Microplastic Reference Material – Mixed polymer composition (Fragments, 10–100 µm and 100-500 µm)
Cryogenically milled and sieved fragments from a defined mixture of polymers. These materials are suitable for microplastic method development, training, validation, recovery studies, and other quality control applications.
Production
Each fragment batch is produced from virgin macro- and mesoplastics using cryomilling, followed by sequential dry sieving. This process generates irregular, environmentally realistic particles with diverse shapes and aspect ratios. Concentrations are quantified in-house using critical angle darkfield (CADFLI) microscopy and image analysis techniques to ensure consistency and traceability.
Sample content
- Buoyancy set: (clear): PP (0.91 g/cm³) + PET (1.33 g/cm³)
- Buoyancy set (colors): PP (0.91 g/cm³) [Red] + PET (1.33 g/cm³) [Blue]
5 polymers (clear): PE, PP, PVC, PET, PS
10 polymers (clear): + TPU, PA6, PMMA, PC, PTFE
15 polymers (clear): + ABS, PA66, CA, PLA, SBR
20 polymers (clear): + PVDF, PSU, PA12, POM, PBAT
Particle Size & Format
Size ranges: 10–100 µm and 100-500 µm.
Available as:
• EasyMP™ in ethanol (95 vol%) or water. w. ethanol (20 vol.%) + Tween 20 (0.05 vol.%) (30 mL or 100 mL options)
• Dry, neat (powder) format (0.5–1.0 g)
Particle concentration
You may choose a particle concentration within the following standard ranges:
10–100 µm: 2,000 to 20,000 particles (n)/mL
100–500 µm: 100 to 500 particles (n)/mL
Certificate of Analysis
All materials are accompanied by a batch-specific COA, including polymer composition, particle size distribution, and dosage information.
Download Certificate of Analysis (COA) example:
- Fragments 100-500 µm (mixed polymer composition): Buoyancy set, PP (red), PET (blue)
- Fragments 10-100 µm (mixed polymer composition): 20 common polymers
- Fragments 100-500 µm (mixed polymer composition): 20 common polymers
Source material
Our fragments are produced by cryomilling early-stage plastic products, such as pellets, granules, filaments, rods, or tubes. As these materials are also used in the manufacture of everyday plastic items, the resulting microplastic fragments are not guaranteed to be additive-free and may contain plastic-associated chemicals (PACs). However, by deliberately selecting early-stage source materials, we aim to enhance the environmental realism of the reference material; truly additive-free plastics are unlikely to occur in the natural environment. Further details on the specific source materials used are available upon request.
How to best use Mixed Polymer Composition (MPC) samples
In essence, mixed polymer composition (MPC) samples are produced following the same principle as standard single-polymer EasyMP™ samples. For MPC samples, previously quantified dry, neat single-polymer powders are weighed individually and then combined to form a homogeneous mixed powder. Based on the characterization data of the individual components, the corresponding data for the MPC sample are extrapolated to generate a comprehensive dataset.
MPC samples provide research laboratories with a practical tool to assess method limitations, build spectral libraries, train personnel, and evaluate analytical workflows under more complex and realistic conditions.
Because MPC samples involve additional preparation steps that may introduce further uncertainty, they inherently carry a higher overall uncertainty than single-polymer samples. Consequently, we do not recommend using MPC samples for recovery experiments unless users perform their own spectroscopic analysis of the filter contents to precisely establish the sample composition.
Contact
If you have questions regarding how MPC samples may suit your specific application, please feel free to reach out or do you need a price quote to place your order? Click here to contact us, or write to us directly at contact@microplasticsolution.com.
EasyMP™: Fragments of mixed polymer composition
- Polyethylene (PE): ρ = 0.935 - 1.00 g/cm³
- Poypropylene (PP): ρ = 0.90-0 .92 g/cm³
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC): ρ = 1.30 - 1.38 g/cm³
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET): ρ = 1.33 - 1.38 g/cm³
- Polyurethane (TPU): ρ = 1.10 - 1.20 g/cm³ [thermoplastic/polyether-based]
- Polystyrene (PS): ρ = 1.03 - 1.05 g/cm³
- Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS): ρ = 1.06 - 1.08 g/cm³
- Polyamide 6 (PA6): ρ = 1.10 - 1.14 g/cm³
- Polyamide 6.6 (PA6.6): ρ = 1.14 g/cm³
- Polyamide 12 (PA12): ρ = 1.01 g/cm³
- Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA): ρ = 1.18 - 1.20 g/cm³
- Polycarbonate (PC): ρ = 1.20 - 1.22 g/cm³
- Polysulfone (PSU): ρ = 1.24 g/cm³
- Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE): ρ = 2.17 - 2.20 g/cm³
- Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF): ρ = 1.78 g/cm³
- Polyoxymethylene (POM): ρ = 1.40 - 1.42 g/cm³
- Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR): ρ = 0.94 /cm³
- Cellulose acetate (CA): ρ = 1.30 g/cm³
- Polylactic acid (PLA): ρ = 1.20 - 1.30 g/cm³
- Polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT): ρ = 1.26 g/cm³
Reviews
Strongest recommendation. Great product with excellent QA/QC standards, quick delivery and friendly and responsive team. Microplastic Solution is the only place I could find in the world that provides realistic microplastic fragments vs. standard spherical beads. Access to fragments was essential for developing our assays and products and confirming they work not only with laboratory spheres but also with irregular fragments, which is what actually occurs in real-world samples.
We have recently bought this reference material of mixed polymers and it its extremely useful. Thank you Oskar for supporting our needs and for always being so helpful.