LAUSR

Abstract The review is devoted to the use of ionizing radiation for the processing of polymer wastes including the application of radiolytic effects to the sorting of plastics; an increase in the compatibility of plastics with cement, asphalt, and other materials; the destruction of high-molecular-weight wastes; the synthesis of multicomponent polymer composites; the production of monomers for the synthesis of conventional and alternative plastics; the manufacture of antioxidants; the processing of inseparable mixtures of natural and synthetic polymers; etc. The radiation-induced processes of crosslinking, graft polymerization, oxidation, degradation, and high-temperature conversion in the recycling of polymer wastes are considered.