investigation of the possibilities of producing new regenerated plastic films through mechanical recycling, from post-consume agricultural plastic films are analysed. Six recycled films, made from agricultural low tunnel and greenhouse covering films as well as from HDPE bags for agrochemical packaging, have been extruded producing films of different thickness. These regenerated films were characterized by means of mechanical and spectrometric tests and SEM + EDS analysis. The obtained results show that without adding any additives into the blends good mechanical and spectral properties can be achieved by mixing the greenhouse and low tunnel recycled plastic film coverings. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.