- Email: [email protected]
3B introduces three glass fibre reinforcements for polyamide and polypropylene
MATERIALS
...Continued from front page says. As the antimicrobial is integrated into the polymer, it removes the need for device manufacturers to undertake a secondary antimicrobial coating operation on their medical device, with the associated cost and validation processes that are required, the company adds. ‘Offering antimicrobial masterbatches within the Mevopur brand means our customers can benefit from the controlled, consistent and compliant conditions under which our masterbatches are produced’, comments Steve Duckworth, head of Clariant’s global medical and pharmaceutical segment. To add to the customers’ peace of mind, Sanitized offers testing of the effectiveness of the antimicrobial agent in the finished article, and the opportunity of a brand licence that enables device companies to use the internationally recognized Sanitized logo with their product, Duckworth reports. Contact: Clariant International Ltd, Muttenz, Switzerland. Tel: +41 61 469 6969, Web: www.clariant.com Or contact: Sanitized AG, Burgdorf, Switzerland. Tel: +41 34 427 1616, Web: www.sanitized.com
MATERIALS ...and nucleants for pharmaceutical packaging
T
he Mevopur range has been further expanded with a new family of polyolefin additives targeted at pharmaceutical packaging converters. These new additives include nucleating agents and processing aids. According to Clariant, these products will assist converters to boost their productivity and cost-efficiency, with the assurance of regulatory-compliant ingredients. The polyolefin additives therefore address converters’ needs to control escalating manufacturing costs in the face of both increasing regulatory controls and demands for increasingly innovative products, the company claims. In tests using injection and injection/compression moulded caps, Mevopur nucleants enabled converters to achieve an increase in production rates of up to 12% compared to non-nucleated PP-H and improvements compared to conventional (benzoate-based) nucleants,
2
Additives for Polymers
Clariant reports. Based on the latest technology, the nucleants reduce cycle times by improving the rate of crystallization and the crystallization temperature versus conventional technology in homopolymer and random copolymer PP and in high and low density PE, it says. The improved crystallization also results in a more consistent and finer morphology in polyolefins incorporating the Mevopur nucleants, thus improving their rigidity without degrading impact strength, the company claims. This allows converters to create thinner-walled part sections and thus also generate raw material savings, Clariant says. In PP homopolymer the stiffness as indicated by the flexural modulus is increased by 10% and the thermal performance is boosted by 20%, as measured by heat distortion temperature, it reports. Customers can use combinations of different Mevopur nucleants to optimize their product according to specific requirements, the company says. The nucleants have also been shown to reduce moulding defects caused by anisotropic shrinkage, such as warping and sink marks, it claims. Unlike conventional nucleants, the Mevopur products are biologically evaluated according to USP parts 87, 88 (Class VI) and ISO10993 parts 4, 5, 10, 11 and 18. As part of these test protocols, extraction is carried out using a range of fluids, followed by further evaluation. Documentary data is therefore available to support risk assessments of packaging materials, Clariant says. All Mevopur products are produced under a global ISO13485 quality system covering the company’s dedicated medical sites in Malmö (Sweden), Lewiston (USA) and Singapore. Contact: Clariant International Ltd (as above)
3B introduces three glass fibre reinforcements for polyamide and polypropylene
3
B is enhancing its broad range of glass reinforcements for thermoplastics with the introduction of new chopped strand and roving products for polyamide (PA) resins, and a high-performance short-fibre grade for polypropylene. The products were unveiled at the Composites Europe 2011 trade show in Stuttgart, Germany, in September.
