MATERIALS | ADDITIVES
Right: Ampacet REC-NIR-Black masterbatches provide a significant
contribution to the recyclability of black plastic waste and help to support the circular economy
plastic packaging could only be disposed of in a landfill or used for energy recovery. Packaging using Ampa- cet’s NIR-detectable black masterbatch products, however, can be detected and sorted by NIR technology. This technology enables the reuse and recycling of black packaging and allows recyclers to valorise this waste.
Philippe Hugelé, Ampacet Strategic Business Manager Moulding, says: “Ampacet REC-NIR-Black masterbatches provide a significant contribution to the recyclability of black plastic waste and help to support the circular economy.” Gabriel-Chemie has also achieved COTREP
certification for NIR-sortable black masterbatch. The company says that Maxithen HP9AB1897 is PE-based and can be used in injection mouding and extrusion applications. It has food contact approval according to EU and US norms, and is iron oxide-free. For PP, Maxithen PP9AB1707 has the same optical and technical properties and is also COTREP-certified. Other NIR-sortable black masterbatch grades from Gabriel-Chemie include PP9AB1677 (PP), HP9DA8427 (PE), PP9AB1687 (PP), PP9AB1717 (PP), all of which have COTREP certification. Techmer PM has introduced new, improved
Below: Techmer PM has introduced new, improved grades of an NIR-sortable black colourant
grades of its NIR-sortable black colourant. This technology allows NIR reflection to enable accurate sorting at the recycling facility, while maintaining the product’s black colour. The product has a ‘Preferred’ rating from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) in the US and is FDA-compliant, which allows for its use in food containers. By enabling verifiable recycling of black plastic, it also allows brand owners who use carbon black in their products to better meet sustainability goals while
maintaining their desired brand identity.
Techmer PM says the technology, while primarily tested so far in HDPE, also
works effectively with PP and PET resins, and all are suitable for FDA applications.
Techmer can custom tailor solutions for
each application, with variables to include such factors as resin grade, thickness, and the level of PCR content. The company adds that it is already working on next-generation technology that will offer better opacity, allowing for improved cover- age of PCR while using less colour concentrate. The product should be on the market soon. Techmer PM says that it formulates with multiple components to improve on the offerings from the raw material suppliers resulting in a blacker black. The company is able to iterate quickly in its own laboratory using analytical technology to measure reflectance in the NIR region, rather than having to wait weeks for each submission to be subjected to the official APR test. Baerlocher has developed Baeropol RST
stabiliser, which has formed the basis for a set of additive blends that have been found to be particularly useful in polyolefin recycling applica- tions. The company says that it offers fully formu- lated antioxidant packages under the Baeropol T-Blend range of products. The stabilisers are available in a dust-free pastille form suitable for recycling operations. The pastilles can be fed directly into the compactor unit of a film recycling line by using low-cost volumetric feeders. Improved quality of the recyclate can be observed, for example, in a downstream film blowing line where less gelling and fewer degradation products lead to fewer bubble breakages and a more homogenous mechanical performance of the film. Baerlocher adds that one of the Baeropol
T-Blends not only safeguards processability and mechanical properties, but it also makes PP solidify faster and more uniformly in the mould. This enables shorter cycle times and ensure the dimensional stability as the producer moves from batch to batch. Another Baerlocher speciality product is aimed to remedy the supply-and-de- mand mismatch between low melt strength HDPE from post-consumer waste and high melt strength HDPE for pipe extrusion and extrusion blow moulding of large parts.
Upcycling low value HDPE is also possible with 42 PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD | March/April 2021
www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com
IMAGE: TECHMER PM
IMAGE: AMPACET
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