Evaluation of Recycling Technology of Insulation of Cross-linked Polyethylene Insulated Cable using Supercritical Alcohol

The material recycling of the insulation of cross-linked polyethylene cable was studied. We successfully obtained thermoplastic recycled polyethylene from silane cross-linked polyethylene by using chemical reaction in supercritical alcohol. Here, the continuous process for the recycling of silane cross-linked PE using supercritical alcohol was constructed. The mechanical and electrical properties of recycled polyethylene satisfied the requirement of the cable insulation. These results indicate that the cable to cable and wire to wire recycling of silane cross-linked polyethylene will possibly be accomplished by supercritical technology using extruder. Moreover the environmental effect of this technology was evaluated by the amount of the carbon dioxide generated from the continuous process. These results indicate that recycling method using supercritical alcohol was useful for the reduction of the environmental pollution.