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BITEC GmbH offers comprehensive services in plastic recycling and trading. With over 20 years of industry experience, we understand the challenges and requirements of our clients and develop tailored solutions to meet their needs optimally. Our service is based on a clear focus: returning high-quality recycled plastics to the economic cycle, making a valuable contribution to resource conservation and CO₂ reduction.
BITEC GmbH offers a wide selection of recycled plastics suitable for diverse industrial applications—from technical plastics like PBT and POM to everyday materials such as HDPE and PP.
Polybutylene Terephthalate: A technical plastic known for its high strength and heat resistance, commonly used in electronics and automotive applications.
Styrene Acrylonitrile (SAN): A plastic with high strength and chemical resistance, commonly used in household appliances and medical products.
Polyoxymethylene (POM): Also known as Acetal, this plastic offers high rigidity and is ideal for precision parts such as gears.
Polyamide: Widely known as Nylon, this material is exceptionally strong and versatile, making it ideal for mechanical applications.*
Cross-Linked Polyethylene: A flexible plastic commonly used in pipes and insulation, resistant to high temperatures.
Polymethyl Methacrylate: Also known as acrylic glass, a transparent plastic used in lightweight and optical applications.
Polycarbonate/Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene: A blend of two plastics that combines strength and impact resistance—ideal for electronic housings.
Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate: A weather-resistant plastic, ideal for outdoor applications
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene: A durable, versatile plastic commonly found in household appliances and automotive parts.
High Impact Polystyrene: An impact-resistant plastic typically used in packaging and casings.
Polystyrene: A lightweight plastic commonly known as foam for packaging or disposable products.
High-Density Polyethylen: A highly durable and shape-stable plastic, suitable for bottles, pipes, and containers.
Polypropylene: A lightweight, chemically resistant plastic with versatile applications, commonly used in packaging and textiles.
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Copolymer (ABS) is an amorphous, thermoplastic standard plastic that combines numerous positive mechanical properties with chemical resistance. This synthetic copolymer consists of the monomers acrylonitrile (15 to 35%), butadiene (5 to 30%), and styrene (40 to 60%). In Western Europe, more than 50% of ABS production is used by the automotive and electronics industries. ABS is also well-suited for coating with metals (electroplating) and polymers.
Common Applications:
•Household and consumer products
•Thermoformed parts made from sheets and films
•Automotive and electronic components, motorcycle helmets
•Toys (e.g., LEGO bricks or Playmobil figures)
•Housings for electronic devices and computers
•Edge bands in the furniture industry
•Consumer goods requiring high impact resistance, musical instruments (such as clarinet and saxophone mouthpieces, ukulele bodies, or guitar binding)
•Sidewalls of skis and snowboards made with sandwich construction
ABS is also used as a filament for 3D printing with the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technique, known for its high stability and variety of post-processing options (sanding, painting, gluing, filling), making it ideal for prototyping. Special types of ABS filament include ABS-ESD (electrostatic discharge) and ABS-FR (fire resistant), which are particularly suitable for producing electrostatically sensitive components and fire-resistant parts.
Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate Copolymers (abbreviated ASA, also known as Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate Copolymer) are impact-resistant terpolymers made from the monomers acrylonitrile, styrene, and an acrylic acid ester. ASA has similar properties to Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) copolymer but is much more weather-resistant.
ASA, like all styrene polymers, is primarily processed by injection molding, but it can also be used in extrusion (films). Heating element and rotational friction welding are possible, but ultrasonic and high-frequency welding are less suitable. In the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing process, ASA filament is used to manufacture 3D printed parts that must absorb a specific amount of impact and shock energy without breaking.
Properties
ASA forms high-quality, glossy, and scratch-resistant surfaces. It can also be made transparent. By adding matting agents or increasing the size of the acrylic ester phases, matte surfaces can be achieved.
The excellent chemical resistance is explained by the higher polarity of the acrylic ester component compared to the polybutadiene component in ABS. ASA shows very good resistance to aqueous media, including diluted acids/alkalines, washing lyes, and good resistance to oils/fats, alcohols, and aliphatic hydrocarbons. However, ASA is not resistant to many esters, ethers, and ketones, which may cause the surface to swell or form stress cracks.
Common Applications:
•ASA is used as a weather-resistant sheet in construction (e.g., PermaSkin™)
•In electrical appliances subjected to high heat, such as coffee machines and microwaves
•In the sports and leisure industry, for items like surfboards
•In automotive exteriors
Due to its high UV and weather resistance, ASA is particularly suitable as filament for 3D printing, especially for the production of prototypes. Additionally, non-mass-produced end products such as special outdoor parts (e.g., cladding, supports, control panels) can be manufactured with ASA filaments through additive manufacturing.
Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) has a chemical structure and properties very similar to PET. During condensation, instead of ethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol is used. PBT is also a semi-crystalline thermoplastic, but it crystallizes faster and is more suitable for injection molding than PET.
Processing
PBT is primarily processed through injection molding at mass temperatures ranging from 230°C to 270°C. Mold temperatures below 60°C are common, but optimal surface quality is achieved at 110°C. Granule drying, similar to PET, is required. Joining methods include ultrasonic welding, friction welding, heat plate welding, hot gas welding, and adhesive bonding with reactive resin adhesives.
Properties
The strength and rigidity are slightly lower than PET, while toughness at low temperatures is somewhat better. The sliding and wear behavior is excellent. The glass transition temperature of the amorphous phase is around 60°C. The maximum heat distortion temperature is lower at 180°C to 200°C, but long-term heat resistance remains similar to PET at 100°C to 120°C. PBT is a good electrical insulator, and its properties are minimally affected by water absorption, temperature, and frequency. The permeability to CO2 is significantly higher than that of PET, while chemical and weather resistance, as well as burning behavior, are comparable. Resistance to hot water is better. PBT types are approved for food contact.
Modifications of PBT
PBT types are available with various modifications, including:
•Easy-flowing
•Flame-retardant
•High impact resistance through elastomer modification
•Reinforced or filled for increased stiffness, strength, wear resistance, or reduced friction coefficient.
Applications
PBT is used to manufacture products such as:
•Plain bearings
•Roller bearings
•Valve components
•Screws
•Terminal blocks
•Pump housings and wheels
•Parts for household appliances such as coffee machines, egg cookers, toasters, hair dryers, vacuums, and cooking devices.
Styrene Acrylonitrile Copolymers (abbreviated SAN) are copolymers made from styrene and acrylonitrile.
Properties
Styrene Acrylonitrile copolymers have similar properties to polystyrene and are transparent, rigid polymers. A typical composition consists of 70% styrene and 30% acrylonitrile. In the European market, products are available with acrylonitrile contents ranging from 19% to 35%, each with different molar masses. SAN offers higher strength, thermal resistance, and scratch resistance compared to polystyrene, and is more chemically resistant, for example, to amines, which are commonly used in plasticizers.
SAN can only be screwed together during assembly and is not suitable for clipping. It is largely dishwasher-safe but has limited UV resistance. Most SAN types are approved for food contact by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). Due to its natural yellowish color (which does not affect quality), various shades with a blue/gray tint are available. Opaque colorings are also available, highlighting the high modulus and scratch resistance of the product. For particularly high stiffness, glass-fiber reinforced types are also available.
By adding polyvinylcarbazole (PVK), higher heat distortion resistance can be achieved. However, plastics with PVK are toxic and therefore not approved for food contact.
Since styrene acrylonitrile copolymers are brittle, synthesis with polybutadiene (graft polymerization) is used for applications that require high impact resistance. This product then becomes an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer (ABS).
Processing
Styrene acrylonitrile polymers, like all styrene polymers, are predominantly processed by injection molding, with extrusion (for films) being less common. Heat element and rotational friction welding are possible, but ultrasonic and high-frequency welding are less suitable.
Applications
•Light guides
•Glazing for industrial doors, sectional doors (e.g., Plustherm system glazing)
•Optical bodies, such as steering angle sensors in automotive manufacturing
•Kitchenware (salad bowls and utensils, measuring cups, parts for kitchen appliances)
•Shower cabin walls
•Reflectors
•Battery cell containers
•SAN is a raw material for compounding applications
Polyoxymethylene (POM) is a typical technical thermoplastic known for its excellent mechanical properties, high dimensional stability, and outstanding sliding and wear resistance.
POM is therefore one of the preferred materials for precision parts in fine mechanical engineering. Its primary applications are in the automotive industry and electrical engineering, followed by general equipment and machinery manufacturing, as well as consumer goods applications.
The main processing method is injection molding, particularly “micro-precision injection molding,” which is suitable for manufacturing tightly toleranced, dimensionally stable small parts (under 2 g) with tolerances ranging from about 0.3% to 0.6%, even for parts under 2 mm in size. Other processing methods include extrusion, blow molding, and welding (except HF welding). POM also excels in machining, and bonding is possible only after pre-treatment.
