Posted in Silicone Recycling

The importance of high-quality PFPE grease in silicone recycling

In this article, we’ll be outlining the importance of how grease plays a crucial role in the process of silicone recycling. In the world of silicone recycling, especially in this day and age, there is very little manual labor involved, which means all the hard work is done by industrial machines and tools. Therefore, just like most machines, having a high-quality grease is the key to efficient operations. Below are a few factors why choosing PFPE grease, the best industrial grease on the market is worth the extra cost.

Excellent compatibility

In terms of compatibility, PFPE based grease is by far the superior choice. As silicone often react to petrochemical based greases, it is highly recommended that the machinery and all moving parts involved in silicone recycling should use a more synthetic type of grease. PFPE grease also won’t react to metals, but instead stay put on the surface. PFPE grease is actually so strong, that a special solvent is required to completely remove the grease from a surface. If any other grease is applied to an already PFPE greased surface, the new grease will not be able to stick to the PFPE grease, and eventually fall off.

PFPE grease can only be thickened with PTFE powder, which also serves as an advantage due to the properties of the PTFE. The PTFE powder is actually so fine that it’s not only good for thickening, but also lessens the wear and tear on fast moving parts, such as ball bearings.

Completely chemically inert

All PFPE products, including PFPE greases are known for its inert properties. This means it will never ignite in high temperatures, and that is often a serious issue when choosing greases for high-heat operations. As silicone recycling can sometimes reach extreme temperatures when the silicone needs to be melted and remolded, using PFPE grease is highly recommended for safety and performance reasons.

Another factor to consider is that PFPE grease is the only grease that can withstand extreme humidity, this is not only important for silicone recycling processes, but also any machinery where the grease can be directly exposed to hot steam and other gasses.

Wide temperature range

PFPE grease has the highest temperature range compared to other mainstream greases on the market, handling extreme negative degrees well and perform effectively in high temperatures. Generally, the operating temperature range for a regular PFPE grease is anywhere between -36°C to 288°C (-33°F to 550°F).

In general, PFPE-based greases are very flexible and manufacturers can easily adjust the viscosity of the grease, to fit your requirements. As a general rule of thumb, the higher friction and more demanding tasks usually require a higher viscosity grease. However, always consult with your PFPE grease supplier before placing the order.

Posted in Silicone Recycling

High and low viscosity PDMS

1. Introduction

Polydimethylsiloxanes are used in the plastics industry as additives for improving the processing and surface properties of plastics, as well as the rubber phase in a novel family of thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) materials. As additives, silicones, and in particular polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), are used to improve mold filling, surface appearance, mold release, surface lubricity and wear resistance. As rubber portion of a thermoplastic vulcanizate material, the cross-linked silicone rubber imparts novel properties, such as lower hardness, reduced coefficient of friction and improved low and high temperature properties [1].

2. Low viscosity PDMS

Low molecular weight PDMS polymers, with viscosities less than 1000 cSt, are used extensively by the plastics industry as external release agents applied on the mold surface prior to injection molding.

Low viscosity pure PDMS fluids are clear, colorless, and odorless that range in viscosities from 5cSt to 20cSt (centistokes) @ 25°C. They are characterized by their low pour points, low surface tensions, low viscosity change at temperature, excellent lubricity, high dielectric strength, refractive index values between 1.3970 to 1.4000, wide service temperature range and inertness to virtually all substrates [2]

A primary use is as an ingredient in a number of personal care products due to their low surface tension, skin lubricity, high spreadability and non-greasy feel. Applications may include:
antiperspirants, skin creams, skin lotions, suntan lotions, bath oils, hair care products and so on.

Low viscosity PDMS fluids also possess high resistance to shear, high water repellency, low vapor pressure and low reactivity. They are excellent lubricants for plastics, foams and rubbers. Due to their low pour points and low viscosity change at temperature, they are excellent choices for low temperature bath fluids. For instance, Clearco low viscosity pure silicone fluids meet Federal Specification VV-D-1078 “Silicone as Damping Fluid”. They are used in a wide range of military, industrial and avionic gauges, meters, instruments and monitoring systems.

