Mechanical and spectro-radiometrical characteristics of plastic film from agricultural recycled granule.

Intensive use of plastic in horticulture around Europe is causing the creation of the large amount of plastic waste that need to be dealt with. One possible way to control the amount this waste is its recycling. In this paper the results of a survey investigating the possibilities to producing a new regenerated film through mechanical recycling, from post-consume agricultural plastic films are analyzed. Four recycled films, different in composition, have been extruded and subsequently characterized by mechanical tests and spectro-radiometric analysis. Tensile tests were done in order to define the maximum strength and percentage elongation at break of these new materials while spectro-radiometric analysis allowed the definition of the optical properties, specifically with regard to the transmittance of radiation in the PAR and long IR radiation. The results allow the definition of the main engineering properties of these materials, and the possibilities for further investigation in order to have new products as an economic efficient and environmentally friendly alternative.