System And Method For Processing Multiple Polymer Component Articles For Recycling

A method for separating polymer components of a multi-component article for recycling, said method comprising:

• chopping an article comprising a first polymer component and a second polymer component and a textile component into article pieces comprising at least a first polymer component and a second polymer component and a textile component;
• separating the article pieces into fabric pieces comprising the textile component and chips comprising the first polymer component and the second polymer component;
• cooling the chips below a first temperature;
• while below the first temperature, pulverizing the chips, such that a portion of the first polymer component is shattered into first polymer component pieces, wherein the first polymer component pieces are smaller than the chips;
• while below the first temperature, separating the pulverized chips into the first polymer pieces and a concentrated second polymer fraction comprising the second polymer component and the remaining portion of the first polymer component.

A system for separating polymer components of a multi-component article for recycling, the system comprising:

• a shredding device, wherein the shredding device chops an article comprising a first polymer component, a second polymer component, and a textile component into pieces, the pieces comprising a first polymer component, a second polymer component, and a textile component;
• a cryogenic chamber, wherein the article pieces are cooled below a first temperature;
• a cryogenic impact mill, wherein the article pieces remain cooled and are pulverized such that a portion of the first polymer component is fractured from the remaining article pieces comprising the remaining portion of the first polymer component, the second polymer component, and the textile component;
• a trommel screen, wherein a heavy material fraction is removed, the heavy material fraction comprising the fractured first polymer component is separated from the remaining article pieces;
• an air knife to separate the remaining article pieces into a light material fraction comprising a portion of the textile component and a concentrated polymer fraction comprising the remaining first polymer component and the remaining second polymer component;
• and
• a conveyor to return the concentrated polymer fraction to the cryogenic impact mill.

A method for separating polymer components of a shoe for recycling, said method comprising:

• chopping a shoe comprising a first polymer component and a second polymer component and a textile component into shoe pieces comprising at least a first polymer component and a second polymer component and a textile component;
• separating the shoe pieces into fabric pieces comprising the textile component and chips comprising the first polymer component and the second polymer component;
• cooling the chips below a first temperature;
• while below the first temperature, pulverizing the chips, such that a portion of the first polymer component is shattered into first polymer component pieces, wherein the first polymer component pieces are smaller than the chips;
• while below the first temperature, separating the pulverized chips into the first polymer pieces and a concentrated second polymer fraction pieces comprising the second polymer component and the remaining portion of the first polymer component.