Low viscosity PDMS fluids are exempt from federal VOC regulations, including California (CARB) and OTC regulations. They will not contribute to ozone-depletion and global warming. In addition, they meet RoHS compliancy. The physical and chemical properties are illustrated in table. no.1 below:

TABLE NO.1

PROPERTIES:

• Low pour points (as low as -90°C)
• Wide service temperature range
• Low surface tension fluids (high spreadability)
• Low viscosity change at temperature (low VTC)
• Refractive index (RI) values between 1.3970 to 1.400
• High dielectric strength
• Newtonian behavior under shear
• Excellent lubricity
• California VOC ,exempt replacement for petroleum based solvents that are not VOC compliant

APPLICATIONS:

• Laboratory bath fluids
• Heat transfer fluids
• Dielectric fluids
• Low viscosity damping fluids
• Turbo generator fluids
• Low viscosity hydraulic fluids
• Refractive index matching fluids
• Low dielectric constant fluids for photonics
• VOC exempt fluids for renewable energies
• Lubricants for plastic parts
• Lubricants for rubber parts

These low viscosity PDMS meet the Federal Specification VV‐D‐1078 “Silicone as damping fluid ” and are used in a wide range of military, industrial and avionic gauges, meters, instruments and monitoring systems.

Super Low Viscosity Pure Silicone Fluids are clear, colorless and odorless linear polydimethylsiloxane fluids that range in viscosities from 0.65cSt (i.e.thinner than water ) to 2cSt (centistokes) @ 25°C. They are characterized by their low pour points, volatile nature (evaporate in open system), stability at low temperature, low surface tensions (high spreadability), low viscosity‐to‐temperature coefficients (viscosity changes little even at extremely low temperatures), low molecular weight, low viscosities (all close to water), high dielectric strength and refractive index values ranging from 1.3750 to 1.3900.Due to their volatility (varying rates of evaporation), low surface tensions (high spreadability) and non-greasy feel, they are used as base fluids, carrying agents and wetting agents in a wide range of personal care products.

TABLE NO.2

3. High viscosity PDMS

In order to eliminate an external application during processing, higher molecular weight PDMS materials, with viscosities ranging from 10,000 cSt to 60,000 cSt, have been used as internal additives in thermoplastic polymers to give processing advantages and surface property improvements. Due to the incompatibility between dimethyl siloxanes and most thermoplastics, the PDMS fluid is driven to the surface. A concentration of the PDMS at the surface results in the observed processing and surface property benefits.

A more recent advancement in the field of PDMS additives is the use of ultra high molecular weight (UHMW) PDMS, with viscosities ranging from 10 to 50 x 106 cSt [3]. Additives are now available with 50 weight percent UHMW PDMS in various thermoplastic carriers and as pellets in order to allow easy addition of the additive directly to the thermoplastic during processing. An important improvement obtained using UHMW PDMS is that the loading of PDMS in the concentrated additive is increased from approximately 20 to 50 weight percent [1]

Ultra high molecular weight PDMS results in the same processing benefits, such as improved mold release, lower extruder torque and easier mold filling as compared to lower molecular weight PDMS, but it eliminates the “bleed-out” that can occur after processing. This benefit is clearly seen when comparing the print adhesion to polypropylene films containing various additives .High viscosity pure silicone fluids are clear, colorless and odorless linear polydimethylsiloxane fluids that range in viscosities from 5,000cSt to 100,000cSt (centistokes) @ 25°C. They are characterized by their low pour points, high flash points, wide service temperature range, low viscosity change at temperature, excellent lubricity, high dielectric strength, refractive index values between 1.3970 to 1.4000 and inertness to virtually all substrates [2]. Their physical and chemical properties are shown in the table no.3 below:

TABLE NO.3

PROPERTIES:

• High flash points
• Low pour points
• Wide service temperature range
• Low viscosity change at temperature (low VTC)
• Refractive index matching fluids for RI value = 1.4035
• High dielectric strength
• High damping action
• High oxidation resistance
• Stable under high rates of pressure
• Stable under high rates of shear

