Scientists turn hard-to-recycle PVC into high-performance engine lubricant

One of the world's most difficult plastics to recycle could soon have a far more valuable second life. Scientists at Virginia Tech have developed a chemical method that converts polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, into polyalphaolefin, an important material used in high-performance lubricants including engine oil. The approach tackles a longstanding problem with PVC, which is difficult to recycle because of its chlorine content and the variety of additives found in different products. Instead of trying to preserve the original plastic, the researchers break its polymer chains down and transform the resulting molecules into a lubricant material. The work, published in Nature on August 5, could offer a new route for turning problematic plastic waste into a higher-value industrial product while potentially making lubricant production more sustainable.How scientists turn hard-to-recycle PVC waste into high-performance engine lubricantThe Virginia Tech team, led by chemist and chemical engineer Guoliang "Greg" Liu, developed a process that chemically transforms PVC into polyalphaolefin, or PAO, a class of synthetic hydrocarbon material used as a base component in high-performance lubricants. Th...