Color Change Analysis On Polyethylene Coils

13 November 2023

Study of the causes of color variation (pinking) on lateral portions of polyethylene coils.

The customer has commissioned us to carry out quality control and defects on a product. Specifically, it required an investigation to determine which external (environmental and conservation) and chemical (derived from the composition of the artifacts) factors caused the coloring on side portions of polyethylene film coils.

After thorough bibliographical research and the examination of the published cases related to the subject material, we hypothesized a path of analysis to determine which hypothesis suggested to the customer was the most plausible.

The instruments used include the Perkin Elmer FTIR spectrometer model Spectrum Two and the Shimadzu UV-2600i spectrometer.

The assumptions made and investigated were as follows:

  • Hypothesis 1 – The presence of pigments in the production process
  • Hypothesis 2 – The iron ion pollution of the film (chemical oxidations)
  • Hypothesis 3 – The photooxidation of a component of the artifact

Through interviews with the production staff and the inspection of the production site, we immediately excluded the hypothesis that the pigmentation of the film was caused by contamination by colored masterbatches present in the plant (hypothesis 1).

To further investigate the possible causes, we conducted spectroscopic analysis of the defective product and a defect-free reference sample in order to identify the main formulation chemicals potentially involved in the phenomenon.

To determine whether the phenomenon was caused by chemical oxidations (hypothesis 2) or photochemical reactions (hypothesis 3), we exposed the samples that had UV light staining, using an Accelerated Weatering Tester (Q-Lab’s QUV UV). We observed a “fading” of the defective portion that excluded the presence of metal ions (hypothesis 2) which led us to hypothesize the presence of an optically active organic component.

By combining all the information obtained from the analysis it was possible to determine the component responsible for the coloring and also the vector within which it entered into the film.

By combining FT-IR and UV/Vis spectroscopic analysis we discovered that it was an antioxidant molecule present in one of the formulation chemicals, which became colored once oxidized by light. In addition, we observed that the phenomenon was reversible if subjected to light again.

team commerciale

Giulia Landini

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in 2015, Master’s Degree in Government and Corporate Management in 2020.

 

He has been working at LMPE since 2023 where he works for Project & Sales Management.

Dr. Mattia Simoncini

He graduated in 2019 in Chemistry for Industry and the Environment from the University of Pisa, and in 2022 he obtained his Master’s degree in Industrial Chemistry with an experimental thesis about “The optimization of the extraction of bioactive components from sage and rosemary and their introduction into PVA films” carried out at the ICCOM institute of the CNR in Pisa in collaboration with the DCCI of the University of Pisa.

In 2023, he attended the SINT Master’s program sponsored by the QUINN Consortium in collaboration with the University of Pisa on “Integrated Management Systems for Sustainability” obtaining certification as Lead Auditor for ISO standards in Quality, Energy, Environment and Occupational Safety and Health and certification as Lead Auditor for SA 8000 standard about Business Ethics Certification.

Since 2023, he has been working at LMPE where he conducts R&D and collaborates within the management team for LMPE’s SGI.

team amministrazione

Clarissa Dinelli

She obtained the Diploma in Accounting at the Commercial Technical Institute of Pescia.

She has been working at LMPE since 2021 as Head of Accounting, after 23 years of experience gained in different realities.

team amministrazione

Francesca Landini

Graduate in Psychological Sciences and Techniques.

She has worked at LMPE since 2018 and is responsible for administration, human resources, management and reporting of funded projects.

In 2021 he completed the Master EU Projects Design & Management 2021-2027

team r&d

Dott.ssa Caterina Rosellini

Graduated in Biological Sciences in 2019 at the University of Pisa and later graduated in the Master’s course in Science in Molecular Biotechnology at the University of Pisa and the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa with an experimental thesis on polymer devices of the organ-on-chip for high-performance drug toxicity screening. Since 2021 she has been qualified to practice the profession of Biologist Section A at the University of Pisa.

He has been working at LMPE since 2022 as a biologist in the Research & Development section, carrying out research activities on the action of microorganisms on plastic products, extrusion and processing of polymeric materials, and device manufacturing techniques for biomedical applications.

team analisi&servizi

Arianna Domenichelli

She obtained a Diploma in 2018 in Industrial Chemistry at the E. Ferrari Technical Institute in Borgo a Mozzano.

She has been working at LMPE since 2019 as a laboratory technician in the Analysis & Services section, performing mainly chemical and instrumental characterization of polymeric materials and plastic products.