APPLICATIONS INCLUDE:

• Damping fluids for gauges, instrument & electronics
• O‐Ring, gasket & valve lubricant
• Cable lubricant
• Dielectric fluids
• Down‐hole fluids for oil & gas exploration
• Hydraulic fluids
• Flow control fluid
• High pressure fluid
• Refractive index matching fluids
• Refractive index matching fluids for LED and optics
• VOC exempt fluids for renewable energies
• Lubricants for plastic parts
• Lubricants for rubber parts
• Fluid for touch screen technology
• Vibration control fluid
• Calibration fluid

4. Environment and recycling

Low- and high viscosity silicone fluids are exempt from federal VOC regulations, including California (CARB) and OTC regulations. They are HAP‐free and do not contribute to ozone‐depletion and global warming. In addition, they meet RoHS Compliancy.

The Environment Agency’s environmental risk assessment for octa-methyl-cyclo-tetra-siloxane (D4) is based on the methods outlined in the Technical guidance document (TGD) of the European Union (EU) for the risk assessment of new and existing chemicals. The persistence, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) status is assessed, and a ‘quantitative’ risk assessment was made by comparison of exposure with effects [3].The overall conclusions of the risk assessment are the followings:

• No risks from off-site use as an intermediate (both wet and dry processes), from formulation and use in both personal care products and household products and from regional sources of D4 are identified for air, water, sediment and the terrestrial compartments. There are also no risks for humans exposed to D4 via the environment.

• Possible risks are identified from the production and on-site use as an intermediate at the UK production site, and apply to freshwater, freshwater sediment, predators, marine waters, marine sediments, marine and top predators. These conclusions are based on the best information available, but this is limited and hence there is significant uncertainty in the conclusions. The receiving fresh water, which is subject to local Environment Agency regulation, is a relatively non-standard environment and dilution into the sea is possibly higher than the default value used.

• Further information required to reduce these uncertainties should include clarification of the emissions from the production site. This could be statistically analyzed site-specific data on emissions, in compliance with the TGD (i.e..monitoring of the receiving water or further effluent monitoring ).

References
[1] W.Shearer “ Silicones in the plastic industry” /www.dowcorning.com
[2] www.clearcoproducts.com
[3] www.gov.uk/uploads/environmental risk assesment report

Posted in Silicone Recycling

Silicone Oil Recycling

Silicone oil has many different names such as : silicone fluid, polydimethylsiloxane, dimethicone, dimethylpolysiloxane, dimethyl siloxane, PDMS. From a chemical point of view, probably that polydimethylsiloxane name best describes the silicone oil structure.: Poly (it is a polymer), dimethyl (two methyl (CH3) groups) , siloxane (Silicone and Oxygen).

The chemical structure of polydimethylsiloxane is:

where n= number dimethylsiloxane units.

The customers of polydimethylsiloxane will be aware that the silicone oil is available in a number of different viscosities. The most common silicone oils are are that of viscosities 100cSt (centistoke), 350cSt and 1000cSt. The number of dimethylsiloxane units depicts the size of the polymer chain which determines the viscosity. The smaller the polymer chain the lower the viscosity (e.g. 100 cSt) , the bigger the polymer chain the higher the viscosity (e.g.1000cSt).

An Allcock product in the Allcosil 200 range has the lowest viscosity equal to 0.65cSt. Allcosil 200/0.65 has only two units, this means that it is a dimer, and not a polymer. The dimer is hexamethyldisiloxane.

The chemical structure of hexamethyldisiloxane is:

It is clear that that the dimer has a structure very similar to the structure of polydimethysiloxane .The polymer chain length also has an effect on the other properties of the oil as shown in Table no.1 below :

Table no.1.

(1000000 cSt, longest polymer chain.)

It may be observed from the table no.1 that the polymer chain length becomes less important in effecting the properties at viscosities higher than 50cSt. According to the FDA Regulation 21 CFR, certain viscosities are food grade. Silicone oils have many uses due to their lubrication, dielectric and water repellent properties.

