Dataset of the properties of polyethylene (PE) blends of different densities mixed with post-consumer recycled polyethylene (PCRPE)

This paper compiles polymer characterization data collected from polyethylene (PE) blends composed of different densities (low-density, LDPE, linear low-density, LLDPE, medium-density, MDPE, and high-density, HDPE) and post-consumer recycled polyethylene (PCRPE), as presented by Cecon et al. (2021). The data were collected from injection molded samples submitted to several physical, thermal, and mechanical characterization techniques, including density, melt flow rate (MFR), thermogravimetric analysis, mechanical testing, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. As there is a significant urgency in recycled polymer utilization in new consumer products from consumers, companies, and governments, the dataset herein presented can be a valuable tool for manufacturers, brand owners, and polymer engineers to model and anticipate different polymer properties associated with the increased use of PCRPE.


Specifications
Materials Science Specific subject area Material characterization of polyethylene blends. Type of data Table  How data were acquired Density data were collected using a density determination of solids kit (ME-33360, Mettler Toledo) coupled to a laboratory scale (M-120, Denver Instruments). Melt flow rates were measured using an extrusion plastometer (D4004, Dynisco). Ash residue, the temperature at 5% mass loss, and activation energy were obtained using a thermogravimetric analyzer (Q50 0 0IR, TA Instruments) and analyzed using TA Advantage/Universal Analysis software. Mechanical properties were obtained using a universal electromechanical tester (AGS-J, Shimadzu) with a manual non-shift wedge grip set (MWG-5kNA, Shimadzu

Value of the Data
• The experimental data are useful for a better understanding of how recycled polyethylene can affect different polymer properties in virgin polyethylene of different densities. • All the stakeholders involved in plastic manufacturing and recycling can benefit from the data presented, including brand owners, polymer engineers, and scientists. • The data can be used for predictive modeling and tunability of polyethylene blends containing PCRPE, with the goal to improve polymer properties and increase the use of recycled polymers in multiple applications.

Data Description
The data presented in the Supplementary Table consists of data for LDPE, LLDPE, MDPE, and HDPE blends with PCRPE at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100% wt% for density, melt flow rate (MFR), temperature at 5% mass loss, activation energy, ash residue, and the carbonyl area using thickness normalized absorbance area for the 1755-1725 cm −1 wavelength interval with five measurements for each blend. In addition, the Supplementary Table contains mechanical property data, with ten measurements of each blend, including the tensile modulus, yield stress, and yield strain.

Density
A density determination of solids kit ME-33360 (Mettler Toledo, Columbus, OH) mounted on a laboratory scale M-120 (Denver Instrument, Arvada, CO) was used to determine the density of each specimen ( d specimen ) . Each specimen (0.5 ± 0.1 g), cut from the injection molded specimens produced, had first the mass measured in air (as shown in Fig. 2 ), and later being positioned in the metal spring submerged in ethanol (190 Proof, Decon Labs, King of Prussia, PA). The two mass measurements and the density of ethanol at the room temperature (22 °C) were then applied to Eq. (1 ) (provided by the kit instruction manual) to calculate the density. (1)

Melt flow rate (MFR)
The melt flow rate for each injection molded blend of PCRPE and vPE of different densities was obtained in accordance with Procedure A of ASTM D1238-20 [3] with the specified parameters for polyethylene (190 °C, 2.16 kg) using a D4004 Melt Flow Indexer (Dynisco, Morgantown, PA) Fig. 3 . Five replicates, consisting of 4.0 ± 0.1 g samples cut from the injection molded material, were tested for each blend. The material is first loaded into the melt chamber and preheated for 5 min. After reaching steady-state, a 1 min cut-off time was set for sample collection. The extruded specimen was cooled down in air for 2 min and its mass determined, followed by the conversion into grams per 10 min by the appropriate factor, as stipulated by the ASTM standard.

Thermogravimetric analysis
The thermal degradation temperature defined as the temperature of 5% mass loss and the corresponding activation energy (according to ASTM E1641-18 [4] ) of each blend of PCRPE and vPE were obtained via modulated thermogravimetric analysis (MTGA) using a Q50 0 0IR thermogravimetric analyzer ( Fig. 4 a) (TA Instruments, New Castle, DE) and the TA Advantage/Universal Analysis software pack for data collection and treatment, respectively. Five specimens were analyzed, each with a mass of 5-10 mg, cut from the injection molded material. They were loaded to a platinum pan ( Fig. 4 b) that is positioned in the equipment autosampler. Each pan was measured individually, heated at 2 °C/min with continuous modulation using an amplitude = ± 5 °C and period = 200 s, under an N 2 atmosphere.

Electromechanical testing
Each PCRPE/vPE blend's mechanical properties were evaluated using an Autograph AGS-J (Shimadzu Corp., Kyoto, Japan) universal electromechanical tester with a 5 kN load cell and a manual non-shift wedge grip set MWG-5kNA (Shimadzu Corp., Kyoto, Japan) in the tensile mode. Ten specimens, consisting of ASTM Type I dog bones, for each blend were individually loaded into the equipment, being closed one at a time in the wedge grip set ( Fig. 5 ), and evaluated according to ASTM D638-14 [1] with a 500 mm/min crosshead speed.

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
The Fourier transform infrared spectra of each blend were collected in transmission mode. Five specimens of each blend were cut from the injection molded material the spectra collected