Ocean Legacy Foundation expands plastic testing laboratory services

The Ocean Legacy Foundation (OLF), a nonprofit organization based in Richmond, British Columbia, has expanded its affordable plastic testing and production support services designed to support essential plastic property testing at accessible prices for those looking to use recycled content in their products. In addition to melt flow and moisture content analysis, the services now include tensile, flexural and impact strength, solid density and ash testing for recycled, virgin and compounded plastics. 

bottom:0in;margin-left:6.05pt;text-indent:-.5pt;line-height:115%;">The laboratory was made possible thanks to the support of the provincial Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy through the CleanBC Plastic Action Fund.

“Recycled plastic, sourced either as postconsumer or from marine environments, possess many challenges with resin identification, composition and property variability that can influence processing parameters and the final product,” says Jon Hatt, laboratory manager at OLF’s Plastic Testing Laboratory. “With the growing circular economy and the push for molders to increase their recycled plastic content, a reliable and accessible plastic testing laboratory is critical for success.”   

OLF’s Plastic Testing Laboratory will work with customers to build their plastic technical data sheets, perform quality control testing and aid in process troubleshooting. Testing services can be purchased individually or as bundled packages with daily and monthly rates. Its bunded packages consist of:

• Complete Polymer Passport — A full material profile that includes melt flow index, moisture analysis, solid-density, tensile, flexural, impact and ash testing;
• Process Stability Bundle — The fastest way to identify batch variability by measuring melt flow index, moisture analysis and solid-density for reliable quality control.
• Mechanical Benchmark Suite — Prove performance with confidence by measuring tensile, flexural and impact testing to benchmark strength, stiffness and toughness for material specifications. 

For more information about OLF’s plastic testing services or to schedule a consultation, email lab@oceanlegacy.ca or call 604-214-3591.