Deformulation (Reverse Engineering) of Plastics & Polymers

Clients turn to CAS-MI Laboratories to deformulate (reverse engineer) plastic materials for reasons such as:

• Verification of marketing claims
• Additive analysis
• Competitive product characterization
• Batch-to-batch variations
• Product failure issues

CAS-MI Laboratories deformulates plastics, polymers, rubber products, composites and other specialty products. We can identify the polymers, pigments and additives present in the plastic product down to the 1% level. Additionally, some ingredients such as stabilizers may be present in the 500 ppm level requiring special tests.

Deformulation usually starts with grinding of the plastic to a fine mesh size and proprietary solvent extractions to remove various components from the plastic. Once materials are isolated, they can be identified using a number of analytical techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC).

Other methods can be used to quantify fillers and pigments. These include Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (SEM/EDS). Additives in very low amounts may be determined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) can be used to determine the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of the resin.

Click to view PDF of "Plastics in Reverse" where Dr. Fred Willard, Vice President - Technology, CAS-MI Laboratories is interviewed by Plastic Engineering Magazine about the challenges of plastic deformulation.