Optimized for Production

Costs for the raw materials to make additives are rising, and many manufacturers are finally passing that increase on to clients. But at the same time, innovations in additive chemistry are raising the performance standards and making many additives easier to use.

The new products that follow include colorants that almost eliminate plate-out, compacted talcs that offer higher throughput for the compounders and modifiers that improve melt flow as well as impact, flexural and tensile strength.

FLAME RETARDANTS:

BROMINATED FR FOR HIGH-TEMP RESINS

Ferro has developed an advanced brominated polystyrene flame retardant for high-temperature glass-filled engineering resins, such as nylon and nylon/polyester alloys. Pyro-Chek 68 Pbi offers improved thermal stability and color for higher-temperature applications.

It also permits faster compounding of nylon 6/6 in larger, hotter extruders. Thermal stability is maintained at temperatures up to 350C.

Ferro Industrial Products Ltd. 800/521-9094

ZINC BORATE DEVELOPED AS FLAME RETARDANT

The Borax Flame Retardant Group and Albemarle Corp. will collaborate to create new, more versatile flame retardant technologies. The two companies have an aggressive timetable to explore borate flame retardant chemistry and the broader use of borates in polymers.

Currently, Firebrake ZB flame retardants from Borax can replace antimony oxide as a synergist, be combined with other mineral based additives and be used as a synergist with brominated flame retardants.

Saytex and NcendX flame retardants from Albemarle use low concentrations of brominated compounds.

Borax Flame Retardants Group 661/287-5484

PIGMENTS AND COLORANTS:

PIGMENTS OFFER PERFORMANCE, COMPLIANCE

To fill the color spaces formerly occupied by cadmiums, chromes, and molys and diarylides, Engelhard has developed the following pigments.

Engeltone Yellow 1222 8G is a bright intense green shade yellow with extremely high tint strength. The company states 1222 is one of the strongest pigments on the market in this shade range.

Engeltone 1205 Highlight yellow is a variation of a well-known chemistry that results in a brighter, greener product which brings high lightfastness in a green shade yellow.

Engeltone Brilliant Orange 2920 is a red shade brilliant orange, and can be used as an alternative to diarylide oranges and PO 64. The pigment is FDA compliant under 21 CFR 170.39.

Engelhard Corp. (Stochem Inc., 905/458-6888)

STRONGER VIOLETS USED FOR COLOR CORRECTION

Ultramarine violet pigments have become popular for color correction and tinting of plastics. Two new grades from Holliday Pigments, Premier VX and Premier VB, provide up to 25 percent more tinting strength than conventional ultramarine violets, and tighter color tolerances.

The pigments have exceptional lightfastness, good heat stability and excellent dimensional stability.

Holliday Pigments (L.V. Lomas Ltd., 905/458-7111)

TiO2 SHINES IN EXTERIOR APPLICATIONS

Kerr-McGee Chemical’s TRONOX CR-826 titanium dioxide is a silica/alumina rutile treated pigment that yields maximum color stability in exterior applications. CR-826 is recommended to achieve clean, blue undertone white with good dispersibility, opacifying and weathering properties. CR-826 is recommended for all exterior non-chalking applications where color retention is required.

Kerr-McGee Chemical (Stochem Inc., 905/458-6888)

FLUORESCENT COLORANT ELIMINATES PLATE-OUT

Continuous high-speed production of blow molded and injection molded fluorescent parts with minimum downtime is now possible with GloPrill hyperdispersed colorants from DayGlo Color.

DayGlo has developed new technology to minimize plate-out.

GloPrill colorants produce bright, clean fluorescents for high-speed thin-wall blow molding, regular blow molding and injection molding.

DayGlo Color Corp. (A.R. Monteith Ltd., 905/270-0311)

FILLERS:

SURFACE-MODIFIED MINERAL BETTER THAN SHORT FIBRES

Nyglos 12 is a high aspect ratio wollastonite reinforcement developed by NYCO Minerals. The 12 micron diameter delivers similar or better surface appearance than man-made fibres such as glass with similar diameters.

Initial market focus is in applications such as the replacement of 3 to 7 micron talc in polypropylene for automotive applications as well as in mineral/glass engineering alloy composites.

In mineral reinforced nylon composites improved impact and creep resistance is obtainable with amino functional surface chemistry. Surface modified NYGLOS 12 will give superior surface and cost/performance versus short fibres, especially milled glass.

NYCO Minerals (Stochem Inc., 905/458-6888)

FILLER ADHESION IMPROVED

Zemex Industrial Minerals’ SC system is designed to improve the adhesion between polypropylene and reinforcing fillers, specifically for mica/glass hybrid systems. Recent R & D testing applied this same technology to mica/wood fibre composites improving the strength values as well as the production rates of “plastic lumber” materials.

New treatments for talc products include the CS and ZS system for improved impact properties in polypropylene and polyethylene polymers.

Zemex Industrial Minerals

(Debro Chemicals, 905/670-7800)

ULTRAFINE TALCS HAVE HIGH BULK DENSITY

Two ultrafine talcs from Luzenac America give superior impact strength and color in polyolefins. Cimpact 710C and 710HS are compacted by a unique technology to yield high bulk density and friability. This results in higher extruder throughput and better dispersion in compounds.

