Thermoplastic Recycled Content Verification via Reference Library
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of standard and reliable methods to determine the actual content of recycled thermoplastic materials in products, leading to inaccurate and misleading marketing claims about post-consumer content, which affects consumer awareness and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A system and method involving the creation of a reference standard library using analyses like differential scanning calorimetry, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to identify and quantify the content of virgin and recycled thermoplastic materials, allowing for accurate determination of recycled content in thermoplastic samples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If marketing claims are made about recycled content percentages, then consumer awareness and environmental promotion are improved, but measurement reliability and accuracy deteriorate due to lack of standard methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing a reference standard library containing characteristic data from multiple analysis methods (DSC, FTIR, UV-Vis, mechanical properties) for thermoplastics with known recycled content ratios. This reference library is created before actual sample analysis, enabling reliable comparison and accurate determination of recycled content in unknown samples without requiring complex real-time measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by measuring multiple physical and chemical parameters (melting temperature, crystallization temperature, spectral absorbance, mechanical strength) that change systematically with recycled content percentage. By tracking how these parameters vary with known recycled content ratios in the reference library, the system can accurately determine recycled content in test samples through parameter comparison.
2Measurement precision
If multiple analysis methods are used to improve measurement accuracy, then determination reliability is improved, but device complexity and analysis time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the complex analysis into separate, independent measurement components: DSC analysis for thermal properties, FTIR for chemical composition, UV-Vis for spectral characteristics, and mechanical testing for physical properties. Each component can be performed with separate, standard equipment, and the results are integrated through data processing to provide comprehensive recycled content determination, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by creating a reference standard library that integrates data from multiple analysis methods (DSC, FTIR, UV-Vis, mechanical properties) into a unified framework. This multi-functional reference library can be used to analyze various thermoplastic types and recycled content ratios using the same systematic approach, making the method universally applicable across different materials and scenarios.
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 approach provides a reliable and accurate method to verify the percentage of recycled thermoplastic content in products, protecting consumers from misleading claims and promoting environmental sustainability by ensuring accurate representation of recycled material usage.
Implementation Method 1
a differential scanning calorimetry analysis
Implementation Method 2
an ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy analysis
Implementation Method 3
an attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of identifying a reference standard library for thermoplastic content includes preparing a plurality of samples of each one of a plurality of known ratios of virgin thermoplastic/recycled thermoplastic, analyzing each of the plurality of samples of each one of the plurality of known ratios of virgin thermoplastic/recycled thermoplastic with at least one of a group of analyses consisting of: a differential scanning calorimetry analysis; a physical thickness analysis; an ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy analysis; an attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis; a mechanical analysis; or a plasma atomic emission spectroscopic analysis. The method is also comprised of selecting a contaminant, identifying a first plurality of indicators output from the at least one of the group of analyses, identifying a second plurality of indicators from the first plurality of indicators, the second plurality of indicators being independent of the selected contaminant and optimizing the second plurality of indicators to identify a third plurality of indicators, the third plurality of indicators being quantitatively different of the selected contaminant wherein each one of the third plurality of indicators has at least one corresponding value for each one of the plurality of known ratios of virgin thermoplastic/recycled thermoplastic. Systems and methods for determining content of recycled thermoplastic in a thermoplastic sample are also disclosed.