How to Measure the Color of Recycled Plastic Pellets
How do you get consistent, repeatable color measurements from recycled plastic pellets, grinds, or flakes when the material itself can vary?
Differences in feedstock, processing history, contamination, orientation, and optical brighteners can all affect color.
Objective color measurement helps manufacturers identify variation earlier and maintain more consistent material quality.
That’s where Agera L2 helps. Its reference-grade 0°/45° circumferential geometry reduces directional effects, while the extra-large 2-inch measurement area evaluates more material at once. Grade 'A' CIE D65 illumination with controlled UV also helps evaluate UV-sensitive additives such as optical brighteners.
Fill a clean glass sample cup consistently so the material completely covers the measurement area. The built-in camera lets you confirm sample positioning before measurement.
Standardize Agera L2 according to the recommended procedure, then measure your physical standard to establish the color reference for comparison.
Because recycled material is non-uniform, use multiple readings to better represent the batch. This can be done manually by rotating the sample between measurements.
Measurement can also be done automatically with the optional rotator.
In this sample example, a UV Compare ΔE of 2 indicates a noticeable UV-reactive behavior. The lower b* value suggests the sample emits more blue light under UV exposure, consistent with the presence of optical brighteners. Yellow Index and Whiteness Index provide additional color information.
With reliable color data, manufacturers can compare lots, monitor process consistency, and detect material variation earlier, helping reduce waste, reprocessing, and downstream quality issues.
Master Recycled Plastic Color Quality with Agera L2.
Detect Variation Earlier. Control Quality. Reduce Waste.
Differences in feedstock, processing history, contamination, orientation, and optical brighteners can all affect color.
Objective color measurement helps manufacturers identify variation earlier and maintain more consistent material quality.
That’s where Agera L2 helps. Its reference-grade 0°/45° circumferential geometry reduces directional effects, while the extra-large 2-inch measurement area evaluates more material at once. Grade 'A' CIE D65 illumination with controlled UV also helps evaluate UV-sensitive additives such as optical brighteners.
Fill a clean glass sample cup consistently so the material completely covers the measurement area. The built-in camera lets you confirm sample positioning before measurement.
Standardize Agera L2 according to the recommended procedure, then measure your physical standard to establish the color reference for comparison.
Because recycled material is non-uniform, use multiple readings to better represent the batch. This can be done manually by rotating the sample between measurements.
Measurement can also be done automatically with the optional rotator.
In this sample example, a UV Compare ΔE of 2 indicates a noticeable UV-reactive behavior. The lower b* value suggests the sample emits more blue light under UV exposure, consistent with the presence of optical brighteners. Yellow Index and Whiteness Index provide additional color information.
With reliable color data, manufacturers can compare lots, monitor process consistency, and detect material variation earlier, helping reduce waste, reprocessing, and downstream quality issues.
Master Recycled Plastic Color Quality with Agera L2.
Detect Variation Earlier. Control Quality. Reduce Waste.