November 2011
MATERIALS
New chopped strand grade DS 1120-13P is aimed at general-purpose industrial PA applications. With a diameter of 13 μm, the product is manufactured from Advantex® glass fibre, which is both an E-glass in terms of its electrical and mechanical properties and an E-CR glass in accordance with ASTM D578 as far as corrosion resistance and durability are concerned, 3B says. DS 1120-13P is designed to suit a broad range of PA resins, including PA6, PA66, PA610 and PA12 as well their related co-polymers. It also displays excellent compatibility with polyurethanes (PU), the company reports. The new grade will become commercially available globally during 4Q 2011. According to 3B, the chemical sizing or binding technology of the new DS 1120-13P grade provides superior dry-as-moulded (DAM) properties and its low sensitivity to mould release agents, such as stearates, is outstanding. In addition, the grade has integrated technology that provides excellent strand integrity and bulk density, resulting in optimum feeding properties while maintaining exceptional dispersion within the PA resin matrix, the company claims. Typical applications for general industrial, building and consumer goods include cable and hose carrier chains and tracks, rawl plugs, cable cleats, wheels, cranks, bicycle pedals, headphones, etc. ‘The development and launching of this specific new grade of Advantex chopped strand to better serve the PA market highlights and strengthens our leading position in the European thermoplastics sector’, says Paul Cazes, thermoplastic product leader at 3B. It is aimed at compounders looking for a cost-competitive yet performing reinforcement for PA in applications where hydrolysis resistance is not essential, he adds. 3B claims to be the European leader in terms of the volume of chopped strand produced and for its technological innovation in thermoplastic reinforcements. The company also extended its product range for long fibre thermoplastics (LFTs) with SE4535 – a new single-end roving for LFT PA composites. Commercially available globally, the new roving product complements 3B’s established SE4220 grade dedicated to LFT PP compounds. The company says the new introduction highlights its commitment to be a major player in LFT reinforcements. ‘Expansion of 3B’s LFT reinforcements’ portfolio will continue to progress in the future to meet emerging market requirements’, Cazes says. According to Cazes, the SE4535 roving benefits from the company’s ‘long innovative experience’ in reinforce-
November 2011
ments for PA. The proprietary sizing chemistry is specifically engineered to provide excellent wet out, optimum resin-fibre load transfer and adhesion for exceptional mechanical performances, he explains. Excellent impregnation and high-speed processability make it suitable for all LFT processes (G-LFT, D-LFT, etc), Cazes says. Like DS 1120-13P, it is manufactured from Advantex glass fibre with its combination of E-glass and E-CR glass properties. The new roving product is available in 17 μm at 1200tex (SE4535 17 1200) and 2400tex (SE4535 17 2400). In tests in an LFT PA66 50% compound, the SE4535 17 2400 product provided equivalent flexural modulus and improved flexural strength, tensile modulus, tensile strength and unnotched impact compared to ‘the best current market offering’, the company reports. The market for LFT reinforcements has experienced very strong growth in recent years with up to 85% used solely in the automotive industry, according to 3B. Although PP resin dominates the materials being employed at present, the opportunities for alternative polymers such as PA are clearly established for the more demanding applications. As metal substitution continues, LFTs are becoming materials of choice for lightweight design especially for large semi-structural components or high-loading parts in automotive, domestic appliances or power tool applications. ‘Resin differentiation mainly through PA clearly opens new opportunities, as in engine mounts, crash absorbers, seat structure inserts and safety parts. To pursue LFT penetration into these more challenging applications, 3B fully demonstrates its ability to provide reliable cost-competitive leading-edge reinforcement solutions, such as the new SE 4535 grade’, says Eric Martin, business development leader at 3B. Building on its range of short-fibre reinforcements for polyolefins, 3B has also launched DS2200-10P, a high-performance, 10 μm diameter glass fibre grade for demanding applications manufactured using PP resins. Described by the company as a ‘game-changing’ product, DS2200-10P provides a significant improvement in tensile strength by up to 12% versus the current market offering, it says. The impact resistance is also improved by up to 15%, allowing PP to successfully compete with other thermoplastic resins to replace metals in demanding high-end applications specifically in automotive, 3B claims. ‘Using conventional moulding tools, PP compounds loaded with up to 50% glass fibre content can now achieve outstanding mechanical performances with the advantage of a low density’, Cazes observes.
