Meaning
Granulated plastic scrap derived from industrial processes that undergoes mechanical size reduction to enable reintroduction into production cycles. Polymer regrind consists of sprues, runners, or rejected parts that manufacturers shred or granulate to recover raw material costs.
Production Logic
Quality control depends on the physical consistency of the material after the milling phase. Moisture absorption remains a constant risk for hygroscopic resins, which necessitates drying before the material enters the hopper.
Moulding Tradeoffs
Consistent particle size distribution determines the bulk density and feed consistency of the material during screw advancement. Smaller particles often improve packing density but increase the presence of fines that can lead to dust-related blockages or uneven melting rates in the barrel. Degradation of mechanical properties occurs after multiple heat histories, which limits the percentage of the material allowed in blends meant for structural parts.
Virgin resin properties serve as the baseline, while performance levels of recycled additives vary based on the number of thermal cycles endured.
Cost Governance
Procurement departments track the price spread between virgin pellets and secondary material to determine the financial viability of closed-loop systems. Economic pressure drives the adoption of this material, yet technical limits on the physical integrity of the moulded part dictate the maximum inclusion rate allowed per shot.
