Regeneration and Preparation of Waste PET Films: Current Status, Technologies and Prospects（2）
Challenges and Solutions in Regenerative Preparation
Complex Sources and Difficult Separation of Waste Films
Waste PET films in the electronics industry originate from diverse sources, with significant differences in composition and properties among different sources. They are often compounded with other materials, posing great challenges for separation and recycling.
For example, in flexible circuit boards of electronic devices, PET films are tightly bonded to metal traces and insulating layers, making effective separation difficult.
Solutions:
Develop efficient separation technologies and equipment, such as combining physical and chemical separation methods:
First, use physical methods (mechanical peeling, ultrasonic treatment) to preliminarily separate PET films from other materials.
Then, further purify PET via chemical dissolution or selective adsorption.
Establish a comprehensive classification and recycling system for waste films to categorize different types of waste PET films at the source, reducing subsequent separation difficulties.
Unstable Performance of Regenerated Products
Due to complex physical and chemical changes during recycling, regenerated PET products often exhibit significant performance fluctuations, failing to meet the strict requirements of high-end electronic products.
Key issues include non-uniform molecular weight distribution, decreased thermal stability, and reduced mechanical properties.
Solutions:
Optimize regeneration processes by precisely controlling parameters in each step to minimize molecular chain degradation and impurity introduction.
Modify regenerated PET through adding high-performance additives or blending with other high-performance polymers to improve its properties.
Strengthen quality inspection and control of regenerated PET products, and establish a complete quality standard system to ensure stability and consistency.
High Economic Costs
The regeneration and preparation of waste PET films involve multiple stages (collection, transportation, separation, processing), leading to high costs that restrict industrial development.
For example, high-temperature and high-pressure reactions in chemical recycling consume substantial energy, with huge equipment investment and operation costs.
Solutions:
Promote technological innovation to develop more energy-efficient regeneration technologies (e.g., improving electrocatalytic recycling to enhance reaction efficiency and reduce energy consumption).
Achieve large-scale production to lower unit production costs.
Governments can introduce supportive policies (tax incentives, subsidies) to encourage enterprises to participate in waste PET film recycling, enhancing industrial economic benefits and competitiveness.
The regeneration and preparation of waste PET films in the electronics industry represents an inevitable choice for achieving the sustainable development of the electronics industry. At present, although certain progress has been made in the technologies for regenerating and preparing waste PET films—with traditional technologies such as physical recycling and chemical recycling being continuously improved, and new recycling technologies also being actively explored—numerous challenges still remain.
In the future, it will be necessary to further strengthen technological innovation to overcome key technical difficulties such as waste film separation, performance enhancement of regenerated products, and cost reduction. Meanwhile, governments, enterprises, and all sectors of society should make joint efforts to establish a sound waste film recycling system, strengthen policy support and promotional guidance, and enhance public awareness and participation in the recycling of waste PET films.
With the continuous advancement of technology and the gradual maturity of the industry, the regeneration and preparation of waste PET films in the electronics industry is expected to embrace a broader development prospect, making greater contributions to the green development of the electronics industry and the circular utilization of resources.