2. Silicone Emulsion

Silicone Emulsion contains 3 ingredients; polydimethylsiloxane, emulsifier & water. The key ingredient is the emulsifier, which encapsulates the polydimethylsiloxane oil and holds it in suspension.

A typical emulsifier used in making silicone emulsions is ethoxylated glycol ethers. These emulsifiers have a hydrophobic (dislikes water) and hydrophilic (likes water) part in their structure. The hydrophobic faces the polydimethylsiloxane and the hydrophillic faces the water. This creates a barrier between the water and the polydimethylsiloxane. Here below is represented a picture that shows how an emulsifier works. A surfactant (i.e. surface active agent) is just a type of emulsifier.

Unfortunately emulsifiers, due to their chemical make-up, are vulnerable to bacteria. Bacteria can digest certain emulsifiers causing the polydimethylsiloxane to float to the top or disrupt the pH enough for non-digestible emulsifiers to split from the oil. Splitting in an emulsion can be seen and smelt. Bacterial growth causes smell and usually the emulsion smells like sour milk.

Emulsions are a key mould release/lubricant and antifoams for many industries. For instance, Allcock biggest selling emulsion is Allcosil 435 FG, which is sold to the food packaging industry. It is food grade and kosher certified.

3. Recycling

Research and review of peer-reviewed scientific studies indicate one should begin to be cautious about silicone for the following reasons [2] .

• Silicones are not completely inert or chemically unreactive and can release toxic chemicals. They can leach certain synthetic chemicals at low levels, and the leaching is increased with fatty substances, such as oils. Evidence of contamination from silicone was found in wine and edible oil foods. Materials such as aluminium, platinum, magnesium and calcium were found to have leached into food when testing was carried out on silicone bakeware.
• Fluid silicone studies indicated release of siloxanes, one of which – cylcopentasiloxane – is considered toxic and persistent. This siloxane, also known as D5, is used as a softener in cosmetics, and according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency may also be carcinogenic. [3]
• Silicone tubing commonly used for medical applications has been shown to leach several chemicals, including dioctyl phthalate . DOP Silicone intravenous devices have been shown to leach silicone and cause local inflammation [4].
• Silicones are likely not completely inert and may cause local inflammation. as suggested in this study on the breakdown of silicone joint implants.[5]
• Silicone oils have a low recycling rate.
  Silicone does not biodegrade or decompose (certainly not in our lifetimes). It is recyclable, but not likely through a local municipal recycling program. Preferably it should be taken to a specialized private recycling facility.

An alternative process is mentioned for removing silicones present on fibers, yarns or textile sheet materials (substrates), wherein an aqueous preparation is allowed to act on the substrates. Thus, the treated substrates are rinsed to remove the residual silicone and the said preparation contains from 0.5 to 10% by weight of surface-active quaternary ammonium compounds and from 0.5 to 5% by weight of alkali hydroxide, respectively based on the aqueous preparation. The process is suitable, in particular, for the recovery and recycling of fibrous material and silicones from airbags or coated fabric materials from the ready-making of airbags.[6]

Another process is mentioned for recycling a silicone compound, wherein the silicone compound is decomposed by employing an alkyl carbonate and a compound containing active hydrogen group in the presence of a catalyst. Following this procedure, the silicone monomers and/or silicone oligomers are recovered from the decomposed silicone compound. Silicone monomers and/or silicone oligomers are produced without producing any byproduct, and no step for removal by separation is needed in an after process. Therefore the implementation of the said process is claimed to be easy.[7]

TMC Industries uses both centrifugal molecular stills and packed column stills in order to recover silicone oils. Using centrifugal molecular stills, the thin-film, short-path, high-vacuum technology, TMC Industries can restore contaminated vacuum fluids to their original state with exceptionally high yields. Using packed column technology, TMC can purify many fluorocarbon solvents by removing contamination and restoring them to their original high purity. Inert and semi-inert fluids can be reclaimed many times without affecting their performance capabilities.[8]

References:

