METHOD FOR PRODUCING A MARKED POLYMER, MARKER, USE OF THE MARKER, AND MARKED POLYMER

Abstract

A method for the preparation of a labelled polymer is presented. The method comprises mixing polymer precursors with a marker and polymerizing the polymer precursors to form a labelled polymer or, alternatively, mixing a polymer with a marker to form a labelled polymer. The method is characterized in that the marker comprises or consists of particles, which comprise or consist of a metal and/or a semimetal, the marker having at least three atomic species having a different atomic number. A marker and a labelled polymer are also provided. In addition, uses of the marker according to the invention are proposed. The marker according to the invention does not significantly affect the properties of the polymer and allows coded information in a wide variety of polymers to be read out in a simple and rapid manner and over long polymer lifetimes.

Claims

1-18. (canceled)

19. A method for preparing a labelled polymer, comprising the steps of (a) mixing polymer precursors with a marker and polymerizing the polymer precursors, resulting in a labelled polymer; or (b) mixing a polymer with a marker, resulting in a labelled polymer; wherein the marker comprises particles comprising a metal and/or a semimetal, the marker having at least three atomic species having a different atomic number.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the marker (i) comprises a metal, a mixture of different metals, and/or a metal alloy; (ii) comprises a semimetal; (iii) comprises a ceramic; and/or (iv) is suitable for detection by X-ray fluorescence.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the marker does not comprise atomic species originating from a catalyst utilized to catalyze the polymerization in step a) and/or contained in the polymer from step b).

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the marker does not comprise atomic species originating from a wall of a container and/or a processing machine utilized in the polymerization of step a) and/or utilized in a preparation of the polymer of step b).

23. The method according to claim 19, wherein the marker is geometrically modified.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the marker is geometrically modified in such a way that it (i) has a geometric profile in the surface; and/or (ii) has been processed via a method selected from the group consisting of lithography on the particles, laser beam treatment on the particles, electron beam treatment on the particles, etching methods, and combinations thereof; and/or (iii) has an inscribed pattern.

25. The method according to claim 19, wherein the marker is chemically modified.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the marker is chemically modified in such a way that it (i) has a chemically generated profile on the surface; (ii) has been processed via a method selected from the group consisting of chemical activation of the particles, physical activation of the particles, covalent attachment of molecules to the particles, doping, ion implantation into the particles, attachment of nanodots to the particles, and combinations thereof; (iii) comprises or consists of nanodots, optionally nanodots that are chemically covalently bonded to the particles; and/or (iv) has a chemical pattern.

27. The method according to claim 19, wherein the marker is admixed in an amount such that the labelled polymer has 1 ppm to 1000 ppm marker with respect to the total amount of the labelled polymer.

28. The method according to claim 19, wherein the marker comprises particles having a particle size in the range of 1 nm to 1000 μm as measured by a microscopic imaging method.

29. A marker comprising particles, said particles comprising a metal and/or a semimetal, said marker comprising at least three atomic species having a different atomic number, wherein said marker is geometrically modified and/or chemically modified.

30. The marker according to claim 29, wherein the marker (i) comprises a mixture of different metals and/or a metal alloy; (ii) comprises or consists of a semimetal; (iii) comprises a ceramic; and/or (iv) is suitable for detection by X-ray fluorescence.

31. The marker according to claim 29, wherein the marker does not comprise atomic species derived from a catalyst used to catalyze a polymerization of a polymer and/or contained in a polymer.

32. The marker according to claim 29, wherein the marker does not comprise atomic species originating from a container wall of a container utilized in a production of a polymer.

33. The marker according to claim 29, wherein the marker is geometrically modified.

34. The marker according to claim 33, wherein the marker is geometrically modified in such a way that it (i) has a geometric profile in the surface; (ii) has been processed via a method selected from the group consisting of lithography on the particles, laser beam treatment on the particles, electron beam treatment on the particles, etching methods, and combinations thereof; and/or (iii) has an inscribed pattern.

34. The marker according to claim 29, wherein the marker is chemically modified.

35. The marked according to claim 34, wherein the marker is chemically modified in such a way that it (i) has a chemically generated profile on the surface; (ii) has been processed via a method selected from the group consisting of chemical activation of the particles, physical activation of the particles, covalent attachment of molecules to the particles, doping, ion implantation into the particles, attachment of nanodots to the particles, and combinations thereof; (iii) comprises or consists of nanodots, optionally nanodots that are chemically covalently bonded to the particles; and/or (iv) has a chemical pattern.

36. The marker according to claim 29, wherein the marker comprises particles having a particle size in the range of 1 nm to 1000 μm, as measured by a microscopic imaging method.

37. A method of assigning a polymer to a specific manufacturer, identifying a polymer in the context of polymer recycling; separating a polymer from other polymers in a polymer recycling process; and/or documenting history of a polymer, the method comprising utilizing a marker according to claim 29 in said method.

38. A labelled polymer comprising at least one marker, said marker comprising particles comprising or consisting of a metal and/or a semimetal, said marker comprising at least three types of atoms having a different atomic number.

Description

[0039] By means of the following examples, the subject matter according to the invention will be explained in more detail, without wishing to limit it to the specific embodiments presented here.

EXAMPLE 1

Preparation of a Polymer Labelled with Metal Alloy Particles

[0040] To each of the different polymers PA6, PA66, PET and iPP, a respectively different powder of a metal alloy is added on a ppm scale, each powder having a metal alloy with three different metal atoms, i.e. having a ternary metal alloy. Mixing in the powder can be done, for example, in the course of synthesis of the various polymers in solution or in the course of the extrusion process of the various polymers during granule production.

[0041] The different polymers can thus be uniquely identified via X-ray fluorescence analysis, since each of the different polymers has a uniquely identifiable X-ray fluorescence spectrum.

EXAMPLE 2

Preparation of a Polymer Labelled with Semimetal Particles

[0042] As a first step, a binary information (e.g. a barcode) is inscribed into a silicon wafer (e.g. via lithography, a laser beam and/or an electron beam), which binary information can be read microscopically. Furthermore, the silicon wafer can optionally be chemically modified (e.g. via doping) to encode further information in the silicon wafer.

[0043] In this example, the silicon wafer is coated on its backside with a layer of a metal alloy that encodes additional information, such as an assignment of a particular type of polymer or an indication that the marker in the polymer has additional information, which in this case is encoded in the silicon component of the marker.

[0044] The silicon wafers are then converted into a particulate marker (marker powder), e.g. by milling processes. In this case, the particles have not only the metal alloy, but also a silicon component that comprises the barcode.

[0045] X-ray fluorescence analysis can be used to quickly read out the metallic and semimetallic components of the marker. In addition, the barcode of the silicon component of the marker can be read out via a further method (e.g. a microscopic method).