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Clariant's latest Cesa products target clear PP and improved PET, PLA recycling
additives
ISSN 0306-3747 June 2017
POLYMERS www.additivesforpolymers.com
Clariant’s latest Cesa products target clear PP and improved PET, PLA recycling
S
peciality chemicals major Clariant has expanded its line of Cesa®-nucleant masterbatches designed to improve the performance of polypropylenes (PPs) for clear packaging applications. The company has also introduced additional Cesa-extend formulations that are said to be capable of restoring important material properties to recycled condensation polymers, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polylactic acid (PLA) and polycarbonate. According to Clariant, global demand for clear PP packaging has increased sharply as food producers recognize its advantages – in terms of transparency, cost, weight and heat-tolerance – relative to PET for the rigid packaging of microwaveable and convenience foods. Meeting this demand requires that the common PP processing problems of haziness and dimensional instability are surmounted, which entails the use of nucleating agents, the company explains. However, as Clariant head of marketing for North America Peter Prusak explains, many global resin producers have trimmed their product portfolios by eliminating modified materials, including PPs, in favour of ‘neat’ (additive-free) resins. Clariant’s Cesa-nucleant masterbatches can help to fill this market need as they offer processors ‘an alternative to the costs of acquiring and managing custom-compounded material for the production of clearer PP packaging’, Prusak comments.
Containing nucleating and clarifying technology, the new masterbatches are suitable for use with homopolymer, random and copolymer PPs, Clariant reports. With them, processors no longer need to source and manage modified PP supplies from resin producers or custom compounders, it says. Instead, they can ‘simply add’ concentrated, pelletized Cesa-nucleant masterbatches into natural PP resin just prior to processing, according to the company. The new products are available in standard or custom formulations designed for clarification and/ or nucleation. Nucleating agents improve processing by helping PPs to run at lower temperatures and fuse more quickly, so parts can be de-moulded sooner and cycle times thereby reduced, Clariant explains. The company is also now offering enhanced Cesa-extend masterbatches that are reported to improve the properties of recycled PET, PLA and polycarbonate. It is claimed that these new masterbatches provide a ‘simple, low-cost solution’ for increasing molecular weight and restoring the physical properties, melt strength and processability that are lost when PET and PLA polymer chains break down during processing and recycling. When added during the processing of recycled PET and PLA, the Cesa-extend masterbatches react with and re-link broken polymer chains, Clariant reports. Long polymer chains are essential in the extrusion of both PET and PLA because they give the processed material the Continued on page 2...
Contents MATERIALS Clariant’s latest Cesa products target clear PP and improved PET, PLA recycling 1 Tosaf’s new white masterbatch reduces smoke and odour in extrusion coating
2
Emery Oleochemicals develops new additives range for C-PVC, plus food-safe antifog agent 3 Ampacet extends paper effects range with SynWrap 4 Addivant receives FDA approval for use of Weston 705 antioxidant in infant food packaging 5 European plastics converters alliance warns of TiO2 shortage impact 5
COMPANY STRATEGIES Songwon opens new innovation centre in South Korea
6
AkzoNobel unveils separation strategy for speciality chemicals; posts gains in 1Q 2017 7 Omya inaugurates Malaysian technical services laboratory
7
Oxea starts construction of US propanol and propionaldehyde unit
8
Chromaflo establishes colorants and chemical dispersions facility in India
9
Sibelco sells Belgian talc operation to IMI Fabi
9
FINANCIALS Clariant posts strong sales and EBITDA growth in 1Q 2017
9
Huntsman reports first quarter sales and income gains 10
EQUIPMENT Atlas opens new European weathering test lab; extends instrument range
11
EVENTS CALENDAR 12
8
FOR
Visit us today at:
www.additivesforpolymers.com
ISSN 0306-3747/17 © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This journal and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by Elsevier Ltd, and the following terms and conditions apply to their use: Photocopying Single photocopies of single articles may be made for personal use as allowed by national copyright laws. Permission of the publisher and payment of a fee is required for all other photocopying, including multiple or systematic copying, copying for advertising or promotional purposes, resale, and all forms of document delivery. Special rates are available for educational institutions that wish to make photocopies for non-profit educational classroom use.
