TESTING | MATERIALS
Compounders face testing times
Supply chain pressures and increased use of recycled materials will see a shift of quality control from lab to production and put more emphasis on polymer testing and analysis in compounding operations, write Mark Holmes
The need for simple and accurate product characterisation of polymers is gaining in importance to ensure that compounds continue to meet required quality and performance requirements. Increased use of recycled polymers, with their inherent higher levels of variability, together with demand for high performance compounds for emerging markets such as electric vehicles are just two examples driving demand for rapid, reliable and accurate testing and analysis. In line with the parallel trend to ‘close the loop’ on quality testing, results are increasingly being required on the production shop floor as well as in the laboratory. International testing, assurance, inspection and
certification group, Intertek sees a number of factors driving today’s demand for polymer testing and analytical services. “Supply chain disruption has been a major issue driving the market,” says Julie Mason, Delivery Manager at Intertek Wilton in the UK. “Against a background of already complex global supply chains, which have been impacted by Covid-19, businesses have had to look at
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alternative materials or ingredients, such as additives or for new suppliers. This has driven the need for analytical testing to ensure that materials are of the same quality and meet the same performance specifications.” Meanwhile, Chantal Haarmann, Business Unit Manager Polymers at the Intertek Polychemlab in the Netherlands, says: “Another important driver we have observed is the need for polymer testing to support the development and applications of post-consumer recycling. To make a circular economy for plastics a reality, the recycling processes, the ‘recyclability’ of materials and the quality and performance of resulting materials must be assessed through robust materials evaluation programmes.” There are a number of important points plastics compounders and masterbatchers need to consider when selecting polymer testing services, according to Intertek. “When considering recycled polymers and where recycled materials are mixed with virgin polymer, plastics compounders and masterbatchers are facing challenges in identifying
Main image: Changing supply chains and more variable recycled materials are likely to lead to more material testing by compounders
January 2022 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 25
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
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