RECYCLED CONTENT | MATERIALS
Both are intended for use in automotive structural parts and body panel applications, including fenders and tailgate skins. Avient has developed several new post-con-
sumer recycled (PCR) and post-industrial recycled (PIR) portfolios under the ReSound R brand name. The company says that as consumer demand for more sustainable, eco-friendly products grows along with regulatory pressure, ReSound R recy- cled content formulations can help brand owners deliver on their sustainability goals. The range includes ReSound R VX TPEs, ReSound R ND polyamides, and ReSound R PC polycarbonates. Injection-mouldable ReSound R VX TPEs utilise 25% PCR and up to 40% PIR content, and both grades can be overmoulded onto polypropylene. The PCR grade is formulated with recycled ocean plastics from Oceanworks, an accelerator pro- gramme participant within the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, a non-profit group that includes Avient as a founding member. These TPE grades, formulated for consumer applications, can be used in personal care products, lawn and garden tools, outdoor goods, office supplies, footwear and houseware durables. In addition, Avient is expanding its polyamide
portfolio to include ReSound R ND with PCR content. These PA formulations contain 100% PCR resin and are available in both PA 6 and PA 66 grades with various levels of glass fibre and mineral reinforcements. These products are targeted at applications in the consumer, automotive and powersports markets. The TPEs, as well as recycled PA 6 and 66, are commercially available in North America. Global availability is under evaluation and will depend on regional sourcing capabilities. For the Asian market, Avient now offers ReSound
R PC, a range of polycarbonates with glass fibre reinforcement levels from 10-30% and recycled content ranging from 25-75%. Several grades in this portfolio perform on par with virgin PC in terms of tensile elongation, tensile strength, notched Izod impact, flexural modulus and flexural strength. Available currently in Asia only, global availability is under evaluation, again dependent on regional sourcing capabilities. In addition, Avient has launched Rejoin PCR masterbatch for polyolefin packaging applications. Made with PCR polyolefin as a carrier resin, Rejoin PCR masterbatch can enable a bottle or part to be manufactured from 100% PCR. The company adds that until now masterbatch has generally been made using virgin material as a carrier resin. This means that at typical let-down ratios, the finished product would contain 3-5% non-recycled plastic. With major consumer goods
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companies actively defining sustainability goals of 100% PCR polyolefin packaging, Avient has responded by developing Rejoin PCR Masterbatch in customisable colours and special effects. “We understand that many consider the use of
colorants and additives that rely on virgin resin carriers to nullify the claim of 100% PCR, so we worked to develop a solution that could help our customers deliver fully on their sustainability commitments,” says Bob Lee, Marketing Director, Color & Additives Asia. “This leading-edge product answers a growing industry need and demand.” Rejoin PCR masterbatch combines pigments and functional additives into a single solution without negatively affecting colour or mechanical properties. It can be added during production using standard equipment with little to no impact on processing and allows for full recyclability of the end product. Rejoin PCR masterbatch is commer- cially available in major global markets. Avient also opened its new CycleWorks facility in
Pogliano, Italy at the end of 2020. The new labora- tory and plant will conduct testing and evaluations to help customers tackle and overcome the challenge of plastics recycling and the goal of a circular economy. The demonstration plant mimics real world recycling in a research environment. “We have established CycleWorks to study and meet the challenges of plastic recycling while furthering its viability,” says Dr. Jan Sültemeyer, Global Head of Innovation & Sustainability. “This high-tech facility will allow our dedicated team to understand the chemistry of polymers in the mechanical recycling process, and to see how and where problems occur. For example, why and where are polymer chains degrading? What role do colour and additives play in recyclability? It is our goal to find answers to these questions and to understand the science behind recycling.” CycleWorks has already started producing
April 2021 | INJECTION WORLD 33
Above: Avient has opened its new Cycle- Works facility in Pogliano, Italy
IMAGE: AVIENT
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