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Matrix
Matrix

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!Tool Description
__%%( color: #003399; font-size: 30px;)Matrix Tool Introduction:__
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The Matrix Tool is an online web based tool which increases the use of recyclate (recycled plastic material) by matching converter requirements with recyclate supply. Since the tool connects the supplier with the converter, it is also known as "Interconnected Tool". The tool works in two directions:
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1. It allows converters to easily select material that match their criteria and the criteria for their markets
%%viewer [https://player.vimeo.com/video/670138203]%%
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2. It allows recyclate suppliers to check on the needs per segment and have their products ready for the converters
One of the hindrances of using recyclate is the challenge of finding suitable recyclate grades for specific products. The correlation between product/process requirements is difficult to make, and in most cases, field studies need to be carried out to validate the material selection. In this perspective, Matrix tool helps to find suitable recyclate (recycled plastic material or rPM) for converters or producers who want to replace virgin plastics. Furthermore, recyclate suppliers or traders can use this tool to sell their materials more efficiently.
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__How it Works:__ If you are a converter and looking to find a recyclate, you need to put your desired specifications (polymer type, processing tehcnology, properties etc.) in the tool. The tool will then rank the available recyclates material based on your requirements. You can find your suitable recyclate from that stream. In addition, the tool also provides an alternative ranking. Converters also has the option to put their requested material sepcification. A Potential supplier can easily contact the respective converters if their recyclate match the market and the material specification.
__%%( color: #003399; font-size: 18px;)Advantages of the Matrix Tool:__
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!Advantages of the Matrix Tool
[{Image src='Matrix/Tool-benefits-19.JPG'}]
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[{Image src='Matrix/Tool-benefits-6.JPG'}]
__%%( color: #003399; font-size: 18px;)Type of Tool:__
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!Explaination of Important Material Properties
Web application
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__Charpy Impact Strength:__ Denotes the energy needed for fracture of the material. The greater the value, the more resistant the material is to cracking upon being hit and vice versa.
__%%( color: #003399; font-size: 18px;)Required Skills and data: __
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__Strain at Yield:__ Denotes the percentage of elongation of the material at its maximum elastic point. The greater the value, the more the elongation and vice versa.
- Basic knowledge of material properties
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__Yield Stress:__ Force the material can handle at its maximum elastic point. The greater the value, the more force the material can handle and vice versa.
- Material properties of currently used virgin materials
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__E-modulus:__ Denotes the stiffness of the material. The greater the value the stiffer the material is and vice versa.
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__Vicat:__ Denotes the temperature at which the material softens.
__%%( color: #003399; font-size: 18px;)Disclaimer:__
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__MFI:__ Denotes the flow behavior of the material. This property is very important for processing technology.
The Di-Plast project team is not responsible for the consequences of the incorrect application of the content.
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__%%( color: #003399; font-size: 18px;)Tool Guideline and Access__
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- Before you get started, take a look at the [guidelines | matrix//matrix-guidelines.pdf] and make yourself familiar with the functionalities.
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!Video
- To access the tool you will need an account. If you are interested in using the tool contact the admin who will create an account for you. After that, you can access the tool directly via [this link|https://matrix.sis.cs.uos.de/login.xhtml] using your account details.
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%%viewer
[Matrix Tool Video | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS7IzU2VJIQ]
\%%
- You can also download the tool source via [GitHub|https://github.com/cslab-hub/Di-Plast-Matrix-Tool-2.0].
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!Guidelines
__%%( color: #003399; font-size: 24px;)Your contact for the Matrix tool:__
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Before you are getting started, take a look at the [guidelines | matrix//matrix-guidelines.pdf] and make yourself familiar with how to use the tool.
Martine Bonnema [mailto:m.bonnema@polymersciencepark.nl]
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!Getting Started
__%%( color: #003399; font-size: 24px;)Detailed Tool Description:__
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The tool is available at [https://matrix.sis.cs.uos.de/login.xhtml]. Please contact ??? to get access to the tool.
European Commission has the goal of reaching a circular economy and plastics have a crucial role in reaching this goal. Plastics are used in many sectors such as packaging, building and construction, textiles, consumer products, transportation, electrical and electronics, and so on. Thus it is important to close the plastic loop to reach a sustainable and resource-efficient economy. One of the ways of achieving this goal is to use recyclate (recycled plastic) as an alternative to virgin material for new plastic products. Although there is a high demand for recyclate material in the market, a very small amount of products is made from recyclate. This indicates the presence of some challenges in the uptake of the recyclate. Therefore, the main goal of the Interreg Di-Plast Project was to increase the uptake of recyclate among the companies. The Matrix tool was developed for this purpose. Details about the Di-Plast Project can be found at [Di-Plast Website|https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/di-plast-digital-circular-economy-for-the-plastics-industry/]
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__%%( color: #003399; font-size: 18px;)Working Mechanism:__
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__Recyclate Supplies:__ This section contains the database of the existing recyclates. Converters can choose the material specifications (polymer type, process technology, properties, etc.) they want to see by clicking on the "column" tab. When they fill in the values or specify the ranges for those specifications, the tool will search the current recyclate supply for exact matches. If no exact matches exist in the current database, it will use an algorithm to recommend alternative recyclates which do not exactly match the filled-in specifications. In addition, suppliers can add information about a new recyclate by clicking on the "create recyclate" tab.
