Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, Vol. 59 (2000) 425–432 THERMAL ANALYSIS APPLIED TO DISCARDED CAR BUMPERS E. B. Mano * , A. F. Martins and L. C. Mendes Instituto de Macromoleculas Professora Eloisa Mano, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro P. O. Box 68525, 21945-970 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil Abstract The thermal properties of discarded bumpers from standard grade automobiles were compared to the corresponding data obtained from binary and ternary blends of virgin polyolefins of composition simi- lar to the recycled product. After grinding and separating by specific gravity, the recycled material was identified by DSC, DMTA, TGA and C NMR. We found that it contains three polymers: poly- propylyene (PP) as the major component, ethylene, propylene, diene methylene terpolymer (EPDM) and a small amount of high density polyethylene (HDPE). Keywords: car bumpers, recovered plastic, recycled plastic, thermal properties Introduction The interest in the recycling of materials, particularly plastics, has increased continuously as concern on Nature preservation extends throughout the world. Two good reasons for this concern are the desire not to waste resources and the disposal of scrap materials which may otherwise pollute the environment [1]. The recyclability of car components has become as important as that of packaging waste. For many car makers, this is a re- quirement that needs to be met before they will consider using some materials [2]. Car manufacturers have increasingly turned to polymer materials as a mass reduction method. Among the plastics used in vehicles, PP bumpers have been targeted for recy- cling because of their large size [3]. PP has been used in increasing ratios in the molding compound for bumpers due to its capability for manufacture and recycling [4]. Thermo- plastic polyolefin (TPO) compounds, which are blends of elastomeric ethyl- ene-propylene (EP) or ethylene, propylene, diene methylene terpolymers (EPDM) with PP, are expanding their usage specially in bumpers, owing to their low cost and capability of recycling. Recycled plastics from bumpers are finding applications in several areas, even as new bumpers [2, 5]. In the present work, the identification of the recycled material from used car bump- ers was carried out by DSC, DMTA, TGA and 13 C-6NMR, due to the similarity of the 1418–2874/2000/ $ 5.00 © 2000 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht Dedicated to Prof. Edith A. Turi in recognition of her leadership in eduction * Author to whom all correspondence should be addressed.