Resin Composition Powder Processing for Contaminated Plastic Waste

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge lies in effectively utilizing plastic waste containing both low and non-low melting point resins, contaminated with inorganic and organic substances, for producing resin composition molded bodies, as thermal molding becomes difficult due to contamination, leading to low material recycling rates and risks to production facilities.

Innovation Solution

A method involving magnetic substance removal, water washing, and pulverization of plastic waste to produce a resin composition powder, followed by molding to create a resin composition molded body, effectively addressing contamination issues and enabling the use of a wide range of plastic waste types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If plastic waste containing non-low melting point resin is used for material recycling, then resource circulation is promoted and CO2 emissions are reduced, but thermal molding becomes difficult due to contamination by inorganic and organic substances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial recycling rateVSAvoidthermal molding process
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by implementing a multi-stage pre-treatment process before thermal molding: magnetic substance removal, water washing to remove organic contaminants, and drying. This preliminary preparation eliminates contaminants that would otherwise prevent thermal molding, enabling the use of diverse plastic waste types including those with non-low melting point resins while maintaining successful thermal recycling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the plastic waste through systematic treatment processes. Magnetic substance removal changes magnetic properties, water washing modifies surface properties and removes organic contaminants, and drying adjusts moisture content. These parameter changes transform the waste material into a form suitable for thermal molding, resolving the contradiction between versatility and ease of manufacture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If plastic waste is used without separation of low and non-low melting point resins, then processing complexity is reduced, but thermal molding becomes difficult due to mixed resin properties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation processVSAvoidthermal molding process
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the plastic waste into different resin types through separation processes before treatment. Low melting point resin and non-low melting point resin are separated using methods such as density separation or fractional melting, allowing each type to be processed appropriately while maintaining overall process manageability and enabling successful thermal molding of the mixed composition

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If organic substances such as oil, fat, food residues and surfactants are present in plastic waste, then the waste represents real-world contamination conditions, but these substances promote microorganism proliferation and damage production facilities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacceptance of waste typesVSAvoidmicroorganism proliferation and facility damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the extraction principle by removing organic contaminants (oil, fat, food residues, surfactants) from the plastic waste through water washing processes. This extraction eliminates the nutritional sources for microorganisms and removes substances that would damage production facilities, while still accepting diverse waste types that naturally contain these contaminants

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of organic substances into a beneficial process by using water washing to remove these contaminants. The presence of organic substances in real-world waste is acknowledged, but the washing process transforms this harm into an opportunity to clean and prepare the waste for successful recycling, turning a problematic characteristic into a manageable processing step

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 allows for the stable and industrial production of resin composition molded bodies from a variety of plastic waste, including low and non-low melting point resins, by efficiently removing contaminants and improving pulverization efficiency, resulting in improved water resistance and material properties.

Implementation Method 1

carrying out a magnetic substance removing treatment and a water washing treatment on the plastic waste or crushed material obtained by crushing the plastic waste

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic separation: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

carrying out a magnetic substance removing treatment and a water washing treatment on the plastic waste or crushed material obtained by crushing the plastic waste

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWashing:

Implementation Method 3

pulverizing the plastic waste or the crushed material after the water washing treatment to obtain a resin composition powder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPulverization: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP4670941A1Method for producing resin composition molded body and method for producing resin composition powder for resin composition molded body production
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 LIXIL CORP
  • EP4670941A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4670941A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4670941A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for producing a resin composition molded body according to the present disclosure comprises: preparing a plastic waste that includes at least one of waste plastic residues derived from general waste, a waste plastic derived from industrial waste, and a waste plastic derived from marine plastic waste, and that contains a low melting point resin having a melting point in the range of not lower than 80°C but lower than 190°C and a non-low melting point resin including a thermosetting resin and/or a high melting point resin having a melting point not lower than 190°C; subjecting the plastic waste or a crushed material obtained by crushing the plastic waste to a treatment for removing magnetic substances and a water-washing treatment; pulverizing the plastic waste or the crushed material after the water-washing treatment to obtain a resin composition powder; and molding the resin composition powder to obtain the resin composition molded body.