GREENMANTRA Technologies' Sustainable Processing Aids Enhance TIMEWELL's PCR/PIR-Based HDPE Pipe Production

Stormwater and Agricultural Drainage Pipe on Display at NPE2024

GREENMANTRA Technologies, an innovator in the molecular recycling of plastics, is featuring here at NPE2024 (booth #S35181) the success of its customer, Timewell Drainage Products, in optimizing the production of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe containing recycled content. Timewell uses GREENMANTRA’s CERANOVUS PN specialty polymer additives as processing aids, produced from waste plastic using a patented molecular recycling process, to increase output as needed to accommodate seasonal demand for its stormwater and agricultural drainage pipe. These additives act as melt flow modifiers to help Timewell smooth out processing inconsistencies resulting from variability in post-consumer and post-industrial recyclate (PCR/PIR). They also enable the pipe manufacturer to increase production line speed by up to 25 percent without raising energy use and costs. Further, by providing an alternative to fossil-based additives, GREENMANTRA Technologies’ products help Timewell decrease the carbon footprint of its pipe.

Samples of Timewell’s HDPE drainage pipe made from recycled content are showcased at the GREENMANTRA exhibit at NPE.

Higher Productivity With GREENMANTRA Solutions
The Timewell executive team’s decision to use recycled content was influenced by several factors. The 2019 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) M294R regulation allowed PCR in corrugated HDPE pipe, and corporations displayed strong interest in using plastic pipes with a high amount of recycled content in new facility construction to support sustainability goals. In addition, they learned from scientific studies that recycled content, if properly tested and validated, does not affect the 100-year service life of HDPE pipe.

Timewell’s dual-wall corrugated stormwater pipe contains up to 50 percent recycled content, while its single-wall, corrugated agricultural drainage pipe uses up to, or exceeds 40 percent. This HDPE recyclate is readily available from PCR and PIR waste streams.

“When Timewell began producing HDPE stormwater pipe with a significant percentage of PCR, we experienced processing issues like higher extruder torque,” said Jake Colclasure, chief operating officer for Timewell Drainage Products. “That prompted us to trial GREENMANTRA’s sustainable additives. We were able to increase line speeds at the same fixed costs, including energy costs, while achieving excellent product quality, durability and performance. Based on these positive results, we also decided to use CERANOVUS PN additives in our recycled HDPE agricultural drainage pipe. Our close relationship with GREENMANTRA and the company’s proven additive technology have helped us optimize the production of recycled pipe so we can meet customers’ supply needs and sustainability objectives.”

Flexible Production To Meet Customer Needs
GREENMANTRA Technologies’ additives provide Timewell with invaluable flexibility to respond to seasonal peaks in demand by farmers, who typically need drainage pipes after fall planting, and building and road construction companies, which install the pipe during the spring and summer. When higher throughput is required to fill an order quickly, Timewell can precisely calculate the additive dosage needed to achieve the desired line speed and pipe quantity.

CERANOVUS PN specialty polypropylene and polyethylene additives act as melt flow modifiers in plastic applications to increase operational efficiency, boost productivity while using less energy, and enable larger amounts of recycled content to be incorporated in plastic parts. In addition to pipe, applications include conduit, plastic lumber and decking, crates and pallets.

“We are gratified to play a role in Timewell’s successful incorporation of higher amounts of recycled content in HDPE pipe,” said Ben Scott, director of Research and Innovation, GREENMANTRA Technologies. “Our CERANOVUS PN specialty polymer additives can make a big difference in operational efficiency by accelerating throughput and increasing output at cost-effective low loadings. Timewell’s experience demonstrates the excellent benefit-cost ratio that can be achieved with our additives – not to mention the environmental advantages of using recycled content in additives as well as end products.”

NPE 2024 is taking place May 6-10, in Orlando, Fla. Attendees interested in learning more about this technology can visit the GREENMANTRA booth or schedule a meeting at the show with the company’s technical experts by visiting greenmantra.com/contact/.