- Email: [email protected]
Avecia launches new additives range for composites
Additives for Polymers
MATERIALS Akcros expands its range of biocides for polymer systems What is claimed to be a powerful and cost-effective biocide, targeted at a range of industrial applications, is being offered by Akcros Chemicals. Called Intercide ABF, it is based on the active ingredient 10,10-oxybisphenoxarsine (OBPA). As a broad-spectrum biocide, the company says that it is effective in combating both fungi and bacteria, while most other biocides combat either fungi or bacteria, but not both. Building on its strong position in field of additives for processing and manufacturing plastics, the company reports that it is actively expanding its range of biocides for new polymer systems such as polyethylene, polypropylene, silicone and polyurethanes. Currently, its range of biocides focuses on flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) applications. The company says that there are many applications of these polymer systems which could benefit from the presence of a biocide to control microbial attack. An example is the recent development and worldwide introduction of Intercide ABF-5 SV and Intercide ABF-5 SVC. Both products contain 5% OBPA dispersed on a PVC homo-ploymer and PVC/polyvinyl acetate co-polymer, respectively, and are typically used in flexible PVC applications by those customers who prefer to handle solid biocides rather than liquid ones.
Contact: Akcros Chemicals Ltd, PO Box 1, Bentcliffe Way, Eccles, Manchester M30 OBH, UK; tel: +44-161 785 1111; fax: +44-161 707 9019
Cyclics targets thermoplastic compounds with higher filler Ioadings In the USA, Cyclics Corp says that it is developing a reactive thermoplastic system for the compounding markets. The company's initial product, referred to as CBT, melts to a water-like viscosity when
2
July 2001
heated, and then reacts chemically to form the thermoplastic polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). While CBT is in its low viscosity state, very high filler loadings can be achieved, claims Cyclics. CBT can be used in any application where viscosity currently prevents compounders or injection-moulders, from achieving desired properties, or parts. Fillers are commonly used in polymer systems to create new material combinations, and to enhance 'processability', physical properties and long-term performance. However, these fillers can be difficult to add to thermoplastics in high percentages. Cyclics says that it has demonstrated CBT's compatibility with a variety of standard fillers, including reinforcing fibres (glass and carbon), mineral fillers and metal flakes. It has also been used to make long-fibre compounds with glass and carbon fibre. Fibre loadings of 70% by weight are achieved through the rapid wetting of the fibres. Another potential application for CBT is the manufacture of polymer-bonded magnets (with as much as 80% by weight ferromagnetic particles) which can be produced using injectionmoulding or compression moulding while retaining the necessary flow characteristics. Processing options include, but are not limited to, high-speed dispersion, single-screw or twin-screw compounding, in-line compounding, injection moulding, and compression moulding. Long-fibre thermoplastic compounds, or reactive systems (to produce materials with handling characteristics more like bulk moulding compounds, or sheet moulding compounds) are easily manufactured, says the company.
Contact: The Cyclics Corp, One University Place DB229, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA; tel: +1-518 428 4881;fax: +1-518 525 2798
Avecia launches new additives range for composites Avecia Pigments & Additives of Manchester, UK, has launched a new range of solvent-free wetting, dispersing and anti-sedimentation additives for unsaturated polyesters and acrylics.
©2001 Elsevier Science
July 2001
Branded Solplus, the company says that they have been engineered for composites fillers and resins, and are based on proprietary polymer chemistry. The company claims that the range offers the thermoset industry major process advantages by combining dispersing/wetting and anti-settling 'agents' in single additives. Solplus products are 100% active and solventfree, and are better for the environment because they help to reduce the impact of styrene content-levels which characterise most unsaturated polyester-based systems. A group of five products have been launched. Solplus D520 and D510 are described as novel, highly effective dispersants designed for use with unsaturated polyester and other thermoset resins. They can be used to increase filler or flame-retardant content, and to reduce viscosity and wetting significantly, while also reducing post-dispersion settlement. Other benefits include improved fibre mixing and greater reproducibility. Solplus D520 is also optimised for use in filled acrylic systems for cast sheet and other castings. Solplus D510 is primarily used in ambient, cure-systems and polyester gel-coat applications. Also now available is Solplus D530, a dispersant which improves the dispersion of talc in any resin, says the company, while Solplus TX5 is an anti-settling agent, or thickener, that can be used in various resins to control or prevent settling in filled systems. It offers improved anti-settling during storage, and improved 'anti-sag' for a spray lay-up. The final product to be launched - - Solplus AX5 - - is an activator for use in conjunction with TX5 in certain applications.
