Research and development at the Interzero Competence Center for Plastics Recycling
We bundle our research and development activities in the field of plastics recycling in our own competence center, accredited according to EN/ISO 17025, in Maribor, Slovenia.
Using the latest equipment, our experts in the Competence Center for Plastics Recycling develop customized recipes for high-quality recycled plastics. Through the combination of multidisciplinary know-how and the unique development of new, sustainable products, we support and accompany our customers throughout Europe on their path to an efficient circular economy.
internationally accredited competence center
As the only recognized research facility in the EU specializing in the development and analysis of recycled plastics, the Competence Center has already held international accreditation in accordance with the EN/ISO 17025 laboratory standard since March 2020 and is officially approved to perform a total of 16 analytical procedures . The laboratory thus meets the needs of many industrial companies. Testing of materials is carried out in accordance with international standards and internal methodology. We prepare the technical evaluations of existing and newly developed plastics in compliance with the EU chemicals regulation REACH and the EU directives. We offer highly professional direct consulting and support:
- Development of new materials and optimization of processing from used plastics (PCR, PCC, PIR) as well as compounds with a new polymer matrix
- Comprehensive consulting services for sustainable plastics recycling processes in various business and application areas
- Accredited material tests according to SIST EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and analyses according to internally developed methods
- Packaging analysis with regard to the materials used and their recyclability with subsequent awarding of the seal is carried out via the service “
Made for Recycling
“
laboratory equipment and analysis methods
The competence center with two process laboratories and three analytical laboratories has state-of-the-art technical equipment for evaluating material quality – from mechanical, thermal and rheological properties to sensor technology and color. In addition, machines for material processing and an NIR separator for simulating the behavior of packaging during sorting are available.
- extrusion
- injection molding process
- agglomeration
- elutriation
- Determination of ball indentation hardness
- Determination of impact properties (Izod)
- Determination of impact properties (Charpy)
- Determination of tear resistance (films)
- Determination of the drop load (bottles)
- Determination of the head load (bottles)
- Determination of tensile properties
- Determination of heat deflection temperature (HDT)
- Determination of the softening temperature (VICAT)
- Determination of bending properties
- Determination of melt mass flow rate (MFR) and melt volume flow rate (MVR)
- Determination of the flammability of plastics (HB; V-0, V-1, V-2)
- Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) simulation of sorting
- Mobile NIR near-infrared spectroscopy
- sink-float analysis
- aging simulation (temperature and humidity)
- colorimetry
- Morphological examination (microscopy)
- sieve analysis
- determination of NaCl
- mirror shine
- clumping test
- determination of density
- Determination of the degree of networking
- Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
- Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
- elemental analysis (XRF)
- Determination of water content: Karl Fischer method
- Determination of moisture content
- Infrared Spectrometric Analysis (FTIR)
- GC-MS analysis
Our service catalog
Interzero Plastics Innovations: The competence center for recycled plastics
The service catalogue provides a complete overview of the laboratory equipment and the individual analysis methods with technical details.
Plastic becomes recycled plastic
Plastic can take on many different properties – depending on the composition of the material. This is what makes it so practical and universally applicable – whether as packaging, in automobile construction, as textiles or as a household item from mixing bowls to rubber ducks. So whoever can change the material properties also decides what can be made from recycled plastic. And in doing so, not only increases the possible uses, but also drives the circular economy forward. Interzero Plastics Innovations is researching the efficient use of our raw materials in the competence center: Recipes are being developed that give the granules the properties that customers in the plastics processing industry need.
“In our view, sustainable innovations are the right way to achieve the goals of the EU plastics strategy and to successfully further develop the circular economy in Europe.”
Dr. Manica Ulcnik-Krump
Managing Director Interzero Plastics Innovations
Interzero receives patent for previously impossible mechanical recycling process - HDPE for bottle production for the first time made 100% from used packaging from the yellow bag
The patented recycling process was developed in our own competence center for plastics recycling and concerns the production of a processed plastic material from lightweight packaging (LVP) with a proportion of at least 80% HDPE and is used in the production of blow molded products.
It is a mechanical recycling process in which a special combination of additives produces high-density polyethylene (HDPE), the flowability of which during processing is comparable to that of new plastic. The material used consists of 100% used packaging from the yellow bag in Germany. The new recycling process does not require the addition of newly produced plastic or the re-sorting of used packaging.
Bottles that can be used for products such as washing, cleaning and detergents can be manufactured according to individual requirements.
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