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...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Recycling |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/10/3/90 |
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| author | 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 |
| author_facet | 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 |
| author_sort | José Afonso Rocha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a460fd24fd9a4166b1c133eeef50cb5a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2313-4321 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Recycling |
| spelling | doaj-art-a460fd24fd9a4166b1c133eeef50cb5a2025-08-20T03:27:42ZengMDPI AGRecycling2313-43212025-05-011039010.3390/recycling10030090Sustainability and Innovation: Incorporating Waste from Ophthalmic Lenses into Natural Rubber CompositesJosé Afonso Rocha0Carlos Toshiyuki Hiranobe1Dener da Silva Souza2Samara da Silva Araújo3Márcia Ferreira Hiranobe4Guilherme Henrique Barros de Souza5Elmer Mateus Gennaro6Flávio Camargo Cabrera7Guilherme Pina Cardim8Michael Jones da Silva9Erivaldo Antônio da Silva10José Francisco Resende da Silva11Renivaldo José dos Santos12Department of Engineering, School of Engineering and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rosana Campus, Avenida dos Barrageiros, Rosana 19274-000, SP, BrazilDepartment of Engineering, School of Engineering and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rosana Campus, Avenida dos Barrageiros, Rosana 19274-000, SP, BrazilDepartment of Engineering, School of Engineering and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rosana Campus, Avenida dos Barrageiros, Rosana 19274-000, SP, BrazilDepartment of Engineering, School of Engineering and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rosana Campus, Avenida dos Barrageiros, Rosana 19274-000, SP, BrazilDepartment of Tourism and Territory Development, School of Engineering and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rosana Campus, Avenida dos Barrageiros, Rosana 19274-000, SP, BrazilDepartment of Cartographic and Surveying Engineering, School of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Presidente Prudente Campus, Rua Roberto Simonsen, Presidente Prudente 19060-900, SP, BrazilDepartment of Aeronautical Engineering, Engineering School, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Avenida Profª Isette Corrêa Fontão, São João da Boa Vista 13876-750, SP, BrazilDepartment of Engineering, School of Engineering and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rosana Campus, Avenida dos Barrageiros, Rosana 19274-000, SP, BrazilDepartment of Engineering, School of Engineering and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rosana Campus, Avenida dos Barrageiros, Rosana 19274-000, SP, BrazilDepartment of Engineering, School of Engineering and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rosana Campus, Avenida dos Barrageiros, Rosana 19274-000, SP, BrazilDepartment of Cartographic and Surveying Engineering, School of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Presidente Prudente Campus, Rua Roberto Simonsen, Presidente Prudente 19060-900, SP, BrazilDepartment of Engineering, School of Engineering and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rosana Campus, Avenida dos Barrageiros, Rosana 19274-000, SP, BrazilDepartment of Engineering, School of Engineering and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rosana Campus, Avenida dos Barrageiros, Rosana 19274-000, SP, BrazilThis 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/10/3/90recyclingophthalmic lens wastecompositesnatural rubbersustainability |
| spellingShingle | 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 Sustainability and Innovation: Incorporating Waste from Ophthalmic Lenses into Natural Rubber Composites Recycling recycling ophthalmic lens waste composites natural rubber sustainability |
| title | Sustainability and Innovation: Incorporating Waste from Ophthalmic Lenses into Natural Rubber Composites |
| title_full | Sustainability and Innovation: Incorporating Waste from Ophthalmic Lenses into Natural Rubber Composites |
| title_fullStr | Sustainability and Innovation: Incorporating Waste from Ophthalmic Lenses into Natural Rubber Composites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sustainability and Innovation: Incorporating Waste from Ophthalmic Lenses into Natural Rubber Composites |
| title_short | Sustainability and Innovation: Incorporating Waste from Ophthalmic Lenses into Natural Rubber Composites |
| title_sort | sustainability and innovation incorporating waste from ophthalmic lenses into natural rubber composites |
| topic | recycling ophthalmic lens waste composites natural rubber sustainability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/10/3/90 |
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