Additives for Polymers
3
MATERIALS
Also manufactured from Advantex glass, DS2200-10P utilizes the latest technological advances in PP compound formulation and 3B’s ‘revolutionary sizing chemistry’ previously introduced for reinforcing high-performance polyolefins. The proprietary sizing and binding technology provides excellent DAM performance and a high percentage of property retention after hydrolysis or heat ageing, the company reports. The product is available globally from 4Q 2011. Low-micron-diameter glass fibres are already widely used in PA and polyester resins, yet their use in combination with PP resins is ‘innovative and opens up new game-changing opportunities’, especially in automotive applications such as interior semi-structural components, under-the-hood applications and high-loaded technical parts such as engine and gearbox mounts, the company says. ‘3B is eager to deliver cost-competitive solutions to address continuously evolving market needs. Glass fibre reinforcements are unquestionably among the most versatile lightweight design materials for high-end and demanding applications such as automotive’, concludes Martin. Contact: 3B-thefibreglass company, Battice, Belgium. Tel: +32 8769 2411, Web: www.3B-fibreglass.com
Momentive launches surfactants and other additives for improved PU foams
S
ilicones specialist Momentive Performance Materials Inc has expanded its offering of additives for polyurethane (PU) foams with the launch of a range of silicone surfactants and modifiers designed to improve the performance and production of both rigid and flexible foams. The products were introduced at the Polyurethanes 2011 conference or at UTECH Asia 2011 held, respectively, in Nashville, TN, USA, and Shanghai, China, during September. Surfactant Niax Silicone L-6891 is said to be an excellent candidate to consider for resin-side addition in the manufacture of rigid PU foams. It has been shown to be useful for improving insulation foams, particularly those used in refrigerators and cool-store applications, the company says. Testing has shown that the surfactant can be
4
Additives for Polymers
used to provide extremely fine cells, good foam flow, even density distribution and improved surface quality through significantly reduced void formation. The combined effect of fine cells and void reduction can help to create foam with consistently low thermal conductivity in all areas of the foamed cabinet, thus helping to improve the overall energy savings of the end product. According to Tony Lanchak, Momentive’s global business director – urethane additives, this latest addition to the Niax family is the first of a new generation of surfactants focused on improving the surface quality and minimizing the thermal conductivity of rigid foams. The company has invested significantly in R&D to focus on eliminating the foam voids that are an ongoing industry concern across rigid foam segments, he says. ‘This global effort has been expanded to hydrocarbon blown appliance foams, which are used extensively in household refrigerators. We believe that these defects in the foam surface, which could lead to aesthetic and thermal conductivity issues in the end product, are more likely to occur in formulations that use hydrocarbons as the blowing agent’, Lanchak adds. Momentive has developed proprietary testing methodologies to study foam voids generated in a discontinuous moulding process. Using these methodologies, it has examined the technical challenges of optimizing the silicone surfactant structure to eliminate voids while preserving other important foam and formulation properties, including maintaining the lowest thermal conductivity, he says. A technical paper on this subject is available for download at the company’s website. Returning to the recent introductions, Niax Silicone L-658 is described as a ‘highly efficient, fire retardant silicone surfactant’ that is an excellent candidate to consider for use in flexible slabstock foam applications. Its use can enhance the efficiency of flame retardants and minimize the amount of flame retardant needed to meet different flammability test requirements, Momentive says. Also targeting flexible slabstock foam, Niax Silicone L-595LV is a low viscosity silicone that can provide increased block height and improved top-tobottom density distribution during production, among other benefits, the company claims. The use of auxiliary blowing agents (ABAs) in many grades of conventional slabstock foam can be dramatically reduced or even fully eliminated by the use of a new stabilizing, softening additive, Geolite Modifier 213, the company reports. The new additive can also help to facilitate the production of numerous foam grades at very low
