Recycled Plastic Processing for Consistent Physical Properties

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Solution Overview

Problem

Recycled plastic materials often fail to meet specific physical property requirements for high-quality applications due to variations in composition, molecular weight distribution, and additives from different manufacturers, making it challenging to produce plastic products with consistent properties.

Innovation Solution

A method is developed to tailor the physical properties of processed plastic materials by adding specific chemical compounds and fillers, focusing on improving critical properties while accepting minor losses in less critical ones, using a product-based approach that defines target properties before processing, and incorporating additives like stabilizing agents, reactive substances, and fillers to achieve desired rheological, mechanical, and thermal properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If recycled plastic material is used, then environmental protection and economic efficiency are improved, but physical properties such as melt flow rate and tensile strength cannot be consistently met

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconsistency of physical propertiesVSAvoidsuitability for high-quality applications
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by systematically adjusting chemical additives and processing parameters to modify the physical properties of recycled plastic material. Specific chemical compounds are added in controlled amounts to achieve target melt flow rates and mechanical properties, transforming the material from generic recycled plastic to application-specific processed material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by tailoring specific physical properties to particular applications rather than uniformly improving all properties. The method identifies which properties are critical for a given application and focuses optimization efforts on those specific parameters, accepting that other properties may not be fully optimized.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If chemical additives are added to improve quality, then physical properties are enhanced, but process complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol of physical propertiesVSAvoidcomplexity of processing system
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by determining the required physical properties and selecting appropriate chemical additives before the actual processing begins. The method establishes a clear roadmap of which additives to add and in what amounts, based on pre-defined target properties, avoiding unnecessary complexity during execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter changes to simplify the additive selection process by providing specific guidance on which chemical compounds and processing parameters to adjust. This systematic approach to parameter modification reduces the complexity of achieving precise physical property control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If all physical properties are optimized, then material quality is maximized, but processing complexity and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverall material qualityVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by focusing optimization efforts only on the physical properties that are critical for specific applications. Rather than uniformly improving all properties, the method identifies and optimizes only the essential properties needed for the intended use, accepting that less critical properties may not be fully optimized.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by optimizing only the necessary physical properties to meet application requirements, rather than attempting to optimize all possible properties. This selective approach achieves sufficient material quality while avoiding the excessive complexity and resource consumption associated with comprehensive optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 the production of processed plastic materials suitable for high-quality applications by specifically enhancing key properties such as melt flow rate, tensile strength, and impact resistance, while maintaining stability and cost-effectiveness for large-scale use.

Implementation Method 1

The process influences certain physical properties of a used plastic material through tailor-made processing, so that processed plastic materials suitable for high-quality applications can also be obtained

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRheological modification:

Implementation Method 2

CN 101 798 423 A discloses the use of a plastic waste containing 5-100% recovered PP and mixing this with 0-1% of a heat stabilizing agent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal stabilization:

Implementation Method 3

Typically, extrusion is also carried out with simultaneous melt filtration, for example to obtain pellets made of recycled plastic

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 4

the addition of a certain type and amount of at least one chemical compound and/or at least one filler material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectComposite material formation: Composite Materials

Data Source

PatentEP2537884B1Method for producing a processed plastic material
Publication Date: 2022.09.07 INTERSEROH DIENSTLEISTUNGS GMBH
  • EP2537884B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2537884B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2537884B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Preparing processed plastic material from used plastic material comprises (a) determining at least one chemical property of the used plastic material; (b) determining at least one physical property of the used plastic material; (c) determining at least one physical target property of the processed plastic material with respect to the corresponding necessary target property, which must have the processed plastic material for use in specific end product; and (d) processing the used plastic material by the addition of at least one chemical compound and/or at least one filler. Preparing processed plastic material from used plastic material, where the processed plastic material has the necessary physical properties for use in a specific end product, comprises (a) determining at least one chemical property of the used plastic material; (b) determining at least one physical property of the used plastic material; (c) determining at least one physical target property of the processed plastic material with respect to the corresponding necessary target property, which must have the processed plastic material for use in specific end product; and (d) processing the used plastic material by the addition of at least one chemical compound and/or at least one filler, where the type and amount of the chemical compound and/or filler added in the step (d) are selected according to the chemical characteristics of (a) such that the target property specified in the step (c) is reached based on the physical property determined in the step (b).