- Email: [email protected]
BASF reveals highly stable orange pigment for high-performance plastics…
MATERIALS
...Continued from front page including ‘Greenguard School’ certification. This stringent standard, established by the Greenguard Environmental Institute (www.greenguard.org), relates to the indoor air quality in schools and other environments where children and other sensitive populations spend extended periods of time. Akcros says the new ultra-low phenol, low VOC stabilizer complements its existing low emissions Interstab BZ-5295 product which, it says, has proven itself as an industry standard for Greenguard Commercial applications over the last few years. According to the company, BZ-5295S provides identical processing performance to that of BZ-5295 in all areas, with optimum processing characteristics in calendered and extruded goods. It is reported to be useful over a wide addition range without adverse effects on processing or plate-out, and provides significant reductions in measured emissions and volatiles in large-surface-area products such as wall coverings. Finally, Akcros USA has introduced a new line of highefficiency liquid calcium–zinc heat stabilizers for flexible PVC applications. The initial offering consists of three new products: Akcrostab CAZ-2020, CAZ-2021 and CAZ-2022. These liquid metal-soap-based products ‘provide thermal performance previously unavailable’ in non-barium-containing products, the company claims. Developed in partnership with several major processors, these products ‘offer exciting new alternatives’ for compounders and processors seeking to eliminate barium from their formulations, Akcros says. All of the new products are free of bisphenol A and metallic stearates, and are fully compatible with a wide range of compounding ingredients, including epoxidized soy bean oil, the company reports. They have undergone extensive in-house and field testing to assure optimum performance in a wide-range of formulations and processes. All are claimed to provide exceptional static and dynamic processing performance coupled with long-term permanence and excellent UV stability. The products are slightly lubricating but utilize a system that prevents excessive exudation or plate-out. Surface dyne readings of 34 are easily obtainable, guaranteeing optimum printability and heat-sealing characteristics, Akcros reports. CAZ-2020, CAZ-2021 and CAZ-2022 are said to be ‘excellent choices’ for compounders or processors currently using several competitive materials to obtain specific performance traits in specialized formulations. Contact: Akcros Chemicals Inc, 500 Jersey Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. Tel: +1 732 247 2202, Fax: +1 732 247 8416, Email: [email protected], Web: www.akcros.com
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Additives for Polymers
MATERIALS BASF reveals highly stable orange pigment for high-performance plastics... ermany’s BASF has introduced Sicopal® Orange K 2430, a stable inorganic mixed oxide pigment that shows high UV and weathering resistance, and can withstand aggressive chemicals and high temperatures. According to the company, it is suitable for use in a wide array of technically relevant plastics, ranging from polyolefins to PVC and PS as well as ABS, PC, PET, PBT and PA. Sicopal Orange K 2430 is notable in particular for its stability even at temperatures above 320°C (608°F), and is thus resistant under the processing conditions of all known plastics, BASF says. Moreover, it can replace often-employed products containing cadmium and lead. In colour, the pigment is redder than chromium titanates, such as Sicotan® Yellow K 2001 and Sicotan Yellow K 2112 – two BASF pigments that have been employed up to now in the production of orange pigments for special applications. It has been given its own colour index (CI) – Pigment Orange 82 – by the Society of Dyers and Colorists. It is also reported to offer very good covering capacity. The new pigment is also very attractive from the standpoint of processing technology: it is easy and even to disperse throughout the polymeric matrix, BASF claims. This is conducive to the production of films and fibres that are free of gel particles. Thin-walled moulded parts such as housings and covers come out of the mould without displaying any warpage, that is, with high dimensional stability. Furthermore, Sicopal Orange K 2430 does not exhibit any tendency to migrate and has been approved in the European Union for food packaging and for use in toys; an application for FDA approval has also been submitted. Sicopal Orange K 2430 can also add coloristic strength to pigment mixtures. Organic colorants such as BASF’s Cromophthal® Orange GP or Paliogen® Red K 3580 acquire greater covering capacity and are more brilliant that conventional mixtures when combined with Sicopal Orange, the company says. It also entails advantages in combination with other inorganic pigments; for example,
