The use of plastic waste as carbon raw materials to obtain TiC-based powders

Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental problems, and a huge amount of effort and money is directed towards solving it. The existing processing methods are ineffective. The main component of all plastic materials (C_xH_y) is carbon. High-purity fine titanium carbide was obtained using plastic waste (polyethylene terephthalate – C₁₀H₈O₄) as a carbon raw material. Combustion processes, phase composition and structure of the obtained materials were studied. A probable mechanism for the formation of titanium carbide during the combustion of the (Ti + C₁₀H₈O₄) mixture was proposed. During the synthesis, polyethylene terephthalate decomposes into carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Carbon and oxygen react with titanium and form titanium oxycarbide. Titanium oxycarbide is saturated with carbon to form titanium carbide and carbon dioxide. The remaining hydrogen and carbon dioxide are released from the synthesis products, which leads to self-purification of the synthesis products. The obtained results will create the basis for the development of a fundamentally new, cost-effective technology for recycling plastic waste into carbides and carbide-containing materials.