November 2011
...Continued from front page says. As the antimicrobial is integrated into the polymer, it removes the need for device manufacturers to undertake a secondary antimicrobial coating operation on their medical device, with the associated cost and validation processes that are required, the company adds. ‘Offering antimicrobial masterbatches within the Mevopur brand means our customers can benefit from the controlled, consistent and compliant conditions under which our masterbatches are produced’, comments Steve Duckworth, head of Clariant’s global medical and pharmaceutical segment. To add to the customers’ peace of mind, Sanitized offers testing of the effectiveness of the antimicrobial agent in the finished article, and the opportunity of a brand licence that enables device companies to use the internationally recognized Sanitized logo with their product, Duckworth reports. Contact: Clariant International Ltd, Muttenz, Switzerland. Tel: +41 61 469 6969, Web: www.clariant.com Or contact: Sanitized AG, Burgdorf, Switzerland. Tel: +41 34 427 1616, Web: www.sanitized.com
MATERIALS ...and nucleants for pharmaceutical packaging
T
he Mevopur range has been further expanded with a new family of polyolefin additives targeted at pharmaceutical packaging converters. These new additives include nucleating agents and processing aids. According to Clariant, these products will assist converters to boost their productivity and cost-efficiency, with the assurance of regulatory-compliant ingredients. The polyolefin additives therefore address converters’ needs to control escalating manufacturing costs in the face of both increasing regulatory controls and demands for increasingly innovative products, the company claims. In tests using injection and injection/compression moulded caps, Mevopur nucleants enabled converters to achieve an increase in production rates of up to 12% compared to non-nucleated PP-H and improvements compared to conventional (benzoate-based) nucleants,
2
Additives for Polymers
Clariant reports. Based on the latest technology, the nucleants reduce cycle times by improving the rate of crystallization and the crystallization temperature versus conventional technology in homopolymer and random copolymer PP and in high and low density PE, it says. The improved crystallization also results in a more consistent and finer morphology in polyolefins incorporating the Mevopur nucleants, thus improving their rigidity without degrading impact strength, the company claims. This allows converters to create thinner-walled part sections and thus also generate raw material savings, Clariant says. In PP homopolymer the stiffness as indicated by the flexural modulus is increased by 10% and the thermal performance is boosted by 20%, as measured by heat distortion temperature, it reports. Customers can use combinations of different Mevopur nucleants to optimize their product according to specific requirements, the company says. The nucleants have also been shown to reduce moulding defects caused by anisotropic shrinkage, such as warping and sink marks, it claims. Unlike conventional nucleants, the Mevopur products are biologically evaluated according to USP parts 87, 88 (Class VI) and ISO10993 parts 4, 5, 10, 11 and 18. As part of these test protocols, extraction is carried out using a range of fluids, followed by further evaluation. Documentary data is therefore available to support risk assessments of packaging materials, Clariant says. All Mevopur products are produced under a global ISO13485 quality system covering the company’s dedicated medical sites in Malmö (Sweden), Lewiston (USA) and Singapore. Contact: Clariant International Ltd (as above)
3B introduces three glass fibre reinforcements for polyamide and polypropylene
3
B is enhancing its broad range of glass reinforcements for thermoplastics with the introduction of new chopped strand and roving products for polyamide (PA) resins, and a high-performance short-fibre grade for polypropylene. The products were unveiled at the Composites Europe 2011 trade show in Stuttgart, Germany, in September.
