Electron beam irradiation decomposes Teflon-like fluoroplastics efficiently
Plastics like Teflon are famously durable—and infamously difficult to recycle. But a breakthrough from researchers at the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) may offer a powerful new solution. The team, led by Senior Principal Researcher Dr. Akira Idesaki, has developed a technique using electron beam (EB) irradiation to break down polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) into gaseous products, effectively transforming a solid, heat-resistant fluoropolymer into useful chemical components. Their results are published in the journal Radiation Physics and Chemistry. "By applying heat during irradiation, we were able to reduce the energy required to decompose PTFE by 50% compared to traditional methods," said Dr. Idesaki. "This makes large-scale recycling of fluoropolymers much more viable."
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