TECHNOLOGY | POST-INDUSTRIAL RECYCLING
Right: Sirmax is able to make PP compounds using post- industrial and post-consumer recycled content
55% of the PP comes from post-industrial sources, while in Europe it is only around 30%. The PCR from urban collection in Europe always goes through PRFs [plastic recycling facilities] and has a relatively low level of contamination. For example, in Italy we receive bales that we sort further to achieve more than 98% purity, which is necessary to produce rPP suitable for compounding highly technical materials for markets such as automotive and appliances. In the US, the collection infrastruc- ture is still not at the same level as Europe. Most of the PCR PP in the US has high PE contamination (20-30%) and is used to produce low added value parts such as trash cans and paint buckets.” Ferro continued: “PIR is not necessarily easier to use than PCR. The latter certainly has more difficul- ties in purifying and washing but it is a more stable and consistent source. PIR is more variegated and inconsistent so it’s harder to produce a rPP that meets the performance levels requested by our compounding division. Also, we have specialised in recycling flexible packaging and other hard-to- recycle scraps that make the recycling process more challenging, from storing and conveying the very fluffy shredded material, to extruding it with the right mix of scraps. We spend time validating suppliers and building reliable partnerships that provide us with consistent materials. Moreover, we analyse and sort with IR technology every single bale/gaylord/packaged scrap that we receive to confirm that it is PP before processing it.”
Below:
Ensinger is working with customers on taking back production waste for use in new stock shape products
Semi-finished plastics Ensinger, the German manufacturer of com- pounds, semi-finished products, technical parts, composite materials, and profiles, has introduced reprocessed stock shapes produced from returned materials and production waste. The company says that although the properties of these products may deviate slightly from those of conventional materi-
IMAGE: SIRMAX
als, this is significantly outweighed by the environ- ment benefits. The reprocessed stock shapes are available in the form of rods, tubes and plates. Nina Finkbeiner, Head of Product Management
in the Stock Shapes division, said: “The recycled plastics come from the production waste of customers and Ensinger subsidiaries, which are returned to Ensinger and reprocessed. In addition, we are starting with selected pilot customers to take back PIR from our customers’ production facilities. Over time, we will expand the system to include other partners from our customer base. The product family of semi-finished products made from recycled polymers starts with TECAPEEK RP natural (PEEK) and will be continuously expanded.” She continued: “We are firmly convinced that it is possible to recycle a large proportion of waste and residues from the production of semi-finished products in the medium term. At the moment, the easily accessible components of the market are being used, but new technological solutions will be required for further quantities. Ensinger is continu- ing to work [toward] enabling the medium-term exploitation of larger proportions of waste from semi-finished product production.” Turkish engineering plastics compounder
Eurotec says that using PIR has many advantages, including lower contamination content, more sustainable quality, and less thermal and weather- ing degradation, which combined enables material to meet stringent requirements. The company says it develops formulations depending on the requirements and customer demands, and refer- ences Tecomideco NA43 GR30 BK005 HS (PA6.6, 30% glass fibre reinforced, heat stabilised, black, post-industrial recycled) as an example which displays good thermal, chemical, and long-term mechanical properties. It is commonly used for pedal guards, cooling fan guards, air intake manifolds, oil pans, and engine covers in automo- tive applications. Tecomideco NB43 GR30 BK009/ M65I (PA6, 30% glass fibre reinforced, black, 65%
14 PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD | May/June 2024
www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com
IMAGE: ENSIGNER
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