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New fibre sizings from Michelman benefit lightweight automotive composites
MATERIALS
MATERIALS
OEM (original equipment manufacturer) solutions, custom engineering and antimicrobial consulting services.
Seal Shield introduces new antimicrobial technology for healthcare & consumer products
Contact: Seal Shield LLC, 3105 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32205, USA. Tel: +1 877 325 7443, Web: www.SealShield.com
U
S healthcare technology firm Seal Shield LLC has introduced Seal Shield™ antimicrobial protection for healthcare and consumer products. According to the company, the Seal Shield solution represents ‘a ground-breaking development’ in antimicrobial product protection technology. Products treated with the additive have been shown to resist the growth of viruses, fungi and bacteria, it reports. Registered by the US Environmental Protection Agency, Seal Shield is an environmentally friendly antimicrobial, fungistatic additive that reduces the growth of mould, mildew and odour-causing bacteria on a product’s surfaces, the company says. It keeps treated products ‘cleaner, greener and fresher longer’, Seal Shield claims. Developed for the healthcare market, the new antimicrobial technology is described by its manufacturer as ‘the perfect solution for hospitals and the home’. It is said to be ‘the most effective and economical way’ to provide permanent antimicrobial product protection to sensitive healthcare devices or heavyuse consumer home products. The additive is available in liquid, powder and masterbatch form for use in silicone and a variety of other polymers. ‘With recent increases in infection prevention efforts, our healthcare customers are demanding germ protection for all common touch surfaces, ranging from phones to light switches and everything in between’, states Seal Shield CEO Brad Whitchurch. ‘Seal Shield antimicrobial technology gives them a safe, effective, economical solution for permanent protection of almost any product or surface’, he adds. Seal Shield designs, develops and manufactures medicalgrade, infection control technology for hospitals and the home. In 2007, the company invented the world’s first antimicrobial, waterproof keyboard and mouse. Since then, the infection control company has established a unique in-house antimicrobial test laboratory and become a leading innovator of infection prevention and antimicrobial technology. Products include air purifiers, waterproof/ antimicrobial computer keyboards and mice, TV remotes, smart phone and tablet protection products, as well as
2
Additives for Polymers
New fibre sizings from Michelman benefit lightweight automotive composites
M
ichelman Inc has introduced a number of new fibre sizings to support advanced generations of engineered resin composites increasingly being used in automotive design and manufacturing applications. According to the company, its new sizing solutions are able to meet the mounting requirements for higher thermal resistance, hydrolysis resistance and mechanical performance as lightweight composites replace more and more metal components in vehicles. Among the new products, Hydrosize® U2-04 is a waterbased polyurethane dispersion that is compatible with polyamide resins, while Hydrosize PA846 is a water-based polyamide dispersion that is highly stable and offers excellent thermal resistance, Michelman reports. FGLASS X91 ethylene maleic anhydride (EMA) copolymer dispersion is a new film former that is compliant with the European Commission Regulation 10/2011, repealing directive 2002/72/EC, and Hydrosize U9-01 is a water-based, blocked isocyanate that enhances the reactivity of the interface between the fibre and the resin, the company explains. Michelman says that it offers a full line of fibre sizings and lubricants that optimize glass (both chopped strand and continuous strand), carbon and natural fibres used in polyethylene, polypropylene, thermosets, polyphenylene sulphide, polyamide, polycarbonate and polyethylene/polybutylene terephthalate resin composites by tailoring the surface chemistry of the reinforcement fibres to the chemistry of the matrix resin. In other news, Michelman recently inaugurated its new Advanced Materials Collaboration Center (AMCC), located at its global headquarters in Cincinnati, OH, USA. The facility contains six new laboratories with state-ofthe-art equipment that will be used to develop innovative water-based coatings, surface additives and polymers. New simulation equipment in the pilot laboratory allows the
March 2015
MATERIALS
