Sunnyvale - IDEC Corporation, worldwide manufacturer of control automation devices, power supplies and sensors, is proud to announce the next stage of development for a new plastic identification sensor.

In a study recently completed by IDEC, a prototype sensor featuring InGaAsP laser diodes on three different wavelengths was successful in identifying transparent PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and PS (polystyrene) plastic.

The primary intended application for such a sensor is the recycling industry. Our society has promoted mass production at the expense of the environment, but finite resources require the circulation and recycling of parts in pre-consumer as well as post-consumer markets. Plastic packaging and components play a major part in manufacturing and recycling. This new sensor will make smaller-scale, pre-consumer recycling of goods much more feasible, and will offer more options to larger facilities using current recycling methods.

Most PVC and PET plastics can be sorted visually by operators, but there is no guarantee of accuracy, and other plastics cannot be sorted this way. At present, automated plastic identification systems use near-infrared spectroscopic analysis, which, while highly accurate, requires large, complicated equipment which is expensive to install and maintain. The use of a small, low-cost sensor would help create an easy-to-use recycling system in more modest environments.

Optical transmittance can be used to identify different types of plastics, and our studies showed that sequential radiation (originally developed for full-color sensing technology) can be used to send signals to an oscilloscope and thereby differentiate between types of plastic.

Results of the sensor trials were comparable to results with a standard spectrometer. But this sensor is smaller in size (1/40), has a faster response time (1/20) and a longer illumination life (33 times), and can be manufactured and installed at a significantly lower cost.

IDEC will continue to research and refine plans for the new plastic sensor in the coming year, and plans to have a complete product offering in the fourth quarter of 2002. We will be exhibiting the prototype at the ISA Expo in Chicago, October 21-22, 2002. For more information, please contact Lanny Schuberg.

Contact: Lanny Schuberg
Product Marketing Manager
IDEC Corporation
1-800-262-4332, ext. 206Back to List.