On demand: Material Characterization in Polymer Manufacturing: Addressing the Impact and Challenges of Recycled Materials

The U.S. faces significant challenges in plastic recycling, with declining recycling rates and increasing waste generation highlighting the urgent need for improved recycling practices and material utilization. This webinar explores how comprehensive material characterization can empower manufacturers to effectively integrate recycled polymers into their processes, addressing a critical gap in the industry's transition towards a circular economy.
 

• Who Should Attend:
  This webinar is ideal for manufacturers, process engineers, materials scientists, and researchers involved in plastic recycling or polymer processing. It is particularly valuable for anyone looking to reliably integrate recycled polymers into their manufacturing processes.
• Why Should You Attend:
  Attend to gain actionable insights into how comprehensive material characterization can enhance the use of recycled polymers and improve sustainability efforts in manufacturing. Learn practical thermal analysis approaches to assess recycled materials and ensure quality in raw materials and production.
   

We compare virgin and post-consumer recycled (PCR) polyethylene materials, demonstrating that while testing methodologies remain consistent, recycled materials demand deeper material insights due to their inherent complexities. A holistic profile of material properties and behavior is created by employing a suite of characterization techniques, including Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Melt Flow Index (MFI) measurements, rheological studies, and tensile testing.

By establishing robust baselines and quality assurance parameters, this approach enables manufacturers to efficiently assess the suitability of alternative feedstocks, particularly recycled materials, for their specific processes. Our findings illustrate how detailed material characterization can streamline the evaluation of recycled polymers, reducing the need for extensive trial runs and facilitating informed decision-making in material selection.
 

Our special guest:
John E. Estela-García
Graduate Researcher
University of Wisconsin-Madison

John E. Estela-Garcia is a graduate researcher at the Polymer Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison. His work focuses on polymer feedstock characterization, aiming to boost production efficiency and implement environmentally conscious manufacturing techniques. Prior to his PhD studies, John was a material characterization scientist at Edwards Life Sciences, analyzing polymers for critical care devices and medical-grade plastics. His expertise in thermal, mechanical, and rheological testing contributes to optimizing material performance and processability across diverse polymer applications.