HDPE and PP Separation with NIR Sorting technology
2023-12-20 16:48:24
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is a widely used and recyclable
plastic. Nonetheless, the presence of polypropylene (PP) contamination
poses a significant issue in recycled HDPE streams.
Plastic Mixture
Can PP and HDPE be recycled together?
PP and HDPE are distinct types of plastic with different chemical
compositions and properties. When they are mixed together in the
recycling stream, it can result in various issues:
Reduced quality: Mixing PP with HDPE can lead to lower-quality recycled HDPE material.
The properties of the resulting plastic may not meet the required
standards for certain applications.
Compatibility issues: PP and HDPE have different melting points and processing requirements.
Combining them can make it difficult to maintain the consistency and
quality of the recycled material during the melting and molding stages.
Material weakness: The combination of PP and HDPE can result in a recycled material that
has reduced strength, durability, and performance. This can be
problematic, especially in applications where HDPE's mechanical
properties are critical.
Identification and Separation of polymers in the industry
One of the biggest challenges facing the plastics recycling industry
today is separating all of the various polymers entering the recycling
stream. Separating PP from HDPE during the recycling process can be
challenging due to their similar appearance. This can result in
contamination if they are not adequately separated at recycling
facilities.
To mitigate contamination issues, recycling
facilities often employ advanced sorting and separation technologies to
ensure that PP and HDPE are properly separated. This involves using
optical sorters, air classifiers, and other equipment to identify and
separate different types of plastics.
Near Infrared (NIR) Sorting Technology
Among them, the NIR-based sorting machines
are widely used in the recycling industry to identify and separate
various types of plastics based on their unique spectral signatures in
the near-infrared range. These machines can accurately differentiate
between different polymer types, such as PET, HDPE, PP, PVC, and more,
facilitating the efficient recycling of plastics and reducing
contamination in the recycling stream.
PP & HDPE Flakes Separation
AMD's plastic color sorting machines are known for the high accuracy and reliability. We contribute to
efficient recycling operations by reducing contamination in the
recycling stream and ensuring the production of clean, high-quality
recycled materials.