PETpla.net Insider 08 / 2014

MATERIAL / RECYCLING 18 PET planet insider Vol. 15 No. 08/14 www.petpla.net The level of AA (ppm) was reduced by both formulations, but results demonstrate that the anthranilamide solution performed significantly better, particularly at lower addition rates up to 0.15%. Comparing percentage reduction performance, it is clear that the use rate of the polyamide solu- tion is around three times higher than the anthranilamide product to achieve a comparable reduced AA level. For brand owners and manufacturers, using an anthranilamide product could translate into lower inventory levels. Plaque colour Plaque colour was measured in transmission, at selected addition rates, using a spectrophotometer. Five plaques were measured from each sample set, to help gauge part-to-part variability. Container aesthetics and clarity play an important role in shelf impact and maintaining brand integrity. One of the obvious signs of PET polymer degradation is yellowing, and the abil- ity to control and minimise this polymer yellowing is fundamental to increasing its acceptability for recycling. The comparative data reveal the plaques manufactured with polyamide are yellower than those incorporating the anthranilamide solution. Addi- tional toner or colorant may need to be added to the polyamide process to achieve improved aesthetics and counteract the yellowing, which adds further complexity to the process and the overall formulation. The box plots also indicate that part-to-part variance is greater in the polyamide samples. The colour test results demonstrate potential com- mercial value for brand owners in two ways: 1) Aesthetic quality is critical for brands to make their products appealing on supermarket shelves. Incorporating an effective AA scavenging technol- ogy that also minimises polymer yellowing helps maintain bottle clar- ity, aesthetic appeal and ultimately brand integrity. 2) Reducing the rate of variance helps manufacturing teams reduce scrap, improve quality consistency and streamline overall production efficiency. Recycled PET bottles