company to observe more accurately how product solutions perform under actual end-use conditions, and use that information to improve formulations. This capability helps customers reduce product concept to commercialization time, it says. The AMCC also contains office space for staff and associates, and meeting rooms designed to allow application teams to collaborate on projects. The company has also recently adjusted its organizational structure to enable it ‘to better anticipate and serve its customers’ needs’. Comprising three strategic business groups – Coatings, Manufacturing and Printing & Packaging – each led by a newly appointed group director, the new structure is designed to help Michelman by driving collaboration between its industry-focused business teams, it explains. Michelman is a global developer and manufacturer of environmentally friendly advanced materials for industry. Its water-based surface modifiers, additives and polymers serve a wide range of applications including wood care, floor care, industrial coatings, paints, varnishes, inks, fibres, composites and construction products. The company also develops barrier and functional coatings, and digital printing press primers for consumer and industrial packaging, labels and commercially printed materials. Michelman operates production facilities in North America, Europe and Asia; product development and technical service centres in several major global markets; and a worldwide team of business development personnel. Contact: Michelman, Inc, 9080 Shell Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236-1299, USA. Tel: +1 513 793 7766, Fax: +1 513 793 2504, Web: www.michelman.com
Grace and Milliken combine their catalyst and additive technologies to boost PP
C
atalyst specialist Grace Catalysts Technologies, part of US firm W.R. Grace & Co, and speciality chemicals firm Milliken & Co report that synergistic use of their advanced technologies for polypropylene (PP) are enabling PP manufacturers to develop ‘new and differentiated resin portfolios’ featuring enhanced clarity, cleanliness, processability and mechanical performance. Grace’s Consista® C601 PP catalyst, described as ‘the first sixth-generation non-phthalate-based catalyst’, is a
March 2015
drop-in solution for the widely used Unipol® PP process and enhances performance and processing of homopolymers, random copolymers and impact copolymers. With random PP copolymers made with Consista catalysts combined with Milliken’s next-generation Millad® NX™ 8000 clarifier [see ADPO, September 2007 & June 2014], customers can achieve additional benefits including glass-like transparency and faster cycle times, the companies claim. This collaboration is the latest example of a ‘longstanding, successful partnership’ between Grace and Milliken. According to Grace, its Consista C601 catalyst imparts ‘a market-leading balance of impact and stiffness’ to enable lightweight, thin-wall designs. The technology enables the production of random copolymers with improved taste and odour performance for food contact applications. The Consista catalyst enables faster cycle times by increasing melt flow rates (MFRs), while its broader molecular weight distribution improves the mechanical and processing attributes for a variety of applications. When the new-generation Millad NX 8000 clarifier and Consista catalyst are combined in random copolymers with a high MFR, they enable up to a 36% reduction in haze over previous generations to provide a high transparency, bright appearance and high gloss in moulded parts, the companies report. Simultaneously, the Milliken additive also allows PP to be processed at significantly lower temperatures of 190–200°C, a reduction of up to 40°C compared to less-advanced clarifiers, they claim. These cooler temperatures shorten cooling times and are also said to increase productivity by facilitating mould release. Several Unipol PP process licensees are reported to be already leveraging the Grace and Milliken technologies to produce resins ‘that meet the stringent requirements of their customers’. Another combined benefit of the Grace and Milliken technologies is enhanced sustainability, the companies claim. Combining the Consista catalyst with Milliken’s innovative additives yields results that are ‘much more than the sum of these two technologies’, asserts Ella Chen, Unipol PP licensing global market director at Grace. ‘Together, our solutions address a broad spectrum of resin manufacturers’ requirements, from higher melt flow to lower-temperature processing for cycle time reduction. Major manufacturers are already taking full advantage of the synergies between our two offerings to produce new PP grades that target consumer demand for clarity, safety and sustainability’, she says. Commenting for Milliken, global marketing director Wim Van de Velde says that, by adding Millad NX 8000 to resins catalysed with Consista catalyst, manufacturers can gain ‘even greater aesthetic, processing and performance advantages’.