MATERIALS
MATERIALS ...Continued from front page tensile strength necessary for good performance when formed into packaging materials, the company explains. The chain-restoring action of the new masterbatches means that the strength of the recyclate is comparable to virgin material; therefore, even high percentages of regrind can be incorporated with virgin resin without significantly reducing the physical properties required in food-contact and other high-performance packaging applications, Clariant concludes. The company says its new Cesa products are ‘excellent’ for packaging requiring high recycled content. ‘Cesa-extend masterbatches give processors an affordable, sustainable way to meet growing market demands for higher levels of recycled content in food packaging applications. One of our customers was even able to achieve acceptable results using 100% regrind’, reports Prusak. Pelletized Cesa-extend masterbatches are available in standard and custom formulations, and can be used to control or enhance a range of material parameters, including melt-flow index (MFI), intrinsic viscosity, hydrolytic stability, mechanical properties and clarity, according to Clariant. They can also be custom formulated to provide both linear and branched chain extension, the company reports. In other recent news from Clariant, the company is increasing its collaboration with one of the world’s largest manufacturers of biaxially-oriented PP (BOPP), Gettel High-Tech Materials in Wenzhou, China, which has a production capacity of 600 000 tonnes/year. The partners say they will jointly promote additives and liquid feeding technology to China’s BOPP industry. While Gettel will continue to employ Clariant’s solutions, including the antistatic additive Hostastat FA 68 combined with liquid feeding technology and AddWorks LXR 408, Clariant says it will gain better distribution of its new technologies and products. As a result of the strategic partnership, Gettel has also decided to equip all its production lines with Clariant’s liquid feeding technology and additive products, reveals the company’s president Fang Wenbing. Contact: Clariant International, Muttenz, Switzerland. Tel: +41 61 469 6742, Web: www.clariant.com Or contact: Clariant Corp, 4000 Monroe Rd, Charlotte, NC 28205, USA. Tel: +1 704 331 7000
2
Additives for Polymers
Tosaf’s new white masterbatch reduces smoke and odour in extrusion coating
I
sraeli firm Tosaf Compounds Ltd has developed a new white masterbatch for extrusion coating applications. According to the manufacturer, ME800047 is characterized by increased heat stability, which significantly reduces smoke and odour during processing at high temperatures. In addition, the new masterbatch contributes to an enhanced production efficiency ‘compared to traditional products of this kind’, Tosaf says. Extrusion coating is described as a ‘highly demanding process’, whereby a very thin polymer layer is applied to a substrate at processing temperatures close to the thermal degradation point of the processed polymers (around 300°C). Known challenges include necking (where the melt drips unevenly onto the sheet in a neck shape), high smoke and odour levels due to the high processing temperatures, die build-up, poor dispersion and gel formation. Tosaf’s new white masterbatch has been developed specifically to overcome these issues encountered in extrusion coating. ME800047 withstands the extremely high processing temperatures whilst at the same time maintaining its high dispersion quality, the company claims. This results in a consistently homogeneous coating and reduces the need for filter changes during production, it explains. Gel formation is also ‘significantly reduced’, while the opacity of ME800047 allows for a lower addition level, even in very thin layers, Tosaf reports. Furthermore, because the new masterbatch does not contain migrating additives, it provides high corona retention, good printability and reduced die build-up, the company adds. Established in 1986, Tosaf Group has been jointly owned by Megides Holding and the Ravago Group since 2001 when Ravago acquired a 30% share of the company. A producer of additives, colour masterbatches and compounds for the plastics industry, it operates 11 production sites in Israel, Turkey, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and China with a combined production capacity of 120 000 tonnes per year. Tosaf currently has 900 employees, 40 sales offices and distributors. Contact: Tosaf Compounds Ltd, Afula, Israel. Tel: +972 9 8984606, Web: www.tosaf.com
June 2017
ISSN 0306-3747 June 2017
POLYMERS www.additivesforpolymers.com
Clariant’s latest Cesa products target clear PP and improved PET, PLA recycling
