Choosing the Right Analytical Tools for Polymer Manufacturing and Recycling

Polymers utilized in manufacturing are principally synthetic organic compounds. These include thermoplastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polyamide, polycarbonate, and polyethylene terephthalate. They also include elastomers, such as rubber, silicone rubber, cross-linked polyurethanes, neoprene, EVA, and duroplasts such as polyurethane and different kinds of resin.

Image Credit: Matveev Aleksandr/Shutterstock.com

Polymers are used in almost every industry and in multiple applications, ranging from construction and isolation and insulation materials to medical devices and products, food packaging, consumer goods, and beyond.

Polymer manufacturers require an exhaustive testing program to ensure the high quality of their materials and processes. Some manufacturers prefer an in-house analytical workflow, while others use contract laboratories to fulfill their needs. Many use both.

Some parts of a company’s polymer testing program are fuelled by the processes they carry out, products they build, and regulatory and/or end-use needs for their operations. However, multiple universal testing needs inside the polymer industry need to be considered.

Among the drivers include:

• Research and development (R&D)  
• Manufacturing quality control (QC)
• End-use requirements
• End-product failure analysis
• Industry and regulatory standards                          
  • Industry-specific standards like those for electronics, children’s toys, and automotive parts                                
  • Governmental regulating bodies, including those for protecting the environment, pharmaceuticals, and food/beverages            
  • General industry/manufacturing standards, including ASTM International and ISO
• Concerns regarding consumer and other end-user safety
• Concerns regarding environmental safety

This article looks at testing criteria at each phase of the polymer production lifecycle, the analytical technologies that will address those requirements, and key considerations to help scientists choose tools that will produce actionable and reliable data.

After this deep dive, a review of universal considerations for evaluating technology will follow. Download the companion Polymer Buyers Guide for access to a useful reference tool.

Click here to see the full article

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by PerkinElmer.

For more information on this source, please visit PerkinElmer.