November 2011
MATERIALS
New chopped strand grade DS 1120-13P is aimed at general-purpose industrial PA applications. With a diameter of 13 μm, the product is manufactured from Advantex® glass fibre, which is both an E-glass in terms of its electrical and mechanical properties and an E-CR glass in accordance with ASTM D578 as far as corrosion resistance and durability are concerned, 3B says. DS 1120-13P is designed to suit a broad range of PA resins, including PA6, PA66, PA610 and PA12 as well their related co-polymers. It also displays excellent compatibility with polyurethanes (PU), the company reports. The new grade will become commercially available globally during 4Q 2011. According to 3B, the chemical sizing or binding technology of the new DS 1120-13P grade provides superior dry-as-moulded (DAM) properties and its low sensitivity to mould release agents, such as stearates, is outstanding. In addition, the grade has integrated technology that provides excellent strand integrity and bulk density, resulting in optimum feeding properties while maintaining exceptional dispersion within the PA resin matrix, the company claims. Typical applications for general industrial, building and consumer goods include cable and hose carrier chains and tracks, rawl plugs, cable cleats, wheels, cranks, bicycle pedals, headphones, etc. ‘The development and launching of this specific new grade of Advantex chopped strand to better serve the PA market highlights and strengthens our leading position in the European thermoplastics sector’, says Paul Cazes, thermoplastic product leader at 3B. It is aimed at compounders looking for a cost-competitive yet performing reinforcement for PA in applications where hydrolysis resistance is not essential, he adds. 3B claims to be the European leader in terms of the volume of chopped strand produced and for its technological innovation in thermoplastic reinforcements. The company also extended its product range for long fibre thermoplastics (LFTs) with SE4535 – a new single-end roving for LFT PA composites. Commercially available globally, the new roving product complements 3B’s established SE4220 grade dedicated to LFT PP compounds. The company says the new introduction highlights its commitment to be a major player in LFT reinforcements. ‘Expansion of 3B’s LFT reinforcements’ portfolio will continue to progress in the future to meet emerging market requirements’, Cazes says. According to Cazes, the SE4535 roving benefits from the company’s ‘long innovative experience’ in reinforce-
November 2011
ments for PA. The proprietary sizing chemistry is specifically engineered to provide excellent wet out, optimum resin-fibre load transfer and adhesion for exceptional mechanical performances, he explains. Excellent impregnation and high-speed processability make it suitable for all LFT processes (G-LFT, D-LFT, etc), Cazes says. Like DS 1120-13P, it is manufactured from Advantex glass fibre with its combination of E-glass and E-CR glass properties. The new roving product is available in 17 μm at 1200tex (SE4535 17 1200) and 2400tex (SE4535 17 2400). In tests in an LFT PA66 50% compound, the SE4535 17 2400 product provided equivalent flexural modulus and improved flexural strength, tensile modulus, tensile strength and unnotched impact compared to ‘the best current market offering’, the company reports. The market for LFT reinforcements has experienced very strong growth in recent years with up to 85% used solely in the automotive industry, according to 3B. Although PP resin dominates the materials being employed at present, the opportunities for alternative polymers such as PA are clearly established for the more demanding applications. As metal substitution continues, LFTs are becoming materials of choice for lightweight design especially for large semi-structural components or high-loading parts in automotive, domestic appliances or power tool applications. ‘Resin differentiation mainly through PA clearly opens new opportunities, as in engine mounts, crash absorbers, seat structure inserts and safety parts. To pursue LFT penetration into these more challenging applications, 3B fully demonstrates its ability to provide reliable cost-competitive leading-edge reinforcement solutions, such as the new SE 4535 grade’, says Eric Martin, business development leader at 3B. Building on its range of short-fibre reinforcements for polyolefins, 3B has also launched DS2200-10P, a high-performance, 10 μm diameter glass fibre grade for demanding applications manufactured using PP resins. Described by the company as a ‘game-changing’ product, DS2200-10P provides a significant improvement in tensile strength by up to 12% versus the current market offering, it says. The impact resistance is also improved by up to 15%, allowing PP to successfully compete with other thermoplastic resins to replace metals in demanding high-end applications specifically in automotive, 3B claims. ‘Using conventional moulding tools, PP compounds loaded with up to 50% glass fibre content can now achieve outstanding mechanical performances with the advantage of a low density’, Cazes observes.
