Best Practices for Measuring the Color of Recycled Pellets

Best Practices for Measuring the Color of Recycled Pellets

Plastic recycling is becoming essential as the world continues to emphasize sustainability. Recycled plastic pellets from post-consumer and industrial waste can be used in various applications, including traffic cones, plastic chairs, detergent bottles, textiles, trash cans, and flower pots. 

Ensuring consistent color in products made from reprocessed materials can be a challenge. Here at HunterLab, we offer a range of solutions to measure the color of recycled pellets for accurate results.

Challenges in Measuring Recycled Materials

Measuring the color of recycled plastic pellets presents unique challenges to manufacturers, such as:

• Material variations: Recycled pellets contain plastics from various sources, resulting in color variations. They are often blended to achieve a desired color. Color measurement can help ensure consistent blending ratios and a uniform final product color.
• Contamination: Foreign materials present in recycled pellets can affect color measurement accuracy. Implementing measures to minimize contamination in recycled pellets can improve color consistency.
• Physical Form: Recycled pellets can vary in size, shape, and opacity, affecting how light interacts with the material during measurement, requiring the right instrumentation and measurement methods for accuracy and repeatability.

Best Practices for Accurate Color Measurement

Spectrophotometers are the industry standard for precise color measurement. They analyze the light emitted from a sample across the visible spectrum and provide numerical data. 

Here are some best practices for using a spectrophotometer to measure the color of your recycled plastic pellets:

• Sample preparation: It is crucial to maintain consistent sample preparation. The preparation process includes cleaning the pellets to remove contaminants.
• Measure large area: The larger the sample area measured the more accurate and repeatable the results. Refer to ASTM D6290-19 Standard Test Method for Color Determination of Plastic Pellets for guidance on proper measurement methods.
• Color space selection: Choose a standard color space to establish communication throughout the production chain.
• Color QC software: Integrate your spectrophotometer with color quality control software. This technology allows you to compare the color of your recycled pellets to target specifications or pre-defined color ranges.

Promoting Sustainability Through Accurate Color Measuring

Measuring the color of recycled pellets can help you reduce your facility's environmental impact. Our spectrophotometers offer an objective way to test the color of recycled plastics before mass production, allowing you to minimize waste that could end up on landfill sites. Plus, maintaining sustainable manufacturing practices helps you achieve governance objectives. 

Explore Color Measurement Solutions From HunterLab

HunterLab is a leading provider of high-precision color measurement solutions and software. We have spectrophotometers for the plastics industry, including equipment for measuring the color of recycled pellets. 

Contact HunterLab today to request a quote for color measurement solutions that meet your specific needs.