High Performance Recycling of Polymers by Means of Their Fluorescence Lifetimes*

Abstract

Technical polymers could be identified by means of their remarkably strong auto fluorescence. The time constants of this fluorescence proved to be characteristic for the individual polymers and can be economically determined by integrating procedures. The thus obtained unequivocal identification is presented for their sorting for recycling. Furthermore, polymeric materials were doped with fluorescent dyes allowing a fine-classification of special batches.