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Dow Performance Silicones tackles squeaking in automotive interior applications
additives
FOR
POLYMERS
ISSN 0306-3747 September 2018
www.additivesforpolymers.com
Dow Performance Silicones tackles squeaking in automotive interior applications
N
oise minimization in automotive interiors is becoming increasingly important due to the rising uptake of electric cars with their ultra-quiet operation and the introduction of self-driving vehicles. To address this issue, Dow Performance Silicones, a global business unit of DowDuPont Specialty Products Division, has launched Dow Corning™ HMB-1903 Masterbatch, a silicone-based additive technology developed to eliminate squeaking in automotive interior components. The new, patented additive is designed for use in polycarbonate/ acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (PC/ ABS) vehicle cabin parts such as instrument panels and centre consoles, and is reported to deliver high anti-squeak performance that remains stable throughout the useful life of the part. Supplied as easy-to-use pellets that simplify handling, the new masterbatch can replace time-consuming, labour-intensive posttreatments used to reduce squeaking, thereby improving cost control, design freedom and productivity, while retaining the resin’s important mechanical properties, the company claims. Described as ‘the first in a new product family’, Dow Corning HMB-1903 Masterbatch works by immediately and permanently reducing the resin’s coefficient of friction (COF), thus avoiding
noise when treated surfaces are rubbed, Dow Performance Silicones explains. Reported tests show that, at a typical low loading of 4 wt%, the new grade achieved an anti-squeak risk priority number (RPN) rating below 3, where an RPN of <3 indicates that the material is not squeaking and does not present any risk for long-term squeaking issues. According to the company, the new masterbatch also demonstrated an ‘impressively low score’ for impulse, which represents the number of stickslip phenomena appearing during the squeaking test. Caused by friction between two surfaces, stick-slip phenomena are typically the source of the squeaking noise. The new Dow Performance Silicones masterbatch ‘dramatically reduced the impulse value’ when compared to unmodified PC/ABS blends, the company reports. As an additive masterbatch incorporated into the PC/ABS resin, Dow Corning HMB-1903 Masterbatch helps to streamline part production and keep costs down compared to competitive anti-squeak solutions, which include post-treatment with felt, lubricants and coatings, or the replacement of PC/ABS with specialized anti-squeak resins, Dow Performance Silicones comments. Posttreatments increase production time, expense and complexity, and can interfere with design freedom as intricate parts may need to be simplified Continued on page 2...
Contents MATERIALS Dow Performance Silicones tackles squeaking in automotive interior applications 1 Axel presents latest process aid for thermoplastics
2
Lifocolor Farben unveils metallic effect masterbatches
3
Sanyo Chemical’s innovative resin modifier improves wetting of polyolefins 3 Parx Plastics extends antimicrobial technology to wood-plastic composites 4 Colour Tone gains patent for improved PVCu colour masterbatch 4 COMPANY STRATEGIES BASF invests in capacity expansions for antioxidants and pigments
5
Carolina Color acquires Chroma Corp; receives new patent for G3 technology 6 AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals further extends organic peroxides footprint 7 Bain Capital agrees to purchase Italmatch Chemicals from Ardian
8
Silvergate installs new extrusion line www.biometrics-today.com to raise masterbatch capacity
8
Lehigh, Hera joint venture completes Spanish micronized rubber plant
8
Visit us @
Birla Carbon to expand carbon black capacity by 150 000 tonnes/year 9
Visit us @
www.membrane-technology.com FINANCIALS
Clariant reports increased sales and income in the first half of 2018
9
Record result for Specialty Additives boosts Lanxess’s 2Q 2018 figures
Visit us @ 10 Eastman Chemical delivers strong growth in the second quarter of 2018
11
EVENTS CALENDAR 12
Visit us @
ISSN 0306-3747/18 © 2018 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.