S
peciality chemicals major Clariant has expanded its line of Cesa®-nucleant masterbatches designed to improve the performance of polypropylenes (PPs) for clear packaging applications. The company has also introduced additional Cesa-extend formulations that are said to be capable of restoring important material properties to recycled condensation polymers, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polylactic acid (PLA) and polycarbonate. According to Clariant, global demand for clear PP packaging has increased sharply as food producers recognize its advantages – in terms of transparency, cost, weight and heat-tolerance – relative to PET for the rigid packaging of microwaveable and convenience foods. Meeting this demand requires that the common PP processing problems of haziness and dimensional instability are surmounted, which entails the use of nucleating agents, the company explains. However, as Clariant head of marketing for North America Peter Prusak explains, many global resin producers have trimmed their product portfolios by eliminating modified materials, including PPs, in favour of ‘neat’ (additive-free) resins. Clariant’s Cesa-nucleant masterbatches can help to fill this market need as they offer processors ‘an alternative to the costs of acquiring and managing custom-compounded material for the production of clearer PP packaging’, Prusak comments.
Containing nucleating and clarifying technology, the new masterbatches are suitable for use with homopolymer, random and copolymer PPs, Clariant reports. With them, processors no longer need to source and manage modified PP supplies from resin producers or custom compounders, it says. Instead, they can ‘simply add’ concentrated, pelletized Cesa-nucleant masterbatches into natural PP resin just prior to processing, according to the company. The new products are available in standard or custom formulations designed for clarification and/ or nucleation. Nucleating agents improve processing by helping PPs to run at lower temperatures and fuse more quickly, so parts can be de-moulded sooner and cycle times thereby reduced, Clariant explains. The company is also now offering enhanced Cesa-extend masterbatches that are reported to improve the properties of recycled PET, PLA and polycarbonate. It is claimed that these new masterbatches provide a ‘simple, low-cost solution’ for increasing molecular weight and restoring the physical properties, melt strength and processability that are lost when PET and PLA polymer chains break down during processing and recycling. When added during the processing of recycled PET and PLA, the Cesa-extend masterbatches react with and re-link broken polymer chains, Clariant reports. Long polymer chains are essential in the extrusion of both PET and PLA because they give the processed material the Continued on page 2...
Contents MATERIALS Clariant’s latest Cesa products target clear PP and improved PET, PLA recycling 1 Tosaf’s new white masterbatch reduces smoke and odour in extrusion coating
2
Emery Oleochemicals develops new additives range for C-PVC, plus food-safe antifog agent 3 Ampacet extends paper effects range with SynWrap 4 Addivant receives FDA approval for use of Weston 705 antioxidant in infant food packaging 5 European plastics converters alliance warns of TiO2 shortage impact 5
COMPANY STRATEGIES Songwon opens new innovation centre in South Korea
6
AkzoNobel unveils separation strategy for speciality chemicals; posts gains in 1Q 2017 7 Omya inaugurates Malaysian technical services laboratory
7
Oxea starts construction of US propanol and propionaldehyde unit
8
Chromaflo establishes colorants and chemical dispersions facility in India
9
Sibelco sells Belgian talc operation to IMI Fabi
9
FINANCIALS Clariant posts strong sales and EBITDA growth in 1Q 2017
9
Huntsman reports first quarter sales and income gains 10
EQUIPMENT Atlas opens new European weathering test lab; extends instrument range
11
EVENTS CALENDAR 12
8
FOR
Visit us today at:
www.additivesforpolymers.com
ISSN 0306-3747/17 © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This journal and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by Elsevier Ltd, and the following terms and conditions apply to their use: Photocopying Single photocopies of single articles may be made for personal use as allowed by national copyright laws. Permission of the publisher and payment of a fee is required for all other photocopying, including multiple or systematic copying, copying for advertising or promotional purposes, resale, and all forms of document delivery. Special rates are available for educational institutions that wish to make photocopies for non-profit educational classroom use.
