Polytensilate
Engineered Closed Loop Material
Tough. Extreme long life. Sustainable and fully recyclable. Polytensilate is a patented closed loop material that is engineered from redundant plastics.
The science and drive behind developing Polytensilate came from IR’s ambition to engineer products for industrial applications where structural integrity is paramount. This innovative high performing material is now being used in the construction, infrastructure and landscaping industries through IR’s product range.
Recycled plastic is at the frontier of material science and its development is rapidly progressing due to evolving technology and knowhow.
Five Years of Development
After 5 years of development and testing both in the laboratory and in the field, the Duratrack railway became the first and only Australian recycled plastic railway sleeper approved for mainline use.
Polytensilate’s high performance and versatility is attracting opportunities into areas where traditional materials have been used over the years repeatedly and unquestioningly. The attributes of Polytensilate allow our customers to achieve sustainability targets and significant whole-of-life cost savings.
Quality Control
The stringent formulation and process to produce Polytensilate ensures a high calibre outcome. Knowing the chemistry, quality and behaviours of the inputs enables a confidence in the output. Furthermore, Polytensilate is continually monitored in production to warrant a consistent and reliable material that demonstrates resilience and strength.
Unlike timber sleepers, the Duratrack sleeper is constantly measured for consistency of strength and density. This quality control ensures performance reliability that far exceeds timber.
Upcycling Waste Plastic
Polytensilate is constructed from 85% redundant plastics, with the balance made up from recycled organic materials (approximately 10%) and nontoxic additives. IR’s waste plastic collection program is over 15 years old and draws from agricultural and industrial soft and rigid plastics, and polystyrene.
Collected plastics typically include:
→ Agricultural films: Vine covers, cotton wrap, grain bags, silage films.
→ Polystyrene sourced from: Mildura landfill, local industry, retailers, building & construction, growers.
→ Rigid & other plastics: Agricultural pipes, drums, tanks.
Thriving in the Circular Economy
The circular economic system tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, pollution and the decline in our finite resources by minimising waste and by maximising the efficient use of resources. IR utilises waste plastics as a resource which has both market and environmental advantages.
$2Trillion Circular Economy Boost
By Noel Towell, The Age March 23, 2021
The Australian economy could enjoy a boost worth nearly $2 trillion in the next 20 years if the nation abandons its “take, make, use, waste” approach to resources >> Read More
National Waste Policy Action Plan
Minister tours Mildura factory
Whether Australia stands knee deep in waste plastic in 2030 will be determined by the success of the National Waste Policy Action Plan >> Read More