Top 4 Things to Know About Measuring the Colour of Recycled Pellets

The recycled plastics market offers a sustainable alternative to virgin plastics, but ensuring consistent colour in products made from reprocessed materials presents a unique challenge. Colour variations in recycled pellets can impact the final product's look and marketability. 

Here are four points to keep in mind about measuring the colour of recycled pellets:

1. Measuring the Colour of Recycled Pellets Poses Unique Challenges

Recycled pellets originate from various post-consumer and industrial waste sources. This diverse origin leads to colour variations in the pellets. Pigments and dyes used in the original plastics also contribute to the final colour of the recycled pellets. 

Visual assessment proves unreliable for recycled pellets. It is subjective and prone to human error when dealing with surface texture variations in recycled plastics.

2. Colour Measurement Is Essential for Consistency

Maintaining consistent colour in recycled plastic products is crucial for several reasons, such as:

• Quality control: Consistent colour signifies a well-controlled recycling process. Colour variations can imply sorting, cleaning, or contamination issues. Catching the errors sooner allows for timely corrective actions.
• Aesthetics: Consistent colour ensures a professional, appealing final product meeting consumer expectations.
• Product performance: In some applications, colour variations can impact product performance. For example, consistent colour in recycled automobile components demonstrates a precision-controlled production process.

3. Spectrophotometers Are the Best Colour Measuring Solution

The best method for measuring the colour of recycled pellets is through a spectrophotometer. These instruments analyze the light reflected from a sample across the visible spectrum. This analysis generates numerical data representing the actual colour of the pellets. Spectrophotometers end subjectivity and ensure consistent colour evaluation throughout the production process. Modern spectrophotometers offer advanced features, including:

• Compensation for texture variations: Certain geometries, like the 0°/45° configuration, reduce the influence of surface texture during colour measurement. This ensures accurate results even with rougher-textured pellets.
• Standardized colour spaces: Spectrophotometers generate colour data in standardized colour spaces like CIE L*a*b*. This establishes a common language for colour communication throughout the supply chain.

4. Accurate Colour Measuring Techniques Have Environmental Benefits

In addition to maintaining consistent quality, aesthetics and performance, measuring the colour of your recycled pellets reduces your environmental impact. By measuring the colour of small controlled samples, you can prevent the risk of producing entire batches that don't meet the required colour standards. Managing your waste minimizes the amount of plastic that ends up as scrap or in landfills, unable to be used again. HunterLab is proud to offer our customers a way to reduce their environmental impact. 

Get in Touch With HunterLab for Expert Colour Measuring Solutions

When you need reliable colour measurement equipment, look no further than HunterLab. We are your go-to source for top-quality spectrophotometers.

Fill out our online form to learn more about our colour measuring solutions, and one of our experts will contact you.