Argonne researchers developed the new processes for recovering polyurethane foam and plastics from obsolete vehicles and appliances. Lear Corp., Southfield, Mich., used the Argonne-supplied foam and plastics to manufacture parts for a completely integrated concept vehicle interior. The cars were first displayed at an Earth Day celebration on April 22 and are now undergoing testing by DaimlerChrysler engineers to see how these cars and their recycled materials perform under actual road conditions. Argonne's task is to capture as much of the remaining material as possible for recycling.
Froth flotation allows two or more equivalent-density plastics to be separated with high purity.
The resulting products are of commercial quality and would be priced competitively with virgin materials. The froth flotation technique modifies the effective density of plastic materials as a basis for separating them from each other. Controlling the chemistry of the froth solution selectively affects the surface characteristics of the different plastics. In this manner, small gas bubbles can be attached to one material's surface, so it floats while the other plastics sink. If fines, foam, and plastics are recycled, as much as 60 percent of auto disposal landfill waste could be eliminated.