Cimpact 710HS is surface-modified to provide extended heat stability, higher flexural modulus and improved whiteness value.

Luzenac America (L.V. Lomas Ltd., 905/458-7111)

COATED FILLER HAS BENEFITS FOR PVC

Rebase offers a specially coated calcium hydroxide filler for PVC that neutralizes the production of hazardous hydrochloric acid by PVC in fire conditions.

White Knight 100 is a unique calcium hydroxide resin filler/extender that is 100 percent recycled, light weight, germicidal and has blendable flame retardant capabilities. It is suitable for LDPE, HDPE, PS, PP, nylon, urethane and flexible PVC.

Used in PVC, the special coating prevents degradation and assists filler bonding with more efficient processing.

Rebase Corp. 705/734-0400

PROCESS AIDS

HEAVYWEIGHT SILOXANES PERFORM BETTER

A new series of solid siloxane additives from Dow Corning uses ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) siloxane. The UHMW siloxanes can be compounded into masterbatch pellets at higher siloxane levels than previously possible with silicone fluids.

They impart improved processing to extrusion and injection molding applications, better mold release, and a lower coefficient of friction compared with conventional lower molecular weight silicones, according to Dow Corning.

The benefits of UHMW siloxanes can be delivered at reduced siloxane levels with increased concentration at the surface interface.

Dow Corning Canada Inc. 800/268-5359

INTERNAL MOLD RELEASE TAILORED FOR TPES

MoldWiz INT-52EPR is a proprietary rubber additive that improves flow characteristics and reduces tack, making it easier to process TPOs, elastomeric co-polymers and EPDM. INT-52EPR contributes to easier, cleaner release of cured parts, reducing or eliminating the application of external release agents.

Axel Plastics Research Laboratories Inc. 800/332-Axel

OTHER ADDITIVES:

BETTER COST/PERFORMANCE RATIO FOR STABILIZER

Using the breakthrough technology of Ciba’s Irganox HP-136, the new Irganox XP processing stabilizer provides outstanding stability and excellent color control at lower concentrations.

Within Irganox XP, HP-136’s capacity to scavenge carbon-centred radicals works synergistically with a phosphite/phosphonite. They provide efficient maintenance of physical and aesthetic polymer properties at lower process stabilizer concentrations.

Productivity gains are derived from a reduction of up to 50 percent in processing stabilizer
volume.

Ciba Specialty Chemicals Canada Inc.

905/812-7280

FOAMING AGENTS REDUCE SINK MARKS, DENSITY

Bergen International’s Foamazol 61 is intended for applications where maximum density reduction is required at relatively low processing temperatures. It is suitable for low pressure structural foam, injection molding and extrusion.

To reduce sink marks and warp in injection molded applications, Bergen has developed Foamazol 62. Foamazol 84 is recommended for PVC and other low temperature processing thermoplastics requiring high weight reductions.

Bergen International (Henley Chemicals, 800/387-5247)

CANADIAN FOAMING AGENTS PRODUCE FINE CELLS

Mortile Industries has introduced a new line of high-performance chemical foaming agents, Morfoam FC-60 series, to North America. Morfoam produces uniform fine cell structures in extrusion and molded parts as well as eliminating sink marks and part stresses. The new line of foaming agents is manufactured in Scarborough, Ont.

Mortile Industries Ltd. 416/299-9280

FDA APPROVES HALS

FDA approval has been granted to Clariant’s oligomeric hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS), Hostavin N30, in concentrations of 0.3 to 0.5 percent in the finished product. Owen Iverson, Clariant’s title?, says the FDA approval will open up applications in toys, household utensils, camping equipment, and even casual outdoor furniture that comes into contact with skin. There are a limited number of FDA-approved HALS.

Clariant Canada Inc. 514/832-2572

MODIFIERS GIVE TOUGHNESS, WEATHERABILITY

CK Witco has developed two new Uniroyal Chemical polymer modifiers to improve impact, tensile and flexural strength in end-use applications.

Polybond 3109 is a coupling agent composed of LLDPE base resin and 1% maleic anhydride functional monomer. Polybond 3109’s faster melt flow results in easier mixing and enhanced performance. Applications include wire and cable and wood-filled compounds.

Royaltuf 498 offers superior low-temperature impact resistance in nylon 6. The new modifier’s free-flow pellets allow for easier mixing by the nylon producer. Composed of modified EPDM and 1% maleic anhydride, Royaltuf 498 has a Mooney viscosity of 30.

Witco Canada Inc. 416/284-1661

MATTING AGENT ALSO ACTS AS ANTI-BLOCK

Elf Atochem’s Acryperl 100 additive acts as a matting agent for rigid and flexible PVC products, and other plastic materials. The fine particles stay close to the surface to produce a regular roughness that scatters light and provides a homogenous matte appearance. Acryperl also has an anti-blocking effect for films, and aids printability.

Acryperl 100 can be used in ABS, and PMMA.

Elf Atochem Canada Inc. 800/567-5726