Enabling High Recycled Content in HDPE Pipe Extrusion
Increase the use of recycled polyethylene in pipe production while maintaining process stability, dimensional accuracy, and long-term performance.
Nexam Chemical offers a complete additive portfolio to support both recycled and virgin pipe production.
Challenges when using recycled PE in pipe applications
Pipe extrusion places strict demands on material performance, making recycled polyethylene difficult to use:
- Low melt strength → sagging and deformation
- Ovality and poor dimensional stability in thick-wall pipes
- Variability in MFR and batch quality
- Reduced stabilization → shorter lifetime
- Difficulty meeting long-term mechanical requirements
These limitations often restrict the use of recycled material in pipes.
A complete solution for recycled pipe extrusion
Nexam Chemical supports pipe producers with a multi-functional masterbatch platform:
- Reactive Recycling™ → restore melt strength
- Stabilization → ensure lifetime performance
- Performance additives → maintain mechanical strength
- Colour & masterbatch → ensure consistent appearance
Together, this enables higher recycled content without compromising performance or processability.
Reactive Recycling™ for pipe extrusion
Reactive Recycling™ masterbatches rebuild polymer structure during extrusion, improving melt strength and process stability.
This stabilizes processing and enables the use of recycled materials in demanding pipe applications.
Key effects
- Restores melt strength
- Improves extrusion stability
- Reduces deformation and sagging
- Improves wall thickness distribution
- Reduces sensitivity to material variations
Maximize recycled content with NexCircle® R401
NexCircle® R401 is a next-generation melt strength enhancer masterbatch within the Reactive Recycling™ portfolio, designed to improve processing performance of recycled polyethylene.
By restoring melt strength during extrusion, it enables more stable processing and allows pipe producers to increase recycled content while maintaining dimensional control and consistent production conditions.
Key benefits
- Enables higher rHDPE content with stable extrusion
- Reduces the need for virgin PE blending
- Delivers strong melt strength at low dosage
- Improves process consistency across variable recycled feedstock
- Supports stable dimensional control in pipe production
NexCircle® R401 builds on the proven performance of NEXAMITE® R305, offering higher efficiency and improved performance at lower dosage.
While R305 provides a robust and widely used solution for increasing melt strength and stabilizing processing, R401 delivers stronger effects per % addition, enabling more stable extrusion, better handling of variable recycled feedstock, and reduced reliance on virgin material.
Comparison of MFR reduction between NEXAMITE® R305 (5 wt %) and the new NexCircle® R401 in compounded rHDPE.
Visit our product page for rPE here: Stable Processing of rPE at Higher PCR Content
Secure long-term pipe lifetime
Recycled polyethylene often has reduced antioxidant levels, limiting durability.
Product: OIT Booster – PE 0188L — a specially tailored mixture designed to restore stability by improving resistance to thermal oxidation.
- Increases Oxidative Induction Time (OIT)
- Compensates for reduced stabilization in recycled PE
- Supports long service life in demanding applications
- Helps meet pipe lifetime requirements (pressure / infrastructure)
- Improves stability during processing (less degradation)
- Consistent long-term performance across batches
OIT improvement with different addition levels of OIT Booster – PE 0188L. Higher OIT is better.
Complete additive offering for pipe producers
In addition to Reactive Recycling™ and advanced stabilization, Nexam Chemical offers masterbatches with:
Standard stabilization
- UV stabilizers (HALS, UV absorbers)
- Antioxidants (AO)
Processing additives
- Slip / mould release agents
- Cleaning compounds
Performance modifiers
- Mineral masterbatch (increased stiffness)
- Impact modifiers
- Antistatic additives
Functional additives
- Laser marking additives
Product page: Additives and Functional Masterbatches
Coloring solutions for recycled polyolefins
Colour consistency is a major challenge with recycled materials.
- Custom colour masterbatch
- Dedicated solutions for recycled polymers
- Full support for pipe colour standards
ReColour Plus™
Colour masterbatches specifically designed for recycled polyolefins.
A specialized approach for colouring recycled polyolefins:
- Designed to handle variable feedstock
- Improved colour consistency despite fluctuations
- Reduced risk of visual defects
- Enables controlled and predictable colour outcomes
Product page: ReColour Plus™
Recommended solutions for pipe extrusion
| Function | Product |
|---|---|
| Recycled processing | NexCircle® R401 |
| Stabilization | OIT Booster – PE 0188L |
| Mechanical performance | Nexamite A48 / M480502 |
| Colour & additives | ReColour Plus™ + full additive portfolio |
Increase recycled content without compromising pipe performance
Combine process stability, durability, and consistent quality while moving towards circular materials.
Discuss your application
Share your material, process, or requirements — our team will help you find the right solution.