[1] www.allcocks.co.uk
[2] www.lifewitoutplastic.com
[3] 2005 Report commissioned by the United Kingdom Food Standards Agency : “Chemical migration from silicones used in connection with food-contact materials and articles”
[4] Archives of Disease in Childhood: “Plastic migration from implanted central venous access devices” , a 1999 study
[5] Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology : “ Silicone-induced foreign body reaction and lymphadenopathy after temporomandibular joint arthroplasty”, a 2006 study.
[6] US Patent no. 20090126122 A1
[7] US Patent no.6,172,252
[8] www.tmcindustries.com

Posted in Silicone Recycling

Diffusion Pump Oil Recycling

Another great source for recycling of silicone oil comes from oil made for diffusion pumps. A diffusion pump is used for creating high vacuums mainly in industrial applications such as thin film deposition, vacuum furnaces, protective film coatings, semiconductor manufacturing, space simulations, and much more. As diffusion pumps do not have any moving parts, it’s one of the most stable and affordable ways of producing high vacuums. Generally speaking, diffusion pumps can attain vacuums between 10e-6 to 10e-10 torr depending on the size of the pump as well as the type of diffusion pump oil used.

As stated earlier, there are no moving parts in a diffusion pump. The only moving aspect of the pump is the movement of the diffusion pump oil within. A heater is located at the bottom of the pump that heats the oil until it turns into a vapor or gaseous state. We won’t go into depth as to how a diffusion pump works, however, the vapors eventually are turned back into oil and continuously changes between these two states where air molecules are forced outside the system causing a vacuum.

Interestingly, when diffusion pumps were first introduced back in 1915, the diffusion pump oil used was derived from mercury. As mercury is poisonous to humans, this was replaced by oil made from hydro-carbons. However, as mineral based oils tend to thicken and darken when used continuously inside the pump, a problem arises where pumps became often clogged where oil changes were required relatively frequently, every several months.

The newest trend in diffusion pump oil is actually the use of silicone based oils. As silicone offers low vapor pressure and very low degradation when continuously heated and cooled, it became an ideal solution compared to hydro-carbon based oils. Nowadays, inside most diffusion pumps is a silicone based formula.

While degradation of silicone based oils is low, it is still highly recommended that the oil inside the diffusion pump be replaced at least once per year. With all the diffusion pumps being in use in the world, this left a lot of silicone oil for recycling. Luckily, we offer one of the best solutions for recycling diffusion pump oil.

The constant vaporization and condensation of silicone oil actually breaks down the oil on a chemical level. As you continue the use the oil, you’ll notice a loss of efficiency, that is, the rate of vacuum will decrease. The chemical deterioration prevents the oil from being reused as diffusion pump oil. While this is so, we have come up with a brilliant solution. Instead of trying to filter and reuse the oil for diffusion pumps, we’re now able to completely reprocess diffusion pump oil back into standard grade silicone oil that can be used in other industrial applications.

For more information about our recycling process or if you have a source for used diffusion pump oil, please make sure to contact us.

Posted in Silicone Recycling

Uncured Liquid Silicone

Liquid silicone rubber (LSR) is high purity platinum cure silicone that is known for its excellent quality and bio-compatibility. Owing to its low compression set, great stability and ability to resist extreme temperatures of heat and cold, it is favored by manufacturers for the production of medical device and medical parts.

The Chemistry That Makes LSR Such An Outstanding Material

LSR is a synthetic silicone elastomer with a backbone of alternating silicone and oxygen atoms and methyl or vinyl side groups that provides it unique properties such as excellent thermal and oxidative resistance, low surface tension, low temperature flexibility, and good dielectric properties. The fast cure cycles and improved performance properties of liquid silicone rubber make it a good choice for small molded components esp. in the medical industry.

Use of Liquid Silicone Rubber

LSR was first produced about 25 years ago. In 1999, the global market consumed approximately 170K tons of silicone elastomers. Unlike most thermoplastic elastomers (TPRs and TPEs), LSR remains flexible and elastic beyond -70°F and retains its properties up to 450°F. Liquid silicone rubber is a good candidate for gaskets, seals and cushioning pads in portable communications, data acquisition instruments and ruggedized electronic devices where outdoor conditions are demanding. Cured LSR does not out-gas volatiles and plasticizers- which has made it friendly to electronic assemblies that were formerly required to be “silicone free”.

