Product category:
Materials and components
News Release from: Axion Polymers | Subject: Axpoly PS02
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 30 January 2008
Recycled polystyrene helps green
electronics
Axpoly PS02 is fully compliant with the European RoHS Directive that bans new electrical and electronic equipment containing more than agreed levels of potentially harmful metals and chemicals.
A new RoHS-compliant high-grade impact polystyrene, developed by Axion Recycling from old TV and computer monitor plastic, could help revolutionise the use of 100% recycled components in new electrical products, says the company Axion Polymers says its process removes the brominated flame retardants from discarded casings to produce a purer material, called Axpoly PS02
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 30 Nov 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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Flame retardant polymer from recycled plastic
Material potentially offers manufacturers a variety of new high value applications, particularly where offering a recycled content provides a marketing advantage or reduces production costs.
Recycled polystyrene cuts environmental impact
Axion Recyclings' plant produces high-quality branded polymers from waste fridge, television and electrical appliance plastics.
The recycled polystyrene is fully compliant with the European RoHS Directive (Restriction on Hazardous Substances) that bans new electrical and electronic equipment containing more than agreed levels of potentially harmful metals and chemicals, such as lead, cadmium and flame retardants.
Manufacturers are legally obliged to ensure that their products and their components comply.
The PS02 material is currently undergoing pre-production trials with several major electrical equipment manufacturers to assess its potential use in the manufacture of new products.
Axion's Commercial Director Roger Morton says the polymer performs similarly to virgin material, which potentially offers manufacturers a variety of new high-value applications; particularly where offering a recycled content provides a marketing advantage or reduces production costs.
Axpoly PS02 is already used across Europe in a wide range of injection-moulded and sheet thermoformed products.
"We are the only processors in the UK to produce this 100% recycled material, which is consistent, has high impact strength (10KJ/m2) and performance similar to virgin polymer" Morton said.
"Testing is also being carried out to assess its use in new components where filled virgin polypropylene can be replaced with our high-grade recyclate, thus 'closing the loop' for end-of-life waste electrical and electronic equipment".
In addition to Axpoly PS02, Axion produces a white product, Axpoly PS01, from recycled halogen-free fridge plastic.
This is used in similar applications to Axpoly PS02.
Axpoly branded polystyrene and HIPS injection-grade materials are based upon raw materials sourced from primary WEEE treatment plants for fridges, televisions and smaller electrical appliances.
The range of available grades is growing as the production plant takes on a wider variety of input raw materials from mixed household electrical goods and business equipment waste.
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