Additives for Polymers
3
MATERIALS
Also manufactured from Advantex glass, DS2200-10P utilizes the latest technological advances in PP compound formulation and 3B’s ‘revolutionary sizing chemistry’ previously introduced for reinforcing high-performance polyolefins. The proprietary sizing and binding technology provides excellent DAM performance and a high percentage of property retention after hydrolysis or heat ageing, the company reports. The product is available globally from 4Q 2011. Low-micron-diameter glass fibres are already widely used in PA and polyester resins, yet their use in combination with PP resins is ‘innovative and opens up new game-changing opportunities’, especially in automotive applications such as interior semi-structural components, under-the-hood applications and high-loaded technical parts such as engine and gearbox mounts, the company says. ‘3B is eager to deliver cost-competitive solutions to address continuously evolving market needs. Glass fibre reinforcements are unquestionably among the most versatile lightweight design materials for high-end and demanding applications such as automotive’, concludes Martin. Contact: 3B-thefibreglass company, Battice, Belgium. Tel: +32 8769 2411, Web: www.3B-fibreglass.com
Momentive launches surfactants and other additives for improved PU foams
S
ilicones specialist Momentive Performance Materials Inc has expanded its offering of additives for polyurethane (PU) foams with the launch of a range of silicone surfactants and modifiers designed to improve the performance and production of both rigid and flexible foams. The products were introduced at the Polyurethanes 2011 conference or at UTECH Asia 2011 held, respectively, in Nashville, TN, USA, and Shanghai, China, during September. Surfactant Niax Silicone L-6891 is said to be an excellent candidate to consider for resin-side addition in the manufacture of rigid PU foams. It has been shown to be useful for improving insulation foams, particularly those used in refrigerators and cool-store applications, the company says. Testing has shown that the surfactant can be
4
Additives for Polymers
used to provide extremely fine cells, good foam flow, even density distribution and improved surface quality through significantly reduced void formation. The combined effect of fine cells and void reduction can help to create foam with consistently low thermal conductivity in all areas of the foamed cabinet, thus helping to improve the overall energy savings of the end product. According to Tony Lanchak, Momentive’s global business director – urethane additives, this latest addition to the Niax family is the first of a new generation of surfactants focused on improving the surface quality and minimizing the thermal conductivity of rigid foams. The company has invested significantly in R&D to focus on eliminating the foam voids that are an ongoing industry concern across rigid foam segments, he says. ‘This global effort has been expanded to hydrocarbon blown appliance foams, which are used extensively in household refrigerators. We believe that these defects in the foam surface, which could lead to aesthetic and thermal conductivity issues in the end product, are more likely to occur in formulations that use hydrocarbons as the blowing agent’, Lanchak adds. Momentive has developed proprietary testing methodologies to study foam voids generated in a discontinuous moulding process. Using these methodologies, it has examined the technical challenges of optimizing the silicone surfactant structure to eliminate voids while preserving other important foam and formulation properties, including maintaining the lowest thermal conductivity, he says. A technical paper on this subject is available for download at the company’s website. Returning to the recent introductions, Niax Silicone L-658 is described as a ‘highly efficient, fire retardant silicone surfactant’ that is an excellent candidate to consider for use in flexible slabstock foam applications. Its use can enhance the efficiency of flame retardants and minimize the amount of flame retardant needed to meet different flammability test requirements, Momentive says. Also targeting flexible slabstock foam, Niax Silicone L-595LV is a low viscosity silicone that can provide increased block height and improved top-tobottom density distribution during production, among other benefits, the company claims. The use of auxiliary blowing agents (ABAs) in many grades of conventional slabstock foam can be dramatically reduced or even fully eliminated by the use of a new stabilizing, softening additive, Geolite Modifier 213, the company reports. The new additive can also help to facilitate the production of numerous foam grades at very low
November 2011