Mechanically mediated trithiocarbonate addition to commodity polymers for a more circular economy

Mechanical recycling, while thought of as environmentally conscious, is not nearly as effective as it is lauded to be. Great levels of mechanical force cause chain-scission and lower product value while simultaneously only working once, maybe twice before the material is useless. Studies to harness the chain-scission with functional groups have proved possible but limited. This study shows the effect of adding bis(BTTC) and monomer to a mechanical recycling process to allow for post-recycling reactions with functionalized material. PMMA was shown to decrease in MW from 350 kDa down to ca. 15 kDa, then repolymerized back to 350 kDa. Other post-recycling reactions including block polymer synthesis and depolymerization are also possible and show promise. Expanding the scope outside of PMMA to other common plastics is studied as well, though it needs to be greatly expanded upon.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (M.S.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemistry

Grantor dc:publisher

Colorado State University. Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Authors dc:creator

• Estock, John, author
• Hill, Megan, advisor
• Chen, Eugene, committee member
• Broeckling, Corey, committee member

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.

Language dc:language.iso

eng, English

Identifier URI

https://doi.org/10.25675/3.02145

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mountainscholar.org:10217/241825