reprocessable

Reprocessable is an adjective describing a material, product, or process that can undergo processing again after its initial use to recover value, refurbish, or remold it for reuse. Reprocessability implies the ability to be treated through subsequent processing steps without prohibitive loss of performance.

In materials science, reprocessability is a feature of many thermoplastics, which can be heated, reshaped, and remolded repeatedly. Thermosetting polymers, once cured, are generally not reprocessable. Metals, glass, and certain composites can be reprocessed by melting and reforming, though efficiency depends on composition and contamination.

Reprocessing typically involves collection and cleaning, sorting, and a remanufacturing step such as extrusion, molding, or forging. The quality of the recovered material may decline with repeated cycles due to degradation, chain scission, or additives, and economic or energy costs influence viability.

Reprocessability is related to, but not identical with, recyclability and remanufacturing. Recyclability concerns end-of-life recovery; reprocessability concerns the feasibility of processing the material again. Some materials are both reprocessable and recyclable, while others are limited to initial use or to remanufacturing.

Examples include thermoplastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene, which can be melted and remolded; metals such as aluminum and steel; and glass, which can be melted and reformed with relatively little degradation. In composites, reprocessability may be constrained by additives or crosslinking.

See also recycling, remanufacturing, upcycling, circular economy.