Recycled surfaces

Recycled surfaces are the visible and tactile surfaces of components or products that are made entirely or partially from recycled plastics. In contrast to surfaces made from primary plastics, recycled surfaces often exhibit greater variability in terms of color, gloss, structure and homogeneity. This is due to the different material streams from which the recyclates originate, as well as possible additive residues or foreign particles.

The quality of recycled surfaces is a decisive factor for the acceptance of recycled materials in technical and decorative applications. Visual differences such as streaks, color deviations or inclusions can impair visual perception, while uneven structures make further processing - such as painting, coating or laminating - more difficult.

Various measures are used to improve recycled surfaces. These include targeted grade purity during processing, optimized compounding, the use of suitable additives and downstream surface treatments. In this way, aesthetic and functional properties can be harmonized and made usable for industrial applications.

Recycled surfaces are playing a growing role in the automotive industry, the packaging sector and consumer goods production in particular. They combine sustainability aspects with quality, design and functionality requirements.