Production of Chlorosulfonated Rubber from Postconsumer Polyethylene and Evaluation of Produced Rubber Properties

In order to convert the postconsumer polyethylene to a valuable product, chlorosulfonation of virgin and highly degraded polyethylene has been carried out in the solution phase under atmospheric pressure. Produced chlorosulfonated polyethylene samples from virgin and degraded HDPE are compounded and cured at different temperatures and their mechanical properties are determined. The results show that degradation of used polyethylene does not have noticeable negative effects on the final mechanical properties of produced chlorosulfonated rubbers. Therefore, it can be concluded that chlorosulfonation can be considered as an effective new method for polyolefin recycling.