Reprocessed Poly(vinylidene fluoride): a comparative approach for mechanical recycling purposes

Abstract The production of poly (vinylene fluoride), PVDF, has exponentially increased, and disposal of its waste is a great concern since one of the most common forms of disposal is in landfills, and degradation mechanisms predict the formation of persistent pollutants. In this regard, mechanical recycling emerges as a resort to minimize the potential impact of the PVDF waste landfill. This work aims to fill a knowledge gap on the effects of reprocessing pre-consumer PVDF waste for offshore applications. Two recycled products were analyzed by spectroscopic techniques, thermal analysis, and mechanical tests. Analytical techniques, when correlated, can represent powerful tools for understanding changes in the chemical structure of polymeric materials and their implications on properties for technological applications. The comparative evaluation of the results suggests that there are strong pieces of evidences that recycled PVDF is suitable to be tested in field applications and, therefore, recycling and reuse initiatives are feasible and should be encouraged.