Characteristics of reclaimed fibres

The degree of material break-down is descriptive of the spectrum of materials that results from the breaking-down process. It is defined as the proportions of fibres, threads, bits and remains of fabric in a specimen of 3 g or 10 g of the blend of reclaimed fibres, depending on the proportion of unopened pieces (by manual separation), in nnits of mass per cent. 

In addition, both producers and users of reclaimed fibres should know the material composition of the blend of reclaimed fibres in question. It can be defined by means of qnantitative chemical analysis, which, however, will entail corresponding cost. There are systems allowing quick definition which are based on near-infrared-spectroscopy. They are limited to qualitative information of the fibre materials contained in a blend. One well-known example is the sorting of end-of-life carpets by the kinds of polymers contained in their piles. -  

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