Common Applications:
•Machine Engineering, Automotive Industry: Gears, small gears, shift mechanisms, ball bearing cages; parts for tank caps, fuel pumps, and carburetors, speaker grills (car); snap and spring elements; parts and housings for water pumps, valves, fittings; screws, nuts, bearings for watch movements, components in “outsert technology.”
•Electrical Engineering: Precision parts for telephones, radios, television, audio playback, fax machines, copiers, conductive components with appropriate fillers.
•Packaging: Spray cans, gas lighter tanks, gas ampoules.
•Construction and Furniture Industry: Fittings, hinges, lock parts, door and window handles, coupling parts for garden hoses.
•Other Applications: Hooks, zippers, ski binding parts, dry powder inhalers, insulin pens, snap-on toothbrush heads, toys.
Polyethylene Pipes are pipes made from polyethylene (PE) that have been used primarily in piping systems for gas, water supply, and wastewater disposal since 1957. They are also applied in various industrial sectors.
The key properties of polyethylene pipes include corrosion resistance, resistance to various chemicals, crack resistance, low weight, and easy connection techniques. Additionally, polyethylene pipes offer sufficient ring stiffness for underground installations while maintaining high flexibility, allowing them to adapt to uneven surfaces. Their excellent resistance to harmful and aggressive media—such as oils, acids, and alkalis—has made them suitable for use as free-flowing pipelines.
Moreover, the roughness of the pipe walls is lower compared to steel pipes, resulting in lower friction losses in the fluid along the pipe wall and minimal incrustation formation. Recently, there has been an increasing use of piping systems made from cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) or polyethylene with increased temperature resistance (PE-RT), designed for continuous operation with water at 10 bar pressure and fluid temperatures of +70°C. Pipes made of polypropylene (PP) are also comparable; PP pipes offer slightly higher temperature resistance than PEX. Multilayer composite pipes made of PEX and aluminum are also in use.
Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) (also known as acrylic glass) is a transparent thermoplastic plastic.
Properties
PMMA has medium strength and high stiffness, with impact resistance six times higher than that of silicate glass. It also has high hardness, a polishable surface, and excellent scratch resistance when treated properly.
The glass transition temperature is around 105°C. The service temperature range is about -40°C to +75°C for continuous use, and up to 100°C for short periods. At temperatures between 120°C and 180°C, it becomes rubber-elastic, and above 180°C, it becomes viscous (thermoplastically moldable). PMMA has a moderate coefficient of thermal expansion.
PMMA is highly transparent, colorless, and brilliant; it is also excellent for coloring, both transparent and opaque. It has very good light resistance. Cut surfaces are polishable.
It has good electrical insulating properties and high electrostatic chargeability, which leads to a tendency to attract dust.
PMMA is resistant to acids and alkalis up to medium concentrations and is resistant to non-polar solvents (aliphatic hydrocarbons, oils). It is not resistant to polar solvents (esters, ketones, chlorinated hydrocarbons, etc.), which may cause surface swelling or cracking. Moisture absorption is about 0.3%. It is prone to stress cracking and continues to burn once ignited.
PMMA is classified as a specialty plastic and is widely used in technical applications, making it a technical thermoplastic.
Applications
PMMA is used to manufacture a wide variety of transparent and non-transparent items, products, components, semifinished products, and semi-formed parts in various fields. It is indispensable in dentistry, where it is used for prosthetics. The plastic is dyed with various inorganic and organic pigments, such as titanium dioxide, iron oxides, or azo pigments, to achieve the typical pink color. In its transparent form, PMMA is used for splinting. The plastic is mixed freely and hardens under heat and pressure, with activators allowing polymerization without external pressure or temperature increase.
Industrial and Craft Applications
•Automotive Industry: Turn signal and taillight lenses, reflectors, light guides, door/pillar cladding in the exterior (cladding of A/B/C pillars)
•Construction: Polymer concrete, industrial floors, glazing (e.g., twin-wall panels), sealing and coating of balconies and terraces, detail sealing in flat roofs, industrial door glazing (Plustherm system glazing), sanitary and furniture components (bathtubs, furniture, room dividers, door panels, lampshades, etc.)
