Patent ID: 7863409

Claim:
A method for separating resin comprising: placing on a separating member a separation object including a mixture of at least a first resin and a second resin, the resins having distinct glass transition temperatures and distinct compressive yield stresses, the first resin having a lower glass transition temperature than the second resin; applying a first heating and pressure treatment to the separation object, at a first heating temperature lower than a glass transition temperature of the second resin and higher than a glass transition temperature of the first resin, and under a pressurizing force equal to or greater than the compressive yield stress of the first resin, thereby causing at least the first resin to adhere to the separating member; detaching from the separating member any material which is not adhering to or which has low adhesion to the separating member; applying a second heating treatment to the separating member having at least the first resin adhered thereto, at a second heating temperature higher than the first heating temperature and lower than a melting temperature of each resin on the separation object, thereby causing only the first resin and any other resin having a glass transition temperature lower than the first heating temperature to remain adhered to the separating member, thereby separating the first resin from the second resin; and detaching the first resin and any other resin adhering to the separating member from the separating member.