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Ampacet introduces new photoluminescent masterbatches, expands colour capacity
July 2006
improve processing efficiency, DuPont says. “The increased anhydride functionality of Fusabond E EC-603D will help our customers reduce costs while improving their product performance,” says IP marketing manager, Megan O’Brien. Customers will be able to handle a broader array of recycle materials than they might otherwise be able to accept, so the new modifier will also help to reduce the environmental footprint of landfills, she adds. Based on the performance of Fusabond E EC-603D for PE-based recycle streams, DuPont scientists are currently conducting tests that should prove useful for systems containing fibreglass or nylon. It is important to note that the modifier is not globally approved for food or medical packaging use. Contact: DuPont Packaging and Industrial Polymers, Barley Mill Plaza 26-2122, Lancaster Pike & Route 141, Wilmington, DE 19880-0026, USA; tel: +1-302-992-5225; fax: +1-302-9923495; URL: www.dupont.com
Ampacet introduces new photoluminescent masterbatches, expands colour capacity US-based Ampacet Corp has introduced a line of improved strontium aluminate photoluminescent colour masterbatches coupled with the support services needed to apply them effectively. The company says the masterbatches can be used with many polymers, including acrylic, polyethylene, polycarbonate, nylon and other engineering resins. Long-lasting photoluminescent signs, strips and other life-safety markings are required by many fire laws. For example, in the USA, such markings are required for escape routes in many settings, such as public transport and commercial buildings, and are also mandated for the interior of trunk latches in cars. Plastic products made to meet such regulations include injection moulded arrows, extruded profiles for walls, extrusion coatings for tape to form glowing bands on walls and floors, and coated film for exit signs, and are generally produced by compounding with strontium aluminate. However, strontium aluminate poses processing challenges because it is as hard as tungsten and abrades screws and barrels during processing. The metal fines so-produced block pores on the strontium
Additives for Polymers
aluminate particles, reducing the emitted photoluminescence. Ampacet says it has found a new way to configure strontium aluminate pigment in the masterbatch to promote high photoluminescence levels, and has also identified a variety of moulding and extrusion practices to help processors create products that meet set photoluminescent standards. It is therefore offering its photoluminescent masterbatch customers a service package that includes production and testing support to ensure these specifications are met. Independent testing found that acrylic and polyethylene compounds containing the new photoluminescent masterbatches exceed afterglow duration and brilliance levels in various standards, Ampacet reports. For example, the American Public Transportation Association standard for emergency signage for egress from passenger rail (APTA SS-PS-002-98 Rev. 1) specifies an afterglow of 7.5 mcd/m2 at 90 minutes. In testing the 90-minute afterglow luminance, Ampacet’s product was 10.8 mcd/m2 for one acrylic formulation and 8.0 mcd/m2 for a linear low density PE compound. Similar results were gained in testing against DIN 67 510 Parts 1-4 for photoluminescent escape route systems and New York City Local Law 26 of 2004, which applies to commercial high-rise buildings over 75 feet tall. In other news, Ampacet has added a new twinscrew production line at its plant in Heath, OH, USA, increasing the site’s custom colour masterbatch capacity by 20%. The company says the added capacity enables the plant to better service growing demand for rapid turnaround of custom colours, particularly from blow and injection moulding applications in rigid packaging, as well as enhancing masterbatch quality and reinforcing the plant’s overall speed-to-market focus. It has also won a major global contract with Shell to supply guaranteed colour-consistent masterbatch for packaging of the oil group’s lubricant products worldwide. The masterbatches are used in blow moulded bottles, injection moulded pails, and injection and compression moulded caps made for Shell by about 100 converters in 60 countries. Contact: Ampacet Corp, 660 White Plains Rd, Tarrytown, NY 10591-5130, USA; fax: +1-914631-7197; URL: www.ampacet.com
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improve processing efficiency, DuPont says. “The increased anhydride functionality of Fusabond E EC-603D will help our customers reduce costs while improving their product performance,” says IP marketing manager, Megan O’Brien. Customers will be able to handle a broader array of recycle materials than they might otherwise be able to accept, so the new modifier will also help to reduce the environmental footprint of landfills, she adds. Based on the performance of Fusabond E EC-603D for PE-based recycle streams, DuPont scientists are currently conducting tests that should prove useful for systems containing fibreglass or nylon. It is important to note that the modifier is not globally approved for food or medical packaging use. Contact: DuPont Packaging and Industrial Polymers, Barley Mill Plaza 26-2122, Lancaster Pike & Route 141, Wilmington, DE 19880-0026, USA; tel: +1-302-992-5225; fax: +1-302-9923495; URL: www.dupont.com
Ampacet introduces new photoluminescent masterbatches, expands colour capacity US-based Ampacet Corp has introduced a line of improved strontium aluminate photoluminescent colour masterbatches coupled with the support services needed to apply them effectively. The company says the masterbatches can be used with many polymers, including acrylic, polyethylene, polycarbonate, nylon and other engineering resins. Long-lasting photoluminescent signs, strips and other life-safety markings are required by many fire laws. For example, in the USA, such markings are required for escape routes in many settings, such as public transport and commercial buildings, and are also mandated for the interior of trunk latches in cars. Plastic products made to meet such regulations include injection moulded arrows, extruded profiles for walls, extrusion coatings for tape to form glowing bands on walls and floors, and coated film for exit signs, and are generally produced by compounding with strontium aluminate. However, strontium aluminate poses processing challenges because it is as hard as tungsten and abrades screws and barrels during processing. The metal fines so-produced block pores on the strontium
Additives for Polymers
aluminate particles, reducing the emitted photoluminescence. Ampacet says it has found a new way to configure strontium aluminate pigment in the masterbatch to promote high photoluminescence levels, and has also identified a variety of moulding and extrusion practices to help processors create products that meet set photoluminescent standards. It is therefore offering its photoluminescent masterbatch customers a service package that includes production and testing support to ensure these specifications are met. Independent testing found that acrylic and polyethylene compounds containing the new photoluminescent masterbatches exceed afterglow duration and brilliance levels in various standards, Ampacet reports. For example, the American Public Transportation Association standard for emergency signage for egress from passenger rail (APTA SS-PS-002-98 Rev. 1) specifies an afterglow of 7.5 mcd/m2 at 90 minutes. In testing the 90-minute afterglow luminance, Ampacet’s product was 10.8 mcd/m2 for one acrylic formulation and 8.0 mcd/m2 for a linear low density PE compound. Similar results were gained in testing against DIN 67 510 Parts 1-4 for photoluminescent escape route systems and New York City Local Law 26 of 2004, which applies to commercial high-rise buildings over 75 feet tall. In other news, Ampacet has added a new twinscrew production line at its plant in Heath, OH, USA, increasing the site’s custom colour masterbatch capacity by 20%. The company says the added capacity enables the plant to better service growing demand for rapid turnaround of custom colours, particularly from blow and injection moulding applications in rigid packaging, as well as enhancing masterbatch quality and reinforcing the plant’s overall speed-to-market focus. It has also won a major global contract with Shell to supply guaranteed colour-consistent masterbatch for packaging of the oil group’s lubricant products worldwide. The masterbatches are used in blow moulded bottles, injection moulded pails, and injection and compression moulded caps made for Shell by about 100 converters in 60 countries. Contact: Ampacet Corp, 660 White Plains Rd, Tarrytown, NY 10591-5130, USA; fax: +1-914631-7197; URL: www.ampacet.com
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