Recycled Materials | Engineering-grade PCR adopted by leading brands in power tools and small appliances

The problem with recycled plastics

Recycled plastics are often treated as a downgrade: yellowed, inconsistent, and unsuitable for demanding products. That assumption keeps PCR out of high-specification manufacturing.

Zhongyi (众一新材) develops engineering-grade PCR rather than general-purpose recycled materials.

Power tool case: Lithium battery chainsaw

An international first-tier power tool brand was developing a lithium battery chainsaw and needed a recycled material meeting three requirements: UL 94 V-0 flame retardancy, no fracture under 1.2m/s impact, and continuous service above 120∘C. Color consistency was also a problem, since PCR feedstock varies. Zhongyi's custom formulation passed the customer's 2,000-hour whole-machine aging test.

Small appliance case: Hair dryer housing

A leading domestic small-appliance manufacturer needed a material for a premium hair dryer housing: PCR content above 30%, with a metallic surface finish and no painting step. Zhongyi adjusted screw configuration and optimized the processing temperature curve to suppress glass-fiber exposure and flow marks. The result was a recycled material with an appearance comparable to electroplating.

What enables it: molecular control

PCR's core problem is variability. Recycled feedstock has a wide molecularweight distribution and hard-to-control contamination, which causes inconsistent performance.

Zhongyi monitors molecular-weight distribution using GPC (gel permeation chromatography). It controls melt flow rate (MFR) and impact strength through a twin-screw extrusion line with multi-stage vacuum degassing and a high-efficiency side feeder.

For flame retardancy, the company uses reactive extrusion compatibilization to improve interfacial bonding between virgin resin and recyclate, plus a halogen-free intumescent flame retardant system with synergists. This maintains flame performance without embrittling the material.

About the exhibitor

Zhongyi was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Zhangmutou, Dongguan, Guangdong. It operates R&D and production bases in Dongguan and Shenzhen, Guangdong, and Shaoyang, Hunan. Its business covers high-performance recycled plastics, modified plastics, and import/export of chemical raw materials. Products are used in automotive, appliance, electrical and electronic, new energy, and medical applications.

Booth: B1B57

At-a-glance

Zhongyi | Recycled Materials | Engineering-grade PCR adopted by leading brands in power tools and small appliances

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