Additives for Polymers
3
MATERIALS
OEM (original equipment manufacturer) solutions, custom engineering and antimicrobial consulting services.
Seal Shield introduces new antimicrobial technology for healthcare & consumer products
Contact: Seal Shield LLC, 3105 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32205, USA. Tel: +1 877 325 7443, Web: www.SealShield.com
U
S healthcare technology firm Seal Shield LLC has introduced Seal Shield™ antimicrobial protection for healthcare and consumer products. According to the company, the Seal Shield solution represents ‘a ground-breaking development’ in antimicrobial product protection technology. Products treated with the additive have been shown to resist the growth of viruses, fungi and bacteria, it reports. Registered by the US Environmental Protection Agency, Seal Shield is an environmentally friendly antimicrobial, fungistatic additive that reduces the growth of mould, mildew and odour-causing bacteria on a product’s surfaces, the company says. It keeps treated products ‘cleaner, greener and fresher longer’, Seal Shield claims. Developed for the healthcare market, the new antimicrobial technology is described by its manufacturer as ‘the perfect solution for hospitals and the home’. It is said to be ‘the most effective and economical way’ to provide permanent antimicrobial product protection to sensitive healthcare devices or heavyuse consumer home products. The additive is available in liquid, powder and masterbatch form for use in silicone and a variety of other polymers. ‘With recent increases in infection prevention efforts, our healthcare customers are demanding germ protection for all common touch surfaces, ranging from phones to light switches and everything in between’, states Seal Shield CEO Brad Whitchurch. ‘Seal Shield antimicrobial technology gives them a safe, effective, economical solution for permanent protection of almost any product or surface’, he adds. Seal Shield designs, develops and manufactures medicalgrade, infection control technology for hospitals and the home. In 2007, the company invented the world’s first antimicrobial, waterproof keyboard and mouse. Since then, the infection control company has established a unique in-house antimicrobial test laboratory and become a leading innovator of infection prevention and antimicrobial technology. Products include air purifiers, waterproof/ antimicrobial computer keyboards and mice, TV remotes, smart phone and tablet protection products, as well as
2
Additives for Polymers
New fibre sizings from Michelman benefit lightweight automotive composites
M
ichelman Inc has introduced a number of new fibre sizings to support advanced generations of engineered resin composites increasingly being used in automotive design and manufacturing applications. According to the company, its new sizing solutions are able to meet the mounting requirements for higher thermal resistance, hydrolysis resistance and mechanical performance as lightweight composites replace more and more metal components in vehicles. Among the new products, Hydrosize® U2-04 is a waterbased polyurethane dispersion that is compatible with polyamide resins, while Hydrosize PA846 is a water-based polyamide dispersion that is highly stable and offers excellent thermal resistance, Michelman reports. FGLASS X91 ethylene maleic anhydride (EMA) copolymer dispersion is a new film former that is compliant with the European Commission Regulation 10/2011, repealing directive 2002/72/EC, and Hydrosize U9-01 is a water-based, blocked isocyanate that enhances the reactivity of the interface between the fibre and the resin, the company explains. Michelman says that it offers a full line of fibre sizings and lubricants that optimize glass (both chopped strand and continuous strand), carbon and natural fibres used in polyethylene, polypropylene, thermosets, polyphenylene sulphide, polyamide, polycarbonate and polyethylene/polybutylene terephthalate resin composites by tailoring the surface chemistry of the reinforcement fibres to the chemistry of the matrix resin. In other news, Michelman recently inaugurated its new Advanced Materials Collaboration Center (AMCC), located at its global headquarters in Cincinnati, OH, USA. The facility contains six new laboratories with state-ofthe-art equipment that will be used to develop innovative water-based coatings, surface additives and polymers. New simulation equipment in the pilot laboratory allows the
March 2015
MATERIALS
