Polyplastics to Launch Glass-Filled Recycled Plastic
Japan-based Polyplastics Co., Ltd., an internationally leading company in engineering plastics, has announced plans to launch a 40 percent glass-reinforced grade of DURAFIDE (R) rG-PPS by December 2025 as part of its mechanical recycling business.
The company would develop “high-quality optimum formulations” of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), which “will play a role in helping achieve 100 percent circularity of engineering plastics by expanding the applications of mechanically recycled materials”. Furthermore, PPS is classified as one of the most important high-temperature thermoplastic polymers because it exhibits several desirable properties, like resistance to heat, acids, alkalis, mildew, bleaches, aging, sunlight, and abrasion.
As reported, the first iteration of Polyplastics’ mechanical recycling business calls for collecting glass-reinforced PPS scrap from customers through an open mechanical recycling scheme known as post-industrial recycling (PIR). “The PPS scrap will be used as a raw material to make DURAFIDE (R) rG-PPS, which will be launched this year. In initial processes, strict acceptance inspections will be conducted and metal will be removed. In later processes, recycled materials and some virgin materials will be reformulated to meet target specifications. The materials will undergo the same quality standards as those of virgin materials,” the company assured. The open PIR scheme would help customers reduce and effectively use waste and significantly reduce carbon emissions for their products. “For now, the raw material from customers will be specific grades of DURAFIDE (R) glass-reinforced PPS.”
Later, Polyplastics will develop a higher glass-filled grade as the second iteration of DURAFIDE (R) rG-PPS. According to the information, the company intends to establish a system to supply that grade and the 40 percent glass-reinforced grade to customers in Japan. “The re-compounding business and institution of the open PIR system require applications as well as the establishment of collection routes. The company seeks to collaborate with its customers as well as companies in the recycling and industrial waste treatment industry.”
In the future, Polyplastics will build a “local production for local consumption” recycling chain within each geographic region.
(Published in GLOBAL RECYCLING Magazine 1/2025, Page 29, Photo: Polyplastics)
