Sustainability research at the United Arab Emirates University

A research team from the United Arab Emirates University conducted a research project to recycle scrap plastic bottles into re-manufactured materials, contributing to waste reduction, preserving a clean and sustainable environment, and promoting scientific and operational applications, which in turn contribute directly to sustainable environmental engineering and the circular economy.

Prof. Abdel-Hamid I. Mourad, case study supervisor from the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, stated, “Our work focuses on the friction stir weldability of recycled scrap thermoplastics. As a case study, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) sourced from scrap Laban bottles was used. This work has applications towards the development of sustainable lightweight thermoplastic structures using recycled scrap materials.”

The combined effects of recycling and welding processes were studied to ensure that the chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the base materials were retained. By optimizing the welding conditions, high-strength weld joints were achieved without any significant degradation of the polymeric material. The findings suggest that friction stir welding can be used towards the development of sustainable, lightweight thermoplastic structures. This research not only helps with reducing plastic waste but also supports a circular economy.

He added, "This research work addresses the growing environmental concerns associated with plastic waste, while this study demonstrates that recycled scrap thermoplastics can be effectively welded and used towards structural applications, and it promotes plastic material recycling and reusage.” Noting that this research is multi-disciplinary and requires expertise from different fields, such as mechanical engineering, to enhance its breadth and use, material sciences might be further broadened to include additional fields like environmental engineering and waste management.

The research team consists of Dr. Syed Haris Iftikhar, Dr. Nizamudeen Alungal Cherupurakal (recent PhD graduates) and other bachelor and master students aims to extend this work to other thermoplastic materials, especially composites. Some possible directions include the scalability of this work for industrial applications and its durability under environmental exposure. Such research will contribute greatly to sustainable manufacturing practices and the circular economy.

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https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2588840424000544