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Plastic particles detection system in agro-food product manufacturing

Food, Teflon, Metallic detector, food safety, Plastic

• Desired outcome

  The current challenge’s aim is to develop trustful detection system of plastic particles accidentally generated as the friction result between the plastic surface material (teflon or similar) and the mechanical parts of the production line.

  
  

  27/11/2012 - The deadline of this technology request has expired

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  Details of the Tech Request :

  The use of Teflon surfaces is common in the product agro-food manufacturing. The most relevant characteristics offer: high impact absortion capacity, high temperature resistance (200C), good slip properties and prevents food adhesion above all for those which its texture and consistency is sticky. Teflon’s substitution for other metallic materials (mainly stainless steel) has not worked since the food sticks easily provoking incidents in the production line.
  
  In the other hand, due to friction between the plastic surfaces and the mechanical parts of the line, plastic particles are formed which if incorporated in the food generate a risk for the consumer.
  
  When the surface is of metallic origin (Iron, stainless steel), the post of a metallic detector at the end of the line prevents that the contaminated product reaches the consumer. Nevertheless, when the generated particle is of plastic origin the current systems (metallic detectors, X.Ray) do not work.
  
  The objective of the challenge is to find suitable technological solutions that would let to identify plastic fragments (Teflon or similar) that accidentally have been incorporated in the food. The solution may be thought in different levels: some of the possibilities are:
  
  1- To incorporate metallic charge to the plastic polymer (Teflon or similar), so in case of incorporation in the food it will be detected by a conventional metallic detector.
  
  2- Alternative technology that could detect plastic materials in the food product
  
  Tests performed with X-ray technology have not worked, this option is not accepted
  
  Success criteria of winning proposals are:
  
  
  - Minimal particle size that should detectable: 1mmx3mmm
  
  - The proposed solution must work in a the production line with a production of 1200 units per minute.
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