Contact: Avecia International, PO Box 42, Hexagon House, Blackley, Manchester M9 8ZS, UK; tel: +44-161 740 1460;fax: +44-161 795 6005
COMPANY STRATEGIES Polyplastics, Mitsubishi and Ticona strengthen their presence in Asia Japan's Polyplastics Co Ltd and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC) Co Inc, and Germany's Ticona,
©2001 Elsevier Science
Additives for Polymers
a business of Celanese AG, have jointly announced plans to strengthen their presence in the Asia/Pacific region by building in China a polyacetal facility rated at 60 000 tonnes. The plant is scheduled to come on stream during 2004. The plant will be located in Nantong, Jiangsu province, just north of Shanghai. A 'letter of intent' was recently signed with the Chinese Administrative Committee of the Economic and Technological Development Area of the Nantong Municipality for the land acquisition. The project proposal has been approved by the Jiangsu province, and the parties expect approval of the overall project by the authorities later this year. The key driver for the decision to locate a plant in China is the anticipated market growth rate, say the companies. They claim that the current market for polyacetal in China is estimated to be in excess of 100 000 tonnes per year. Polyplastics will be the lead company with a majority of the equity, and will direct the venture's operations. Both MGC and Ticona will have significant financial interests in the venture. Acetal co-polymer is a polyoxymethylene with a high crystallinity which can deliver high strength, stiffness and toughness. It can be processed using many conventional methods, including injection moulding, extrusion and rotational casting. Polyplastics is a joint venture between Daicel Chemical Industries Ltd, Japan, and Ticona, the engineering polymers business of Celanese AG, Frankfurt, Germany. Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, Tokyo, is one of the leading chemicals companies in Japan. It is a diversified chemicals business, covering commodity chemicals, speciality chemicals and advanced materials.
Contacts: Celanese AG, Corporate Centre, Frankfurter Str. 111, D-61476 Kronberg/Ts, Germany; tel: +49-69 3051 6000;fax: +49-69 305 16009 Polyplastics, Kasumigaseki Building, 2-5 Kasumigaseki 3-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan; tel: +81-3 3593 2444; fax: +81-3 3580 0629
3
MATERIALS Akcros expands its range of biocides for polymer systems What is claimed to be a powerful and cost-effective biocide, targeted at a range of industrial applications, is being offered by Akcros Chemicals. Called Intercide ABF, it is based on the active ingredient 10,10-oxybisphenoxarsine (OBPA). As a broad-spectrum biocide, the company says that it is effective in combating both fungi and bacteria, while most other biocides combat either fungi or bacteria, but not both. Building on its strong position in field of additives for processing and manufacturing plastics, the company reports that it is actively expanding its range of biocides for new polymer systems such as polyethylene, polypropylene, silicone and polyurethanes. Currently, its range of biocides focuses on flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) applications. The company says that there are many applications of these polymer systems which could benefit from the presence of a biocide to control microbial attack. An example is the recent development and worldwide introduction of Intercide ABF-5 SV and Intercide ABF-5 SVC. Both products contain 5% OBPA dispersed on a PVC homo-ploymer and PVC/polyvinyl acetate co-polymer, respectively, and are typically used in flexible PVC applications by those customers who prefer to handle solid biocides rather than liquid ones.
Contact: Akcros Chemicals Ltd, PO Box 1, Bentcliffe Way, Eccles, Manchester M30 OBH, UK; tel: +44-161 785 1111; fax: +44-161 707 9019
Cyclics targets thermoplastic compounds with higher filler Ioadings In the USA, Cyclics Corp says that it is developing a reactive thermoplastic system for the compounding markets. The company's initial product, referred to as CBT, melts to a water-like viscosity when
2
July 2001
heated, and then reacts chemically to form the thermoplastic polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). While CBT is in its low viscosity state, very high filler loadings can be achieved, claims Cyclics. CBT can be used in any application where viscosity currently prevents compounders or injection-moulders, from achieving desired properties, or parts. Fillers are commonly used in polymer systems to create new material combinations, and to enhance 'processability', physical properties and long-term performance. However, these fillers can be difficult to add to thermoplastics in high percentages. Cyclics says that it has demonstrated CBT's compatibility with a variety of standard fillers, including reinforcing fibres (glass and carbon), mineral fillers and metal flakes. It has also been used to make long-fibre compounds with glass and carbon fibre. Fibre loadings of 70% by weight are achieved through the rapid wetting of the fibres. Another potential application for CBT is the manufacture of polymer-bonded magnets (with as much as 80% by weight ferromagnetic particles) which can be produced using injectionmoulding or compression moulding while retaining the necessary flow characteristics. Processing options include, but are not limited to, high-speed dispersion, single-screw or twin-screw compounding, in-line compounding, injection moulding, and compression moulding. Long-fibre thermoplastic compounds, or reactive systems (to produce materials with handling characteristics more like bulk moulding compounds, or sheet moulding compounds) are easily manufactured, says the company.
