IIT Bombay researchers have made a machine called GolDN that recycles leftover plastic polymers mechanically by melting and mixing them. This home-grown single-screw extruder can turn thermoplastic trash into composites that can be shaped into paver blocks, tiles, and bricks.

Limitations of Equipment That Can Be Bought

Commercially available melt-mixing tools can’t be used to recycle waste polymers that have contaminants in them. Their screw and barrel systems are not strong enough. Customized design lets GolDN get around these problems.

GolDN

Important Things About the Extruder

GolDN makes it easy to melt-mix leftover thermoplastics and inorganic fillers in a way that is similar to how recycling works in the real world.

For better mixing, parameters like the compression ratio and the clearance level have been fine-tuned. Handling waste polymer that contains contaminants is possible with robust manufacturing.

A thermogravimetric analyzer and other tools have also been made by the experts to help them test the composites made by GolDN. Material heterogeneity is built into its big 200g sample size.

A small recycling business has been built with a GolDN extruder as its main piece of equipment. Extra features like shredding, pre-heating, and conveying make it possible to completely turn waste plastic into goods.