Sustainability and Innovation: Incorporating Waste from Ophthalmic Lenses into Natural Rubber Composites

Sustainability and Innovation: Incorporating Waste from Ophthalmic Lenses into Natural Rubber Composites

This study investigates the recycling of ophthalmic lens waste (OLW) in the production of vulcanized natural rubber (NR) composites, aiming to promote sustainability and reduce costs. To this end, Vietnamese natural rubber and ophthalmic lens waste were used, varying the filler content from 0 to 50...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: José Afonso Rocha, Carlos Toshiyuki Hiranobe, Dener da Silva Souza, Samara da Silva Araújo, Márcia Ferreira Hiranobe, Guilherme Henrique Barros de Souza, Elmer Mateus Gennaro, Flávio Camargo Cabrera, Guilherme Pina Cardim, Michael Jones da Silva, Erivaldo Antônio da Silva, José Francisco Resende da Silva, Renivaldo José dos Santos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Recycling
Subjects:
recycling
ophthalmic lens waste
composites
natural rubber
sustainability
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/10/3/90
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This study investigates the recycling of ophthalmic lens waste (OLW) in the production of vulcanized natural rubber (NR) composites, aiming to promote sustainability and reduce costs. To this end, Vietnamese natural rubber and ophthalmic lens waste were used, varying the filler content from 0 to 50 phr. Rheological tests demonstrated that the addition of OLW decreases the cure time. The crosslink density, assessed through the Flory–Rehner and Mooney–Rivlin methods, exhibited an increase with the incorporation of a reinforcement. Thermal and spectroscopic analyses demonstrated the thermal stability of the composites and the absence of chemical interactions between the polymer matrix and the OLW. Mechanical tests showed that the composites exhibit satisfactory tensile and tear resistance, although the filler primarily acts as a filler rather than a structural reinforcement. Thus, the incorporation of OLW in NR composites emerges as a viable alternative for the reuse of industrial waste, fostering more sustainable and efficient practices in the polymer industry.
ISSN:2313-4321

Similar Items