Contact: The Cyclics Corp, One University Place DB229, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA; tel: +1-518 428 4881;fax: +1-518 525 2798
Avecia launches new additives range for composites Avecia Pigments & Additives of Manchester, UK, has launched a new range of solvent-free wetting, dispersing and anti-sedimentation additives for unsaturated polyesters and acrylics.
©2001 Elsevier Science
July 2001
Branded Solplus, the company says that they have been engineered for composites fillers and resins, and are based on proprietary polymer chemistry. The company claims that the range offers the thermoset industry major process advantages by combining dispersing/wetting and anti-settling 'agents' in single additives. Solplus products are 100% active and solventfree, and are better for the environment because they help to reduce the impact of styrene content-levels which characterise most unsaturated polyester-based systems. A group of five products have been launched. Solplus D520 and D510 are described as novel, highly effective dispersants designed for use with unsaturated polyester and other thermoset resins. They can be used to increase filler or flame-retardant content, and to reduce viscosity and wetting significantly, while also reducing post-dispersion settlement. Other benefits include improved fibre mixing and greater reproducibility. Solplus D520 is also optimised for use in filled acrylic systems for cast sheet and other castings. Solplus D510 is primarily used in ambient, cure-systems and polyester gel-coat applications. Also now available is Solplus D530, a dispersant which improves the dispersion of talc in any resin, says the company, while Solplus TX5 is an anti-settling agent, or thickener, that can be used in various resins to control or prevent settling in filled systems. It offers improved anti-settling during storage, and improved 'anti-sag' for a spray lay-up. The final product to be launched - - Solplus AX5 - - is an activator for use in conjunction with TX5 in certain applications.
Contact: Avecia International, PO Box 42, Hexagon House, Blackley, Manchester M9 8ZS, UK; tel: +44-161 740 1460;fax: +44-161 795 6005
COMPANY STRATEGIES Polyplastics, Mitsubishi and Ticona strengthen their presence in Asia Japan's Polyplastics Co Ltd and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC) Co Inc, and Germany's Ticona,
©2001 Elsevier Science
Additives for Polymers
a business of Celanese AG, have jointly announced plans to strengthen their presence in the Asia/Pacific region by building in China a polyacetal facility rated at 60 000 tonnes. The plant is scheduled to come on stream during 2004. The plant will be located in Nantong, Jiangsu province, just north of Shanghai. A 'letter of intent' was recently signed with the Chinese Administrative Committee of the Economic and Technological Development Area of the Nantong Municipality for the land acquisition. The project proposal has been approved by the Jiangsu province, and the parties expect approval of the overall project by the authorities later this year. The key driver for the decision to locate a plant in China is the anticipated market growth rate, say the companies. They claim that the current market for polyacetal in China is estimated to be in excess of 100 000 tonnes per year. Polyplastics will be the lead company with a majority of the equity, and will direct the venture's operations. Both MGC and Ticona will have significant financial interests in the venture. Acetal co-polymer is a polyoxymethylene with a high crystallinity which can deliver high strength, stiffness and toughness. It can be processed using many conventional methods, including injection moulding, extrusion and rotational casting. Polyplastics is a joint venture between Daicel Chemical Industries Ltd, Japan, and Ticona, the engineering polymers business of Celanese AG, Frankfurt, Germany. Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, Tokyo, is one of the leading chemicals companies in Japan. It is a diversified chemicals business, covering commodity chemicals, speciality chemicals and advanced materials.
Contacts: Celanese AG, Corporate Centre, Frankfurter Str. 111, D-61476 Kronberg/Ts, Germany; tel: +49-69 3051 6000;fax: +49-69 305 16009 Polyplastics, Kasumigaseki Building, 2-5 Kasumigaseki 3-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan; tel: +81-3 3593 2444; fax: +81-3 3580 0629
3