Since 2021 she has been qualified to the profession of Industrial Chemical Expert at the Order of Industrial Experts and Graduate Industrial Experts of Pistoia. Currently affiliate near the Faculty of Managerial Engineering.

team R&D

Dott. Guazzini Tommaso PhD

Graduated in Industrial Chemistry in 2013 at the University of Pisa with a thesis on polymeric materials, he deepened the topic during his Ph.D. in Chemical and Material Sciences, awarded by the University of Pisa, held at the IPCF Institute of the CNR of Pisa where he worked until 2018.

He has been working at LMPE as a researcher since 2018 carrying out research activities on polymeric, water-soluble, and biodegradable materials, guiding the customer from the idea to the patent.

He is currently the Manager of the Research & Development section of LMPE.

team analisi&servizi

Dott. Barsi David PhD

Graduated in Applied Molecular Chemistry in 2010 and subsequently graduated from the Master’s course in Industrial Chemistry in 2012 at the University of Pisa with a thesis on intelligent polymeric materials for marine applications. He obtained a Ph.D. in Chemical and Materials Sciences, awarded by the University of Pisa, held at the IPCF Institute of the CNR of Pisa in the field of nanotechnological and polysaccharide-based products.

He has been working at LMPE since 2018, currently with the function of Laboratory Manager carrying out analysis activities on polymeric, water-soluble, and biodegradable materials. It also carries out consultancy activities for the development of sustainable products and in a Circular Economy key.

Soci : Luca Landini Fondatore e Amministratore Delegato

CEO Luca Landini

CEO, he leads the organization with competence and passion.

Expert in PVOH-based water-soluble polymers, of which he owns the first patents on the market since 1981. He is also the holder of many awards especially in the packaging sector linked to the applications of water-soluble films.

He has built and led many companies in the production of water-soluble polymers in Italy, Spain, the USA and Mexico.

It has contributed to the realization and engineering of systems for companies that process these products, developing not only the formulations but also a 5-stage process that starts from mixing the basic raw material up to the finished product (film – bags – pellets for molding by injection).

 

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President Eng. Francesco Sandias

President Eng. Francesco Sandias, responsible for Business Development, Sustainability and Corporate Benefit Impact. For 30 years in the Top Management of Multinationals he innovated in Procurement, with R&D and Marketing, in FMCG companies including P&G in Brussels, Reckitt Benckiser in Venice and Seda Packaging in Naples. RINA certified as Sustainability&Innovation Manager

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Soci : Emo Chiellini Fondatore ed Ex Presidente

Prof. Emo Chiellini (1936-2020)

Scarica CV

After graduating in Chemistry in 1963 at the University of Pisa in the research group of prof. Piero Pino (one of Giulio Natta’s main collaborators), carried out his academic career at the Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry of the University of Pisa and in European and non-EU Universities such as the University of Liverpool (UK), Moscow State University (Russia), University of Massachusetts at Amherst (USA), University of Sao Paulo in Sao Paulo & Campinas (Brazil), University of Nagasaki (Japan) and University of Mogadishu (Somalia).

In 1980 he was appointed full professor of Chemical Foundations of Technologies at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Pisa, where he taught until 2010, teaching courses in General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Materials Science and Technology. The passion for fundamental and applied research to the resolution of industrial and environmental problems has led prof. Chiellini to develop innovative research in the field of biodegradable polymers and to study their technological applications in the creation of new materials to be used in the biomedical and environmental fields.

He was among the promoters of the foundation and during his long career he also held the role of Member of the Scientific Council of the INSTM Consortium. He founded and coordinated the BIOlab  (Laboratory of Bioactive Polymeric Materials for Biomedical and Environmental Applications) Reference Center of INSTM, where researchers with expertise in materials science and technology, organic chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, pharmaceutical technologies, microbiology and environmental chemistry. He was the founder and president of LMPE S.r.l. SB., spin-off of the INSTM Consortium, responsible for numerous research contracts financed by industries from the European Community and the Tuscany Region.

He is the author of more than 500 publications, holder of 35 patents. He has presented more than 300 invited lectures in scientific institutions and industries. He is editor/co-editor of 20 books and has been a member of the Editorial Board of several international scientific journals in the field of polymers. Particularly noteworthy was his participation, from 1996 to 2008, in the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) group, engaged in the program relating to “Sustainable development in developing countries and countries in transition” mainly focused on polymeric materials and related environmentally friendly plastic products. Professor Chiellini has been awarded various awards throughout his career, including the Giulio Natta Prize for Chemistry in 2018.