Thermoplastic closed loop recycling process
First Claim
1. A process for recycling preprocessed plastic material for re-use as virgin material comprising the steps of:
- particulating recycled preprocessed plastic material having a known composition to form particulates thereof;
testing the particulates to determine at least one property thereof;
comparing the at least one tested property with a like property of like, near virgin plastic material to determine a property difference therebetween;
after testing, introducing the particulates into a twin screw extruder;
admixing additives to the particulates based on the property difference determined during testing which will substantially eliminate the tested property difference between the particulates and the like property of like near virgin plastic material; and
extruding the particulates and additives to prepare a plastic material for re-use as virgin plastic material.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A closed loop thermoplastic recycling process includes the step of testing particulated processed plastic material to determine the properties thereof. The tested properties are compared with targeted near virgin properties of the processed plastic material to determine any difference(s) therebetween. Additives based on the property differences determined during testing are admixed with the particulates in a twin screw extruder. During extruding, volatile constituents are simultaneously withdrawn from the fused particulates. The twin screws of the extruder are provided with a number of screw sections, each having a thread with predetermined degrees of chamfer and pitch length. Kneading blocks are mounted on certain screw sections prior to a vacuum vent port disposed along the feed path of the melt stream in the extruder. The extruded material is tested to determine if any property differences exist. If no unacceptable tested differences are found, the extruded material is prepared for reuse in place of or in conjunction with virgin plastic material having the same properties and characteristics.
112 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A process for recycling preprocessed plastic material for re-use as virgin material comprising the steps of:
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particulating recycled preprocessed plastic material having a known composition to form particulates thereof; testing the particulates to determine at least one property thereof; comparing the at least one tested property with a like property of like, near virgin plastic material to determine a property difference therebetween; after testing, introducing the particulates into a twin screw extruder; admixing additives to the particulates based on the property difference determined during testing which will substantially eliminate the tested property difference between the particulates and the like property of like near virgin plastic material; and extruding the particulates and additives to prepare a plastic material for re-use as virgin plastic material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification