Polymers / Plastics

Increasing the quantity and quality of recycled plastics requires fast, accurate, and robust identification and sortation methods. Data and tools to improve the measurement of plastic composition also help to improve micro- and nanoplastic identification and quantification. Learn more about NIST's work to advance the composition analysis of plastics.

Recycled plastics are often unintentional blends due to difficulties in sorting different polymer types from each other at recycling and reclaiming facilities. This is a particular challenge for polyolefins. NIST is working to advance metrology to understand the processing and performance of such blends via improved rapid characterization techniques.  

Polyolefin Blend Rheology and Crystallization 

To improve the mechanical properties of mixed polyolefin blends, a deeper understanding of their processing and crystallization behavior is needed. We employ a range of in-situ and ex-situ tools, such as in-situ x-ray, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), rheo-Raman spectroscopy, DSC-Raman, polarized optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to gain this understanding. To learn more, read recent publications on flow-induced crystallization and crystallization kinetics of polyolefin blends or visit the Polymer Advanced Manufacturing and Rheology project page. Contacts: Kalman Migler and McKenzie Coughlin.

Increasing plastic circularity requires an understanding of supply chains, economics, and manufacturing systems.  Learn more about NIST efforts related to system and decision science for plastics.

Repeatability and reproducibility of micro- and nanoplastic measurement and advancements have been hindered by a lack of available and well-characterized reference materials. NIST researchers are developing optimal methods along the entire workflow, including extraction, purification, and analysis of count, size, shape, polymer identity, and mass of MNPs.  Learn more about NIST's work in advancing MNP metrology.

U.S. companies across the polymers value chain are transitioning towards more circular materials and operations, and this means a growing need for new workforce training. NIST created this program to support workforce development by integrating polymer circularity education into workforce development, undergraduate, and graduate curricula. Grants were awarded to 11 universities across 10 U.S. states. The recipient universities have formal partnerships with 20 industry and non-profit organizations, plus more partnerships with other universities and community colleges. Read the 2022 announcement and the 2024 announcement. Contact: Noah Last.

NIST has many existing plastic and polymer reference materials. Learn more by visiting the NIST Standard Refererence Materials page.

 Use the following links to explore plastics-related reference materials:

• 202.1 Polymers
• 202.2 Elements in Polymers
• 301.1 – Particle Size – includes some polymeric materials

Please see the NIST Store for a current list of reference materials available.

NIST is exploring developing additional plastic reference materials, including:

• Nanoplastic reference materials: The Nano Materials Research Group is developing a cryo-milled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nanoplastic research grade test material. Feasibility of producing controllably weathered reference materials is being explored in collaboration with Li-Piin Sung. Contacts: Tae Joon Cho, John Pettibone and Justin Gorham.
• Microplastic reference materials: The Biochemical and Exposure Science Group has done exploratory work assessing the feasibility of producing microplastic reference materials via cryo-milling of thermoplastic products made from high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. Contact: Jessica Reiner.
• Nanoplastic arrays for microscopy calibration: The Nanostructure Fabrication and Measurement Group is working to produce nano arrays of polyethylene for use as microspectroscopy calibration reference materials. Contact: Samuel Stavis.
• Reference materials for recycled plastics: NIST is assessing the need for new reference materials for recycled plastics and invites stakeholders to share their insights and needs. Contact: Michelle Seitz.  

NIST has Standard Reference Data relevant to plastics and polymers. These include:

• Mass Spectral Libraries and tools: The Mass Spectrometry Data Center develops evaluated mass spectral libraries. These products are intended to assist compound identification by providing reference mass spectra for GC/MS (by electron ionization) and LC-MS/MS (by tandem mass spectrometry), as well as gas phase retention indices for GC. Read more. Contact: William Wallace.