Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and its recycled counterpart, rPET, are widely recognized for their durability, versatility, and sustainability. These materials have become critical in industries ranging from packaging to textiles, where their properties are leveraged for diverse applications. However, the need for thorough analysis arises to ensure their quality, traceability, and compliance with safety standards.
The analysis of PET and rPET materials is essential for several reasons:
- Recycling Traceability: One of the primary objectives is to determine whether the material has been recycled before and, if so, how many times. This information is critical for assessing the performance and lifecycle of the material, as excessive recycling can impact mechanical properties.
- Molecular Weight Confirmation: Verifying the molecular weight is vital to understanding the material’s structural integrity and suitability for specific applications. Changes in molecular weight may indicate degradation or contamination during processing.
- Purity Assessment: Ensuring purity is crucial, especially for applications in food packaging and medical devices. Analysis focuses on detecting impurities such as heavy metals, organic substances, or residual adhesives that could compromise safety or performance.
Among the various analytical techniques employed to study PET and rPET, solvent extraction stands out for its precision and specificity. This method is particularly effective in identifying and quantifying substances embedded within the material’s matrix.
➡️THIS APPLICATION NOTE⬅️focuses on using solvent extraction to determine the presence and weight of glue and organic compounds in rPET flakes.