Polyurethane Recycling - Review Article

Recycling is a key concept of modern waste management which generally prevents the waste•. of potentially useful materials, reduces the consumption of raw materials and reduces energyusage. Recycling of polymeric products has been investigated to protect our environment andavoid land filling with them. Among different polymers, the recycling ofpolyurethane, has alwaysposed unique challenges. Traditional approaches to recycling such materials include mechanicalregrinding and the use of the regrind as filler. Chemical recycling of polyurethanes by hydrolysis,aminolysis, and glycolysis, is for the most part considered economically uncompetitive comparedto formulating with virgin raw materials. Also some thermochemical processes are utilized for PUrecycling. Recycling has opened an effective and economic route for polyurethane waste treating.Nonetheless more research efforts are required in order to scale up the recycling methods