G
October 2010
MATERIALS
it serves to expand the colour space of chromium titanates far into the orange range. According to BASF, the UV and weathering resistance of its new orange pigment provide constant and high levels of fastness, even at low concentrations and in mixtures with titanium oxide. Colour-matching tests are reported to confirm that pigment formulations containing Sicopal Orange retain their defined colour practically indefinitely when exposed to weathering. Comparable levels of fastness cannot be achieved through a combination with organic pigments. The sturdiness of the new mixed oxide makes it suitable for many outdoor uses including coextruded or laminated Luran® S films in exterior applications and deep-dyed solid plastic objects such as garden tools and playground equipment. Its migration behaviour and good dispersability also make it a suitable candidate for dyeing self-adhesive films used outdoors. Contact: BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. Tel: +49 621 60 0, Web: www.basf.com
...and highlights new additive system for rotational sintering he company is also promoting Irgastab® RM 68, an additive system targeted at plastics manufactured by the energy-intensive rotational sintering process. Irgastab RM 68 is an additive system specifically for plastics that are processed by means of rotational sintering. This process is typically used to shape large hollow articles such as tanks and containers, and recreational items such as kayaks and toys. It is attractive because it offers a wide range of design possibilities and low investment costs but it entails relatively long processing times and high oven temperatures, which place high demands on the stability of the plastic as well as being very energy-intensive. Using Irgastab RM 68 optimizes the sintering process, resulting in improved final-product quality, BASF says. The additive system is a patented combination of various stabilizers. Primarily it promotes the melting of the polymer during shaping, allowing shorter heating times and lower oven temperatures, which results in a wider processing window, BASF explains. This is an important advantage as rotational sintering often involves the use of different moulds at the same time in one machine. If the residence time in
T
October 2010
the oven is the same this risks overcuring/degradation of the polymer in small moulds and undercuring in large moulds. Therefore, the wider the processing window, the more robust the production process and thus the better the quality of the final product, the company says. Tests on polyethylene, which is the most commonly used polymer for rotational sintering, found that optimal melting of a 3-mm thick test specimen containing conventional stabilizers occurred at a peak internal air temperature (PIAT) within the mould of 233°C, for an oven temperature of 288°C. However, using Irgastab RM 68 in otherwise identical samples, the optimum melting range was reached at a PIAT of 210°C, BASF reports. A shorter cycle time is therefore required to achieve the same processing result, thereby providing energy savings of up to 16%, reducing costs and enhancing productivity, according to the company. In another reported case study involving the production of 80-litre tanks, using Irgastab RM 68 in place of a conventional additive formulation cut the cycle time by six minutes, which represented a 22% increase in the daily output per machine. Shorter processing times can also reduce degradation of other additives in the plastic, thus increasing the service life of the plastic part. In addition, other quality features of the final product are positively affected by the additive system. For instance, the inherent discoloration of the product during processing is reduced and the colour fastness upon exposure to nitrogen oxide is increased. The better stabilization of the polymer chains against degradation improves the mechanical properties, especially the impact resistance of the plastic. Moreover, Irgastab RM 68 contains a light stabilizer that complies with the UV8 weathering standard. This worldwide standard stipulates an elongation at break of at least 50% of the original value after 8000 hours of exposure to accelerated weathering, corresponding to outdoor use in a subtropical climate for at least three years. Furthermore, Irgastab RM 68 has been approved in polyethylene by the US Food and Drug Administration for indirect contact with food products. Compared to blow and injection moulding, rotational sintering is still a niche technique for processing thermoplastics. The USA is the main market for rotational sintering, while in Europe only about 1% of all plastics are currently processed by this method. However, for small production runs of large parts the process can deliver decisive cost advantages compared to blow moulding and it is increasingly finding applications in