MATERIALS
MATERIALS ...Continued from front page tensile strength necessary for good performance when formed into packaging materials, the company explains. The chain-restoring action of the new masterbatches means that the strength of the recyclate is comparable to virgin material; therefore, even high percentages of regrind can be incorporated with virgin resin without significantly reducing the physical properties required in food-contact and other high-performance packaging applications, Clariant concludes. The company says its new Cesa products are ‘excellent’ for packaging requiring high recycled content. ‘Cesa-extend masterbatches give processors an affordable, sustainable way to meet growing market demands for higher levels of recycled content in food packaging applications. One of our customers was even able to achieve acceptable results using 100% regrind’, reports Prusak. Pelletized Cesa-extend masterbatches are available in standard and custom formulations, and can be used to control or enhance a range of material parameters, including melt-flow index (MFI), intrinsic viscosity, hydrolytic stability, mechanical properties and clarity, according to Clariant. They can also be custom formulated to provide both linear and branched chain extension, the company reports. In other recent news from Clariant, the company is increasing its collaboration with one of the world’s largest manufacturers of biaxially-oriented PP (BOPP), Gettel High-Tech Materials in Wenzhou, China, which has a production capacity of 600 000 tonnes/year. The partners say they will jointly promote additives and liquid feeding technology to China’s BOPP industry. While Gettel will continue to employ Clariant’s solutions, including the antistatic additive Hostastat FA 68 combined with liquid feeding technology and AddWorks LXR 408, Clariant says it will gain better distribution of its new technologies and products. As a result of the strategic partnership, Gettel has also decided to equip all its production lines with Clariant’s liquid feeding technology and additive products, reveals the company’s president Fang Wenbing. Contact: Clariant International, Muttenz, Switzerland. Tel: +41 61 469 6742, Web: www.clariant.com Or contact: Clariant Corp, 4000 Monroe Rd, Charlotte, NC 28205, USA. Tel: +1 704 331 7000
2
Additives for Polymers
Tosaf’s new white masterbatch reduces smoke and odour in extrusion coating
I
sraeli firm Tosaf Compounds Ltd has developed a new white masterbatch for extrusion coating applications. According to the manufacturer, ME800047 is characterized by increased heat stability, which significantly reduces smoke and odour during processing at high temperatures. In addition, the new masterbatch contributes to an enhanced production efficiency ‘compared to traditional products of this kind’, Tosaf says. Extrusion coating is described as a ‘highly demanding process’, whereby a very thin polymer layer is applied to a substrate at processing temperatures close to the thermal degradation point of the processed polymers (around 300°C). Known challenges include necking (where the melt drips unevenly onto the sheet in a neck shape), high smoke and odour levels due to the high processing temperatures, die build-up, poor dispersion and gel formation. Tosaf’s new white masterbatch has been developed specifically to overcome these issues encountered in extrusion coating. ME800047 withstands the extremely high processing temperatures whilst at the same time maintaining its high dispersion quality, the company claims. This results in a consistently homogeneous coating and reduces the need for filter changes during production, it explains. Gel formation is also ‘significantly reduced’, while the opacity of ME800047 allows for a lower addition level, even in very thin layers, Tosaf reports. Furthermore, because the new masterbatch does not contain migrating additives, it provides high corona retention, good printability and reduced die build-up, the company adds. Established in 1986, Tosaf Group has been jointly owned by Megides Holding and the Ravago Group since 2001 when Ravago acquired a 30% share of the company. A producer of additives, colour masterbatches and compounds for the plastics industry, it operates 11 production sites in Israel, Turkey, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and China with a combined production capacity of 120 000 tonnes per year. Tosaf currently has 900 employees, 40 sales offices and distributors. Contact: Tosaf Compounds Ltd, Afula, Israel. Tel: +972 9 8984606, Web: www.tosaf.com
June 2017