Medical Grade Silicones

Medical grade silicones are best suited for bio-compatibility and are appropriate to be used for medical applications. Medical grade liquid silicone rubber can be extruded into tubes, strips, solid cords, and it can be molded into custom shapes and designs.

The healthcare plastic device market already represents over $4 billion in sales in North America. Demand for healthcare devices continues to grow as the population ages. In the U.S., nearly 13,000 individuals are expected to turn 60 each day over the next 20 years. In fact, sales of LSR for medical application in North America alone are expected to increase 50% by 2015.

Uncured Silicone Rubber

With the high use of LSR, there are also byproducts (those left over raw materials that cannot be pump out of the original package) such as uncured silicone rubber is used to make silicone formulations which can be used as adhesives, sealants, gels, coatings, dips and encapsulation compounds. These formulations have useful characteristics such as extended temperature range, high thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity and etc. Uncured LSR are available in small quantities usually packaged in tubes, syringes and jars.

Uncured Silicone Rubber Recycling

The conventional method of recycling uncured silicone rubber is incineration which is extremely expensive. However, there are companies who help in recycling such uncured LSR at an affordable rate. Eco USA are expert in recycling most types of silicone, siloxane bearing by products including cured rubber, uncured rubber, solids, liquids, oils and gels, foams, hose, belting and silicone treated fabrics.

Instead of using the traditional method of landfills, Eco USA uses environmental friendly and innovative alternatives for recycling material into raw material substitute and reusing it effectively. They attack the disposition of process materials and recycle the material into a raw material substitute, and recover all materials generated utilizing energy recovery. Thus, they help in reducing carbon foot print, now you do not need land fill space and still save energy, and decrease emission of green house gases.

Eco USA specializes in silicone recycling, with a higher reusable yield of the scarp material. Eco USA keeps all environmental requirements under consideration during their recycling procedures. Silicone Materials which they recycle are; silicone rubber, GUM, HTV, RTV, LSR, sealant, silicone fluid.
For quick and convenient disposal of uncured LSR, contact Eco USA today. They provide pick up service of recyclable material for their clients and that will reduce the transportation cost considerably and save you a lot of money!

Posted in Silicone Recycling

Rubber Keypad Recycling

With the ever growing use of electronic gadgets in our daily lives, recycling of used electronic goods and their parts has become extremely important to keep our environment safe. When disposed improperly the remains of these electronic gadgets especially plastic and rubber keypads of old mobile phones and remote controls can impose hazards to both environment and human life.

Did you know? In a study conducted by market intelligence firm, ISuppli Corporation in 2007, there were nearly 700 million cell phones (old and used ones) only in America, of which 36.8% were stored in shelves and drawers, 10.2% were being thrown away and only 9.4% mobile phones were actually recycled.

Recycle User Rubber Keypads of Remote Control

It is recommended to recycle all recyclable components of old mobiles phones and remote controls including plastic body, rubber keypads and used batteries once you have stopped using them.

Now-a-days, many of us already know about recycling of used batteries and there are many initiatives to collect and recycle used mobile phones, their body parts as well as remote control batteries. Unfortunately, not many of us know how to recycle rubber keypads of remote controls which is why we do not even bother to dispose them off properly!

Recycling Rubber Keypads of Remote Controls

Rubber keypads are widely used in the “push-button” facilities found in the variety of electronic gadgets we use in our daily lives. These rubber keypads are mainly made of silicone (the main constituent of rubber keypads) and are extensively used in remote controls and mobile phones.
Since silicone is also used in many kitchen utensils, most of us think that it does not pose any potential health hazards. Well, it doesn’t when it comes to its usage but owing to its non-biodegradable nature, silicone rubber keypads have been proven harmful for the environment.

Silicone is basically a synthetic rubber material which contains bonded silicone (Si) and oxygen (O2) and it doesn’t decompose naturally so it has to be recycled properly.

