Use of an Alternative Colorant for Polyethylene Fuel Tanks Recycling

A black colorant alternative to carbon black, for Polyethylene tanks, which avoids the hysteresis of solvent and allows a more friendly recycling process, was studied. Sorption-desorption isotherms where obtained using a model molecule (n-heptane), in order to simulate the contact with the fuel. The material pigmented with the alternative black colorant was put in contact with liquid fuel for six months: after desorption the rheological behaviour was analyzed at 240°C. Films were obtained after contact with fuel, and submitted to dynamic mechanical analysis. The experimental data were compared with the ones obtained from the material utilized by FIAT Company (Italy) for fuel tanks (carbon black pigmented), both virgin and used ones.