•Semiconductor Industry: Used as a resist (photoresist) or part of it in photolithography and electron beam lithography for the production of circuits and printed circuit boards
•Lighting and Optics: Floodlight signs, acrylic light design, light covers, illuminated advertising, viewing glasses, lenses, Fresnel lenses, optical fibers
•Aerospace: Windows, canopies, headlight covers
•Machine Protection: Safety covers and doors
•Model and Prototype Construction: Used as a substitute for mineral glass in single items and small series
•Pyrotechnics: Component of delay devices
•Shipbuilding: Submarine pressure hulls (e.g., Deep Rover DR1002)
•Textile Industry: Part of copolymer fibers (polyacrylic)
•Watch Industry: Watch glass
Medical Applications
•Optics: Hard intraocular lenses, eyeglass lenses
•Surgery: PMMA beads enriched with gentamicin for continuous antibiotic treatment
•Hearing Aids: Ear molds (Otoplastics)
•Orthopedics: Used in infections and as bone cement for anchoring hip prostheses or for augmentation in kyphoplasties for treating fractures
•Dentistry: Total and partial dentures, temporary restorations, bite splints, braces, crowns, bridges, and artificial teeth
Other Products and Applications
•Fine Arts: As a material and image carrier
•Photography: Direct photo printing (typically CMYK color model) on the back of acrylic glass (acrylic glass photo)
•Horticulture: Used for greenhouse roofs and side panels
•Household Items: Bowls, housings, containers, salad spoons, salt and pepper mills
•Adhesives: Methyl methacrylate adhesive for bonding metals and plastics
•Musical Instruments: Drums, piano key covers, as well as clarinets, flutes, oboes, bassoons
•Tobacco Products: Used in the production of water pipes, also known as acrylic bongs
•Jewelry: Plugs and other jewelry for body piercings
Material for Laser Cutters
Extruded acrylic sheets are better suited for cutting, while cast acrylic sheets are better for engraving.
PC/ABS (Polycarbonate/Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a blend of PC and ABS, combining the excellent processability of ABS with the outstanding mechanical properties of PC, such as impact resistance and heat resistance.
Common Applications:
•Machine and Vehicle Construction: Dashboard carriers, body parts, spoilers, armrests, consoles, hubcaps
•Electrical Engineering: Housings for household and power tools, television, telephone, camera, office machines, and watch cases
•Sanitary Sector: Galvanized shower, bathtub, and kitchen fittings, pipes, fittings
•Other: Vacuum cleaner housings, electric toothbrushes, toys, door handles
Polycarbonate (abbreviated PC) are thermoplastic plastics and chemically belong to the polyester family.
Properties
Polycarbonates are characterized by high strength, impact resistance, rigidity, and hardness. They are also excellent electrical insulators. Polycarbonates are transparent and colorless but can be dyed.
The continuous service temperature range is between -40°C and +130°C, with short-term use up to about +150°C. By modifying the impact resistance, the lower service temperature can be lowered to around -60°C. However, PC is notch-sensitive and has low abrasion resistance.
Polycarbonates are used in the production of:
•CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs
•Eyeglass lenses and optical lenses
•Diffusers for car headlights
•Windows for supersonic aircraft
•Luggage
•Burglar-resistant glazing
•Underwater camera housings
•Rear covers for mobile phones (mainly smartphones) and tablet computers
•Glazing for conservatories and greenhouses
•Cladding for avant-garde buildings
•Solar panels
•Protective helmets and visors
•Camping dishware
•Medical single-use products due to good biocompatibility
•Microfibers with the electrostatic spraying method
Recycled Material is a general term for processed plastic or a compound with defined properties. In many cases, recycled material is mixed into new material. A recycled material has generally already gone through a processing stage in its lifecycle. A masterbatch or a blend, which are made from multiple plastics through processing, are not considered recycled materials.
Regrind is obtained by grinding plastic. Regrind has irregular particle sizes ranging from 2 mm to 5 mm and may contain dust particles.
Regranulate is made from regrind through a melting process, turning it into granules. Regranulate has uniform particle size, no dust, and is easily processable.
Regenerate is produced through a melting process (compounding) with the addition of additives to improve properties. Regenerate has a uniform particle size, no dust, and may have defined property values.
Other important terms in recycling include the purity and compatibility of the raw materials:
•Pure-Type means that only one type of plastic from a single raw material manufacturer with the same type designation is processed.
•Sort-Pure means that plastics with the same identification according to DIN EN ISO 11469 or VDA 260, possibly from different raw material manufacturers, are processed.
•Sort-Similar means that the plastics to be processed have the same base polymer, but differ in certain properties, such as flame-retardant additives.
•Mixed means that different plastics with chemical compatibility are processed (e.g., ABS and PC). Plastics are compatible when they can be homogenously mixed in the melt and processed into a molding compound with satisfactory mechanical properties and an acceptable surface.
•Contaminated means that the plastics to be processed still contain substances from previous use that could impair the properties of the final molded part.