Over the last few years, countries across the globe have emphasized on using sustainable solutions for packaging, ad shunning single use plastic. Much has been said and written about plastics and their harmful environmental impact. Although plastic has become an integral part of our lives in many ways and cannot be eliminated totally, it is possible to recycle and reuse plastic which reduces the pileup of plastic in garbage and landfills. Regrind plastics are one such sustainable solution, which can be effectively used in daily lives and across industrial applications. Regrind plastic is nothing but a granular version of a recycled plastic resin. This post discusses this type of plastic at length.
Regrind Plastic: A Sustainable Solution
Across industries, humungous quantities of thermoplastic materials are fabricated, injection molded, or machined to make various parts and products. Vast amount of waste is generated in the form of chopped portions of plastic during these processes. Such already processed thermoplastic is mixed with virgin plastic in required amounts to form regrind plastic.
Here are some relevant pointers on this topic.-
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- This has helped several OEMs save plastic wastage and plastic resin manufacturers to recycle it effectively to make it reusable across industrial applications.
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- Various thermoplastics can be used to make regrind plastic such as ABS, ASA, Acetal, CAB, Nylon 6/6, PET, polycarbonate, and more. These can be made in various colors such as white, grey, natural, black, and so on.
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- There have been some apprehensions among OEMs to use regrind plastics mainly due to the fact that they may have raw finishing, scratches, burrs, and so on. However, regrind plastics are just as aesthetic as well sturdy, especially because the accumulated plastic waste is processed and mixed with virgin plastic in the right amounts. So, the resultant is a durable thermoplastic with a smooth finish which offers sturdiness and structural stability to the part.
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- Another apprehension factor is the degradation point of that already processed plastic. However, this can be checked before making a resin out of it. It is ensured the plastic is structurally stable and there are no changes in its molecular weight, melting point, heat history, and other chemical properties, based on which the amount of virgin plastic to be mixed is decided.
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- Elimination and rather constructive use of waste, processed plastic is a huge step towards building a sustainable future.
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- While this certainly benefits the environment, this also offers avenue for revenue generation, optimal utilization of resources, and increased credibility of OEMs.
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- It also helps OEMs save costs when procuring plastic materials.
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- Regrind plastics find a large application in diverse industry segments, and is used in making pipes and tubing, bottles, films, bags, furniture, and so on.
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- There has been some research going on in this segment, and experiments are being done to develop 100% regrind plastic without mixing virgin plastic. For this, you need advanced equipment and machines which identify the percentage of degradation factor based on the type of processed plastic.
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- The process must be automated and the system must identify the right pressure applied, control speed and velocity as required, and so on. Powerful dryers would dry the resins completely in a short span of time. All of this would save on cost and time as well as improve the quality.
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Most plastic parts manufacturers have their own regrind process setup. As part of contribution towards environmental protection, many businesses, OEMs now use regrind plastic to make various parts and products. This is a welcome step. However, ensure you source these resins from a certified and trustworthy supplier. Mid Continent Plastics is one of the leading suppliers of environmentally-friendly regrind plastic resins in various colors and has a market presence for over more than thirty years.
Related Post-- Know Why Regrind Resins Are Beneficial
- Benefits of Buying Plastic Regrinds from Mid Continent Plastics
