Process and apparatus for recycling a polyolefin material end product

摘要

An apparatus is provided for recycling a polyolefin material end product. This apparatus comprises a housing and a curvilinear recycling area disposed within the housing and having an inner curvilinear surface. A mechanism, adjacent one end of the recycling area, is provided for feeding the polyolefin material end product into the recycling area. The apparatus further comprises a blade, horizontally disposed and rotatably mounted within the recycling area at an end opposed to the one end, for cutting the polyolefin material end product. A mechanism is provided for introducing liquid into the recycling area. Moisture is exhausted from the recycling area. The process of the present invention comprises several steps. Polyolefin material end product is fed into a curvilinear recycling area for an interval of time sufficient to fill the recycling area to a predetermined capacity. The polyolefin material end product is rotated and cut to form a polyolefin mixture, until the mixture has reached a predetermined temperature, which temperature is below the mixture melting temperature. Liquid is introduced into the recycling area in an amount sufficient to cause the mixture to form hard granules in a predetermined size range and having a form and composition substantially equal to that of the polyolefin material end product in its virgin state. The recycling area is vented for an amount of time sufficient to remove any excess moisture.