Additives for Polymers
3
...Continued from front page including ‘Greenguard School’ certification. This stringent standard, established by the Greenguard Environmental Institute (www.greenguard.org), relates to the indoor air quality in schools and other environments where children and other sensitive populations spend extended periods of time. Akcros says the new ultra-low phenol, low VOC stabilizer complements its existing low emissions Interstab BZ-5295 product which, it says, has proven itself as an industry standard for Greenguard Commercial applications over the last few years. According to the company, BZ-5295S provides identical processing performance to that of BZ-5295 in all areas, with optimum processing characteristics in calendered and extruded goods. It is reported to be useful over a wide addition range without adverse effects on processing or plate-out, and provides significant reductions in measured emissions and volatiles in large-surface-area products such as wall coverings. Finally, Akcros USA has introduced a new line of highefficiency liquid calcium–zinc heat stabilizers for flexible PVC applications. The initial offering consists of three new products: Akcrostab CAZ-2020, CAZ-2021 and CAZ-2022. These liquid metal-soap-based products ‘provide thermal performance previously unavailable’ in non-barium-containing products, the company claims. Developed in partnership with several major processors, these products ‘offer exciting new alternatives’ for compounders and processors seeking to eliminate barium from their formulations, Akcros says. All of the new products are free of bisphenol A and metallic stearates, and are fully compatible with a wide range of compounding ingredients, including epoxidized soy bean oil, the company reports. They have undergone extensive in-house and field testing to assure optimum performance in a wide-range of formulations and processes. All are claimed to provide exceptional static and dynamic processing performance coupled with long-term permanence and excellent UV stability. The products are slightly lubricating but utilize a system that prevents excessive exudation or plate-out. Surface dyne readings of 34 are easily obtainable, guaranteeing optimum printability and heat-sealing characteristics, Akcros reports. CAZ-2020, CAZ-2021 and CAZ-2022 are said to be ‘excellent choices’ for compounders or processors currently using several competitive materials to obtain specific performance traits in specialized formulations. Contact: Akcros Chemicals Inc, 500 Jersey Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. Tel: +1 732 247 2202, Fax: +1 732 247 8416, Email: [email protected], Web: www.akcros.com
2
Additives for Polymers
MATERIALS BASF reveals highly stable orange pigment for high-performance plastics... ermany’s BASF has introduced Sicopal® Orange K 2430, a stable inorganic mixed oxide pigment that shows high UV and weathering resistance, and can withstand aggressive chemicals and high temperatures. According to the company, it is suitable for use in a wide array of technically relevant plastics, ranging from polyolefins to PVC and PS as well as ABS, PC, PET, PBT and PA. Sicopal Orange K 2430 is notable in particular for its stability even at temperatures above 320°C (608°F), and is thus resistant under the processing conditions of all known plastics, BASF says. Moreover, it can replace often-employed products containing cadmium and lead. In colour, the pigment is redder than chromium titanates, such as Sicotan® Yellow K 2001 and Sicotan Yellow K 2112 – two BASF pigments that have been employed up to now in the production of orange pigments for special applications. It has been given its own colour index (CI) – Pigment Orange 82 – by the Society of Dyers and Colorists. It is also reported to offer very good covering capacity. The new pigment is also very attractive from the standpoint of processing technology: it is easy and even to disperse throughout the polymeric matrix, BASF claims. This is conducive to the production of films and fibres that are free of gel particles. Thin-walled moulded parts such as housings and covers come out of the mould without displaying any warpage, that is, with high dimensional stability. Furthermore, Sicopal Orange K 2430 does not exhibit any tendency to migrate and has been approved in the European Union for food packaging and for use in toys; an application for FDA approval has also been submitted. Sicopal Orange K 2430 can also add coloristic strength to pigment mixtures. Organic colorants such as BASF’s Cromophthal® Orange GP or Paliogen® Red K 3580 acquire greater covering capacity and are more brilliant that conventional mixtures when combined with Sicopal Orange, the company says. It also entails advantages in combination with other inorganic pigments; for example,
G
October 2010
