Recycled Electric Cable Granules: An Innovative Raw Material for Plastic Injection
Introduction
The plastic injection industry is constantly evolving towards more sustainable and economical solutions. Granules derived from electric cable recycling represent a promising alternative to virgin raw materials, offering interesting mechanical properties while fitting into a circular economy approach.
Production Process and Composition
This material results from a sophisticated sorting process of dismantled electric cable waste. The treatment includes several stages: screening, flotation, densimetric sorting, and vibrating table sorting. This multi-technological approach allows obtaining a final product of controlled quality.
The composition reveals a predominance of polyethylene (PE) at 81%, complemented by 9% of other polymers. This polyethylene base gives the material transformation characteristics familiar to processors accustomed to semi-crystalline thermoplastics.
Processing Properties
Implementation Parameters
The recommended injection conditions are particularly accessible:

Processing temperature: 190-205°C
Mold temperature: 20°C

These relatively moderate parameters facilitate integration into existing production cycles and limit energy consumption, a significant advantage in the current economic context.
Rheological Behavior
With a melt flow index (MFI) of 337 g/10min according to NF EN ISO 527-2 standard, this material exhibits excellent fluidity. This characteristic facilitates filling of complex cavities and allows consideration of thin-walled parts or delicate geometries.
Mechanical Performance
Strength and Stiffness
The mechanical properties reveal a balanced material:

Yield stress: 14.3 MPa
Tensile modulus: 337 MPa
Elongation at break: 19%

This combination suggests a material offering a good compromise between stiffness and ductility, suitable for applications requiring moderate mechanical resistance with some deformation capacity.
Impact Resistance
The notched Charpy impact strength of 31.2 kJ/m² at 23°C demonstrates good material toughness. This property is particularly valuable for applications exposed to dynamic stresses or accidental impacts.
Environmental and Regulatory Considerations
PBB/PBDE Compliance
Compliance with regulatory thresholds concerning brominated compounds (PBB

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