Nonmetallics

DOW A PARTNER IN POLYURETHANE RECYCLING EFFORT

The Dow Polyurethanes division of the Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich., has entered into a partnership with Mobius Technologies Inc., Grass Valley, Calif., to expand the use of a polyurethane foam recycling process developed by Mobius.

The Mobius recycling process pulverizes scrap foam to a microscopic powder and reintroduces it as an additive to the new foam manufacturing process.“We believe the Mobius Technologies process offers significant benefits to our customers,” says Paul Berthevas of Dow Polyurethanes. “This development agreement will allow the two companies to maximize the value of this recycling process to foam manufacturers.”

The Dow Polyurethanes division, headquartered in Belgium, sees the system as one of the ways to help European auto manufacturers and their component suppliers meet recycling rate mandates for end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) established by the European Union. Polyurethane foam is commonly used in seat foam, which can theoretically be extracted by dismantlers before the car is shredded.

“Mobius Technologies and the Dow Chemical Co. are currently working with major auto makers and suppliers to apply this recycling process to ELVs,” notes Steven English of Dow Polyurethanes.

UTAH FIRM MARKETS MIXED PLASTIC SYSTEM

Rotational Molding of Utah, Brigham City, Utah, is marketing a system that processes and molds mixed plastic scrap into molded products.

“The process can handle any type of plastic, including thermosets,” says Chris Brough of Rotational Molding. “It can also reprocess plastics contaminated with paper, paint, dirt, wood and mild chemicals.”

The system grinds mixed plastic items into plastic chips or flakes, with the chips or flakes then sent into a “patented compounder” that makes them more malleable.

The malleable material is then placed into a pressurized mold, where it can be shaped into bars, wheels or other shapes.

Brough says the system has been designed to be low-cost and to take up a small footprint on a plant floor. “This allows the system to be installed close to the [scrap] stream, which lowers the transportation cost of the material,” he notes.