Characterisation techniques are essential in the plastics sector, as they ensure quality, reliability, and safety, promote sustainability, and minimise manufacturing risks. In this context, AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, is organising the second edition of its International Seminar on Plastics Characterisation, CHARPLAST, to be held in person on October 29 and 30, 2025, at the Lluis Vives Business School in Paterna (Valencia).
With the support of sponsors such as POLYMER ANALYTICAL, ECHO INSTRUMENTS, NETZSCH, PERKIN ELMER, ZWICK/ROELL, CONTROL TÉCNICA, FRONTIER LAB, and WATERS T-A, the event will bring together professionals from across the plastics value chain: industry, public administration, reference laboratories, and research centres, to share key insights for product development, regulatory compliance, and business performance.
The seminar will cover the main trends and innovations in advanced characterisation techniques, ranging from the evaluation of recycled content and recyclability to certification of reuse, biodegradability, and compostability, microplastics analysis, and quality control of food packaging and automotive components.
This edition’s technical programme is structured into five thematic blocks that reflect the sector’s current challenges. First, the seminar will feature advanced characterisation techniques that enable in-depth analysis of the physical, thermal, mechanical, and chemical properties of materials, essential to guarantee the safety and performance of plastic products in a wide variety of applications.
Next, the role of characterisation in the context of sustainability will be addressed, highlighting how these tools support the evaluation of recyclability, biodegradability, and the environmental behaviour of materials, key aspects in the development of more sustainable solutions aligned with circular economy objectives.
Another core topic of the seminar will be the monitoring and mitigation of emerging contaminants, an increasingly relevant issue due to the environmental impact of plastics. These sessions will showcase advanced analytical techniques for detecting and controlling potentially harmful substances released during the use or degradation of materials.
As a key new feature of this edition, the potential of artificial intelligence in the field of characterisation will also be explored, showing how the use of algorithms and machine learning is revolutionising the processing and analysis of large volumes of data from spectroscopy, microscopy, and thermal testing. This enables more accurate and predictive decision-making.
Finally, the seminar will include a block dedicated to successful case studies in industrial quality control, featuring practical insights into how characterisation techniques have been successfully implemented to ensure product compliance with technical standards and functional requirements.
With participation from international experts, CHARPLAST 2025 is positioned as a key forum for sharing knowledge, best practices, and technological strategies that help companies innovate, meet evolving regulatory demands, and strengthen their competitiveness.