MATERIALS
it serves to expand the colour space of chromium titanates far into the orange range. According to BASF, the UV and weathering resistance of its new orange pigment provide constant and high levels of fastness, even at low concentrations and in mixtures with titanium oxide. Colour-matching tests are reported to confirm that pigment formulations containing Sicopal Orange retain their defined colour practically indefinitely when exposed to weathering. Comparable levels of fastness cannot be achieved through a combination with organic pigments. The sturdiness of the new mixed oxide makes it suitable for many outdoor uses including coextruded or laminated Luran® S films in exterior applications and deep-dyed solid plastic objects such as garden tools and playground equipment. Its migration behaviour and good dispersability also make it a suitable candidate for dyeing self-adhesive films used outdoors. Contact: BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. Tel: +49 621 60 0, Web: www.basf.com
...and highlights new additive system for rotational sintering he company is also promoting Irgastab® RM 68, an additive system targeted at plastics manufactured by the energy-intensive rotational sintering process. Irgastab RM 68 is an additive system specifically for plastics that are processed by means of rotational sintering. This process is typically used to shape large hollow articles such as tanks and containers, and recreational items such as kayaks and toys. It is attractive because it offers a wide range of design possibilities and low investment costs but it entails relatively long processing times and high oven temperatures, which place high demands on the stability of the plastic as well as being very energy-intensive. Using Irgastab RM 68 optimizes the sintering process, resulting in improved final-product quality, BASF says. The additive system is a patented combination of various stabilizers. Primarily it promotes the melting of the polymer during shaping, allowing shorter heating times and lower oven temperatures, which results in a wider processing window, BASF explains. This is an important advantage as rotational sintering often involves the use of different moulds at the same time in one machine. If the residence time in
T
October 2010
the oven is the same this risks overcuring/degradation of the polymer in small moulds and undercuring in large moulds. Therefore, the wider the processing window, the more robust the production process and thus the better the quality of the final product, the company says. Tests on polyethylene, which is the most commonly used polymer for rotational sintering, found that optimal melting of a 3-mm thick test specimen containing conventional stabilizers occurred at a peak internal air temperature (PIAT) within the mould of 233°C, for an oven temperature of 288°C. However, using Irgastab RM 68 in otherwise identical samples, the optimum melting range was reached at a PIAT of 210°C, BASF reports. A shorter cycle time is therefore required to achieve the same processing result, thereby providing energy savings of up to 16%, reducing costs and enhancing productivity, according to the company. In another reported case study involving the production of 80-litre tanks, using Irgastab RM 68 in place of a conventional additive formulation cut the cycle time by six minutes, which represented a 22% increase in the daily output per machine. Shorter processing times can also reduce degradation of other additives in the plastic, thus increasing the service life of the plastic part. In addition, other quality features of the final product are positively affected by the additive system. For instance, the inherent discoloration of the product during processing is reduced and the colour fastness upon exposure to nitrogen oxide is increased. The better stabilization of the polymer chains against degradation improves the mechanical properties, especially the impact resistance of the plastic. Moreover, Irgastab RM 68 contains a light stabilizer that complies with the UV8 weathering standard. This worldwide standard stipulates an elongation at break of at least 50% of the original value after 8000 hours of exposure to accelerated weathering, corresponding to outdoor use in a subtropical climate for at least three years. Furthermore, Irgastab RM 68 has been approved in polyethylene by the US Food and Drug Administration for indirect contact with food products. Compared to blow and injection moulding, rotational sintering is still a niche technique for processing thermoplastics. The USA is the main market for rotational sintering, while in Europe only about 1% of all plastics are currently processed by this method. However, for small production runs of large parts the process can deliver decisive cost advantages compared to blow moulding and it is increasingly finding applications in
Additives for Polymers
3