[{Image src='Matrix/3.14.png'}]
__Recyclate Request:__ This section shows the current demand for recyclate batches with a specified set of properties that have not been resolved yet. Suppliers can use this information to modify their materials according to these specifications.
[{Image src='Matrix/4.2.png'}]
__%%( color: #003399; font-size: 18px;)Explanation of Material Specifications:__ 
__Polymer Type:__ This describes the main type of polymer present in the material. Some common types of polymers are:
- PE (Polyethylene)
- PP (Polypropylene)
- PS (Polystyrene)
- PA 6 (Polyamide 6)
- PA 6.6 (Polyamide 6.6)
- PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
- PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
__Process Technology:__ This indicates the technology used in converting raw materials into semi-finished or finished products such as buckets, automobile parts, crates, tanks, pipes, bottles, etc. Some typical process technologies are:
- Injection Molding
- Blow Molding
- Rotational Molding
- Blown Film
- Cast Film
- Thermoforming
- Extrusion
__Melt Flow Index:__ It indicates the fluidity of the molten polymer. This property is important for the prediction of processing behavior and material selection. The MFI could be seen as a measured viscosity at a single temperature and shear rate. It is often measured at a specified temperature and weight. However, since the viscosity of polymers is shear-dependent, the MFI could also be measured at multiple weights (shear rates).
__Impact Strength:__ It denotes the energy needed for fracturing material. The greater the value, the more resistant the material is to break upon impact. It can be measured via Charpy or Izod methods. Samples could be measured notched or unnotched. Notched values are lower than unnotched values due to the limitation of energy dissipation throughout the sample. Furthermore, the impact strength can be measured at different temperatures to predict impact behavior in different environments.
__E-Modulus:__ It denotes the stiffness of a material in the tensile direction. For blown films, it is measured in the machine direction and transverse direction.
__Flexural Modulus:__ It denotes the stiffness of a material in the flexural direction.
__Strain at Yield:__ It denotes the strain (percentage of elongation) of the material at its maximum elastic point. Deformation of a product lower than this value is of elastic nature, meaning the material can return to its original shape. Deformation greater than this value is of viscous nature, meaning the material is permanently deformed. For blown films, it is measured in the machine direction and transverse direction.
__Strength at Yield:__ It is the applied stress at yield strain. This value is the maximum stress a material can handle before it yields. For blown films, it is measured in the machine direction and transverse direction.
__Strain at Break:__ It denotes the strain (percentage of elongation) of the material at its breaking point. The strain at break gives information about the ductility of a material. For blown films, it is measured in the machine direction and transverse direction.
__Vicat Softening Temperature:__ It denotes the temperature at which the material softens.
__Heat Deflection Temperature:__ It is a measure of a polymer's resistance to alteration under a given load at an elevated temperature.
__%%( color: #003399; font-size: 18px;)Use Case/Problem:__
Do you face problems in finding the right recyclate for your virgin material or are you looking to increase the publicity of your recyclate? In this case, the Matrix tool is the perfect candidate for you. Over the years the tool has been used by several companies (both converter and supplier). Some of the use cases of the Matrix tool are as follows:
-One converter wanted to use recyclate HDPE instead of virgin HDPE in their product. In the beginning, the virgin material properties were determined through tests. Those properties were put into the Matrix tool. After that, the tool provided a ranking of the potential PE or PE/PP recyclates using the database from the "recyclate supplies" section. From the ranking, 3 recyclates were chosen and the suppliers were contacted. The recyclates were ordered and tested for verification of their properties. After the tests, one out of the three recyclates was recommended for their product.
-One supplier sells polyolefin recyclates. They can see the demand in the "recyclate requests" section of the Matrix tool. In addition, they can see the overview of the producer requests using the filters. This in turn also helps them to optimize their recyclates according to the demand.
__%%( color: #003399; font-size: 24px;)Related Tools:__
We recommend also taking a look at the following Di-Plast tools below:
- Analyze and visualize your process data with data analytics -> [Data Analytics]
- Get guidance to set up a working data infrastucture -> [Data Infrastructure Wiki]
- Find the right sensor to survey your process -> [Sensor Tool]
- Improve internal information and material flow -> [VSM]
This page (revision-285) was last changed on 14-Sep-2022 10:00 by LeonidTop