company to observe more accurately how product solutions perform under actual end-use conditions, and use that information to improve formulations. This capability helps customers reduce product concept to commercialization time, it says. The AMCC also contains office space for staff and associates, and meeting rooms designed to allow application teams to collaborate on projects. The company has also recently adjusted its organizational structure to enable it ‘to better anticipate and serve its customers’ needs’. Comprising three strategic business groups – Coatings, Manufacturing and Printing & Packaging – each led by a newly appointed group director, the new structure is designed to help Michelman by driving collaboration between its industry-focused business teams, it explains. Michelman is a global developer and manufacturer of environmentally friendly advanced materials for industry. Its water-based surface modifiers, additives and polymers serve a wide range of applications including wood care, floor care, industrial coatings, paints, varnishes, inks, fibres, composites and construction products. The company also develops barrier and functional coatings, and digital printing press primers for consumer and industrial packaging, labels and commercially printed materials. Michelman operates production facilities in North America, Europe and Asia; product development and technical service centres in several major global markets; and a worldwide team of business development personnel. Contact: Michelman, Inc, 9080 Shell Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236-1299, USA. Tel: +1 513 793 7766, Fax: +1 513 793 2504, Web: www.michelman.com
Grace and Milliken combine their catalyst and additive technologies to boost PP
C
atalyst specialist Grace Catalysts Technologies, part of US firm W.R. Grace & Co, and speciality chemicals firm Milliken & Co report that synergistic use of their advanced technologies for polypropylene (PP) are enabling PP manufacturers to develop ‘new and differentiated resin portfolios’ featuring enhanced clarity, cleanliness, processability and mechanical performance. Grace’s Consista® C601 PP catalyst, described as ‘the first sixth-generation non-phthalate-based catalyst’, is a
March 2015
drop-in solution for the widely used Unipol® PP process and enhances performance and processing of homopolymers, random copolymers and impact copolymers. With random PP copolymers made with Consista catalysts combined with Milliken’s next-generation Millad® NX™ 8000 clarifier [see ADPO, September 2007 & June 2014], customers can achieve additional benefits including glass-like transparency and faster cycle times, the companies claim. This collaboration is the latest example of a ‘longstanding, successful partnership’ between Grace and Milliken. According to Grace, its Consista C601 catalyst imparts ‘a market-leading balance of impact and stiffness’ to enable lightweight, thin-wall designs. The technology enables the production of random copolymers with improved taste and odour performance for food contact applications. The Consista catalyst enables faster cycle times by increasing melt flow rates (MFRs), while its broader molecular weight distribution improves the mechanical and processing attributes for a variety of applications. When the new-generation Millad NX 8000 clarifier and Consista catalyst are combined in random copolymers with a high MFR, they enable up to a 36% reduction in haze over previous generations to provide a high transparency, bright appearance and high gloss in moulded parts, the companies report. Simultaneously, the Milliken additive also allows PP to be processed at significantly lower temperatures of 190–200°C, a reduction of up to 40°C compared to less-advanced clarifiers, they claim. These cooler temperatures shorten cooling times and are also said to increase productivity by facilitating mould release. Several Unipol PP process licensees are reported to be already leveraging the Grace and Milliken technologies to produce resins ‘that meet the stringent requirements of their customers’. Another combined benefit of the Grace and Milliken technologies is enhanced sustainability, the companies claim. Combining the Consista catalyst with Milliken’s innovative additives yields results that are ‘much more than the sum of these two technologies’, asserts Ella Chen, Unipol PP licensing global market director at Grace. ‘Together, our solutions address a broad spectrum of resin manufacturers’ requirements, from higher melt flow to lower-temperature processing for cycle time reduction. Major manufacturers are already taking full advantage of the synergies between our two offerings to produce new PP grades that target consumer demand for clarity, safety and sustainability’, she says. Commenting for Milliken, global marketing director Wim Van de Velde says that, by adding Millad NX 8000 to resins catalysed with Consista catalyst, manufacturers can gain ‘even greater aesthetic, processing and performance advantages’.
Additives for Polymers
3