Plastic is certainly an integral part of our life on domestic, commercial, and industrial levels. However, as much as it is useful, its disposal has been an issue for the past several decades. Thankfully, people and governments across the globe have raised their concerns about the same, and this has led to the manufacturing and usage of recyclable and reusable plastic. The term regrind implies the plastic or resin has at least once undergone some type of heat processing such as molding or extrusion prior to its reuse. This is an important step in terms of protecting the environment and reducing plastic waste. Regrind resins are made to be used in various plastic parts or products. This post focuses on the types, factors to consider, and benefits of regrind resins in today’s world.
Know about Different Types and Features of Regrind Resins
The plastic that has finished its operational life or rejected from use by industries is chopped and ground for reuse. These resins are made from various types of polymers of different grades. They differ in terms of their physical features, properties, cost, and durability. Here are some common features of polymers used to make regrind resins:
- Most of these are stiff and have a good impact resistance.
- In fact, some of them have excellent thermal and mechanical properties, as well as tensile strength.
- Some crystalline polymers have excellent dimensional stability and rigidity, which increases their durability even in tough conditions.
- Some polyurethane plastics have a good elasticity, and are resistance to abrasion, oil, and chemicals.
Here are some of types of polymers commonly used to make regrind resins:
- Acetal
- Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
- Nylon 6/6
- Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS)
- Polyether Imide (PEI)
- Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)
- Thermoplastic Polyester Elastomers (TPC-ETs)
- Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB)
- High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS)
Factors to Consider When Using Regrind Resins
Regrind resins are now gaining importance although some awareness needs to be created among component manufacturers who think they are not as good as virgin resins. Aside from the environmental aspect of using regrind resins, they offer many other benefits. Here are some factors you should consider when using regrind resins:
- Some users do think that once a resin undergoes heating it cannot be used again as there are changes in its molecular weight distribution and material properties. However, this happens in case of virgin resins too as they also go through at least one heat processing cycle. So, you can very well use regrind resins as long as you have a proper verification mechanism and compliance in place.
- You need to decide the percentage of regrind to be used along with virgin resins to produce a particular part.
- The type of polymer used to make the regrind resin and its properties matter a lot. Sometimes, more than one polymer may be used to make regrind resins.
- The quality of molding and the method used for the same is just as important to get a good finish. This matters especially when making high precision parts.
- Check the molders and handlers of these resins and check the calibration on the feeders.
How To Make the Best Use of Regrind Resins
By opting for a thoroughly detailed procedure for making regrind resins, you can actually enhance their value. Here are some ways in which you can regrind resins in the best possible way to avail their benefits:
- To avail maximum benefits, you need to decide the percentage of regrind vis a vis virgin resins, and eliminate the usage of degraded polymer as part of regrind resins.
- Alternatively, consider using 100% regrind which is even better. However, in this case, ensure virgin resins are used up entirely, and then regrind is fed into the machine. This will eliminate the need for blending of regrind and the subsequent quality issues.
- There is no doubt that using 100% regrind helps save on cost and material.
- You can easily monitor the quality and finishing when you use 100% regrind. Also, it is easy to track and prevent contamination.
- As an organization, you are adding value to your focus on keeping the environment clean, and this certainly enhances your goodwill and credibility in the market.
Regrind resins offer a good finish to the product, and can compete with virgin resins. If you are looking for good-quality regrind resins for a superior finishing to your component or product, ensure you approach a reliable supplier. Mid Continent Plastics is one of the leading suppliers of environmentally-friendly resins and has a market presence for over three decades.
