Recycling specialist Axion Polymers (Salford, Manchester / UK; www.axionpolymers.com) has expanded the range of colours available in its 100% recycled “Axpoly” PS01 high impact polystyrene (HIPS) derived from refrigerator liners. Colours can be matched to exact customer requirements and beige, grey and pastel shades of blue, green and red are now included in the HIPS grades, which Axion says have performance equivalent to virgin polymer.

The company says the material, manufactured to defined specification, offers customers cost savings of up to 20% compared to using virgin-based colour compounds, without compromising quality. Suitable for injection moulding, the pre-compounded HIPS polymer also reduces resource consumption and can contribute to significant CO₂ savings, Axion said. In addition to specific colours, formulations can be modified to achieve particular physical properties for a range of product applications. Markets for “Axpoly” PS01 include household products, stationery items, electrical equipment and general industrial goods.

Steve Bell, Axion’s product development manager and a plastics colourist, said: “Our process gives better colour dispersion, resulting in improved visual quality of the final product as opposed to adding the masterbatch shade to the polymer when it is injection-moulded.”