Avidens leverages sensor technology and artificial intelligence for assisted processing of recycled polymers
Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into mold monitoring not only improves production quality and efficiency, but also offers significant benefits in terms of sustainability and operational flexibility.
European legislation is currently putting pressure on plastic processors to increasingly use recycled plastics in demanding applications such as automotive parts or electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).
Although the use of recycled plastic is already established in some applications, such as in the PET bottle sector, its use in demanding applications is still very limited. According to Plastics Europe, only 2% of recycled materials currently end up in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), for example.
AI-enhanced in-mold monitoring
One of the key challenges in using recyclates in technical products is maintaining consistent quality in injection molded parts, due to batch fluctuations and variation in material properties.
To achieve this, Avidens, a new partnership between sensor and artificial intelligence company SensXpert, polymer engineering and processing company Schwarz Plastic Solutions, materials analysis and laboratory company Netzsch and mold manufacturer Precupa, has developed technology of sensors to address this challenge.
Avidens leverages sensor technology and artificial intelligence for assisted processing of recycled polymers.The problem with current technologies, the new company said, is that they cannot see or interfere with the molding process once the material leaves the nozzle and enters the mold. They also can’t adjust the process when the quality inside the bag varies from shot to shot.
Improve the quality of molded parts with AI
The new collaboration, on the other hand, has developed dielectric analysis (DEA) sensors for online detection of anomalies within the molding process. This allows processors to take a look inside the molding process and analyze recycling behavior.
Dielectric analysis monitors changes in the viscosity and curing state of polymers by measuring variations in their dielectric properties, including degree of cure, gel point, flow behavior, reactivity, diffusion, and glass transition. . Integrated into the mold, dielectric sensors measure crucial material properties to monitor and predict part quality.
The partners will present the first use cases to the industry at Fakuma 2024, which will take place from October 15 to 19, 2024.