Usually silicone rubber keypads are disposed off to land filling. While there are not many known ways to recycle rubber keypads of remote controls, there are some E-recycling companies that invest heavily in recycling silicone based rubber keypads. Companies like Eco USA are extensively working on collecting rubber keypads of remote controls and recycling them into useful Silicone Oil.

Eco USA is a leader in recycling industrial silicone materials. They opt for eco-friendly and environmental friendly ways to recycle and reuse industrial materials one of which is Silicone. Being experts in silicone recycling, they not only recycle disposed silicone products effectively but also collect the disposed off products from there respective clients.

Eco USA concentrates mainly on recycling most forms of silicone and siloxane. After collecting the materials, they depolymerise it to recover silicone monomers such as D3 and D4, and from that they make silicone oil which is extensively used as a lubricant for industrial machines.

Recycling Is Energy Efficient

Recycling rubber keypads of old mobile phones and remote controls is also energy efficient. If we recycle a single mobile phone, we can save up to 44 hours of power. If 130 million mobile phones are recycled only in America, enough energy can be saved to power more than 24,000 homes for a year.
If you are a company that wants to strike a deal for remote control rubber keypad recycling, you can connect with one of your local recycling companies or contact Eco USA today at to establish a lucrative recycling deal which will be beneficial for both environment and human health.

Happy Recycling!

Posted in Silicone Recycling

Materials We Collect

Silicone materials that are collected are de-polymerized to recover silicone monomers such as D3 and D4. This material is used to make silicone oil that is widely used as lubricant for industrial machinery.

ECO U.S.A. is proud to recycle most forms of silicone such as:

• Silicone Rubber
• GUM
• HTV
• RTV
• LSR
• Sealant
• Silicone Fluid

*Click to enlarge photos below.

For more information about silicone recycling and how we can help you dispose of your recyclable silicone materials properly, email us or call us at (201) 282-5900.

Posted in Silicone Recycling

Our Customers

ECO U.S.A. is proud to service a wide range of industries. From medical, to automotive and chemical plants, we work with the following companies to develop recycling solutions for their recyclable silicone materials and wide-spec goods.

• Momentive Performance Materials
• Bluestar Silicone
• Shin Etsu Silicone
• Helix Medical
• Trelleborg Group
• Parker Group
• Delphi

Call us at (201) 282-5900 or email us for a FREE on-site visit!

Posted in Silicone Recycling

Benefits of Silicone Recycling

The cost of transporting and depositing industrial materials at landfills continues to rise. With the ECO U.S.A. program, for every ton of recycled silicone rubber, you can Save 30 cubic yards of landfill space:

• This can translate into hundreds and thousands of dollars in management savings depending on the size of your recyclable materials stream.
• Increase cash flow. Get paid to recycle.
• Improve the environment. Recycling one ton of silicone rubber for example, saves 5,774 kwh of energy, 16.3 barrels of oil and 98 million BTUs of energy.

For more information about silicone recycling and how we can help you dispose of your silicone materials properly, email us or call us at (201) 282-5900.

Posted in Silicone Recycling

The ECO Advantage

Because we are the end recyclers, we have full control over collection and reprocessing. ECO U.S.A follows strict protocols to comply with guidelines as we understand it is a major concern for our vendors. We take full legal responsibility for silicone materials we collect and guarantee the protection of our clients’ original patented products and registered trademarks.

With our flexibility on various pick up services, we have been able to create ways of collecting the materials that are most suitable for each of our clients.

Our innovative solutions allow us to have higher reusable yield of silicone materials. On a separate note, the transportation cost is 60% of the total cost for the recycling industry. By shipping the materials directly from our clients’ facilities to us, we are able to reduce transportation costs substantially.

Since we are the end user of the materials, we are able to match any offer from your local recycler or any other parties.

Our eco-friendly and environmentally conscious methods for recycling enables us to solve your recyclable materials collection problems whilst we help make our earth a better place for all.

We are obligated to make decisions that reward not only our current customers, suppliers, and employees but also reward the generations yet to come.

Learn how we can help you properly dispose of your recyclable silicone materials, email us or call us at (201) 282-5900.