trinamiX, a leading provider of mobile spectroscopy and a wholly-owned subsidiary of BASF, now supports the flexible differentiation between PET-A and PET-G with its Mobile NIR Spectroscopy Solution. As such, the handheld solution for on-the-spot identification of more than 30 different plastics is supplemented by a new application, which provides information about the type of a PET sample.
Amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (PET-A for short) is one of the most important thermoplastics. PET-A is a popular material for recyclable packaging of food, cosmetics, or hygiene products. PET-G is modified PET that has been combined with glycol. As a result, PET-G features a higher transparency than PET-A, which remains stable even after heating. In addition, molten PET-G has a lower viscosity. These properties favor specific applications in the areas of packaging, 3D printing and visible parts, for example.
The clean separation of PET-G and PET-A is important for several reasons: First, only pure materials can be completely recycled. Due to different melting ranges, recycling a combination of PET-A and PET-G is difficult. In addition, mixtures have a negative effect on the desired properties, such as the temperature stability. Ultimately, there is also an economic component: Pure PET-G usually achieves higher prices on the market than PET-A.
"In view of the increasingly complex waste streams, recycling companies are facing major challenges when it comes to the homogeneous processing of materials in the plants. Therefore, we are working closely together with our customers and partners to continuously expand our offering," explains Adrian Vogel, Manager Sales and Business Development Spectroscopy Solutions at trinamiX. "We offer a solution that enables decentralized sorting and quality checks, delivering added value wherever industrial solutions are not viable."
