Recycled Plastic Detection via Spectrophotometer and Thermogravimetric Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for verifying the presence and proportion of recycled plastic materials in products are inadequate, as they cannot guarantee that recycled materials are accurately added to each batch, leaving consumers unaware of the actual content and proportion of recycled materials in products.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of a first light source, a second light source, and a thermogravimetric analyzer to observe the yellowing condition, surface image, and activation energy value of an object, allowing for quick detection of recycled plastic materials and determination of their proportion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If third-party notary organizations use audit methods to verify recycled material content, then the proportion of recycled materials can be certified, but consumers cannot verify the actual content and proportion of recycled materials in products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual audit methods with automated detection systems including spectrophotometers, image extraction devices, and thermogravimetric analyzers. These instruments objectively measure yellowing indices, surface defect conditions, and activation energy values to verify recycled material content, eliminating the unreliability of third-party audits that cannot guarantee consistency across batches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where detection results (yellowing index, surface image, activation energy) are compared against standard values to provide verified information about recycled material content. This feedback loop enables consumers to know the actual proportion of recycled materials, creating transparency and trust that audit methods alone cannot provide.
2Measurement precision
If multiple detection methods (yellowing index, surface image, activation energy) are used to verify recycled materials, then detection accuracy is improved, but detection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detection process into three independent segments: (1) yellowing index measurement using spectrophotometer, (2) surface defect condition analysis using image extraction device, and (3) activation energy value determination using thermogravimetric analyzer. Each segment targets specific characteristics of recycled materials, and the combined results provide comprehensive verification accuracy while maintaining operational clarity through structured separation of detection functions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables rapid and accurate verification of the presence and proportion of recycled plastic materials in products, addressing the limitations of existing auditing and certification methods.
Implementation Method 1
detecting a fundamental yellowness index of the first detection part using a spectrophotometer
Implementation Method 2
a thermogravimetric analyzer is used to analyze and calculate the activation energy value of the object according to the thermogravimetric variation of the object
Data Source
AI summary
A method for detecting an object containing recycled plastic materials by qualitative and semi-quantitative detections is revealed, in which observing a yellowing condition of the object using a first light source, and illuminating the object using a second light source for observing a defect amount on the surface image of the object. When a yellowing index of the object is smaller than a standard yellowing index as well as a second defect condition is greater than a first defect condition, and an activation energy value of the object from a thermogravimetric analyzer is smaller than a standard activation energy value, the object does contain recycled plastic materials. Since the spectrums of recycled PET and native PET are different, the object contains recycled PET and the proportion of the recycled PET are determined according to the spectrums of fluorescent spectrum analysis and the difference ratio between the spectrums respectively.