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www.networksecuritynewsletter.com
MATERIALS
...Continued from front page to permit complete application of the post-treatment, the company explains. In addition, lubricants can wear off over time, while coatings require hand application and post-curing. Coatings are also very sensitive to impact and can develop micro-cracks that affect anti-squeak performance, while niche anti-squeak resins can cost twice as much as standard PC/ABS. In contrast, the addition of Dow Corning HMB-1903 Masterbatch to the resin provides immediate anti-squeak properties to moulded parts so they can move to the next production step straight away, the company observes. Elimination of anti-squeak post-treatment steps further accelerates cycle times and raises productivity, it says. According to Dow Performance Silicones, another significant advantage of using its new silicone-based masterbatch is the retention of important PC/ABS mechanical properties. Room-temperature impact resistance remains the same as that of pure resin, while tensile modulus, elongation at break and tensile strength are also maintained at a high level, the company reports. In addition, PC/ABS containing the new anti-squeak additive offers ‘an attractive surface appearance that enhances part aesthetics’, it says. ‘Major emerging trends in electric and autonomous vehicles are emphasizing the importance of noise minimization in automotive interiors’, reports Christophe Paulo, Industrial and Consumer strategic marketer, EMEA, Dow Performance Silicones. Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) become more noticeable in ultra-quiet electric vehicles, and more intrusive in self-driving cars that will be used for entertainment and relaxation, not just transportation, he explains. The new Dow Corning HMB1903 Masterbatch ‘directly addresses NVH by offering automotive OEMs and tiers a fresh approach [combining] outstanding anti-squeak performance with cost-effectiveness and processing efficiency’, Paulo concludes. In addition to automotive interior applications, the new silicone additive masterbatch can potentially be used for appliance components such as refrigerator bins and trays as well as in transportation applications, the company suggests. Dow Corning HMB-1903 Masterbatch was launched earlier this year at Chinaplas 2018 but is receiving its European tradeshow debut at the upcoming Fakuma event to be held 16–20 October in Friedrichshafen, Germany. More information: www.dow.com/en-us/transportation/solutions/multibase
2
Additives for Polymers
MATERIALS Axel presents latest process aid for thermoplastics
C
onnecticut-based mould release and process aid specialist Axel Plastics Research Laboratories has launched a new process aid additive offering a pronounced reduction in coefficient of friction. Described as a unique 100% active additive, MoldWiz INT-33LSER is recommended for use with all polyethylenes and polypropylenes, including thermoplastic olefins (TPO), and other thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) such as thermoplastic vulcanizates and thermoplastic urethanes. It is also ‘highly effective’ in other resins such as polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate where improved lubricity of the moulded part or reduced coefficient of friction is required, Axel claims. The new additive is a synergistic blend of modified polymers and organic components, which will not interfere with any secondary operations such as pad printing or labelling, the company says. It is designed for incorporation directly into resins and provides a range of benefits, according to Axel. Chief among these is a greatly reduced coefficient of friction: the company reports test measurements carried out on a slip machine showing that the dynamic coefficient of friction for a sample containing MoldWiz INT-33LSER is about a third of that for an unmodified resin sample, and about half the value obtained using Axel’s older additives such as MoldWiz INT-33LCA and INT-33CFW. It also substantially outperforms the company’s recently introduced MoldWiz INT-34KF process aid [ADPO, June 2018] as far as reducing coefficient of friction is concerned, Axel says. In addition, the new process aid provides lower torque values compared to the company’s existing additives, such as MoldWiz INT33CFW and INT-34KF. Furthermore, MoldWiz INT-33LSER is claimed to improve the dispersion of other resin additives, provide antistatic properties, enhance resin flow/fill, shorten cycle times, reduce the temperatures and pressures of moulding machines, reduce or eliminate weld/knit lines, and eliminate the need for external mould release agents. Axel reports that its latest additive is compliant with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations for food
September 2018
FOR
POLYMERS
ISSN 0306-3747 September 2018
www.additivesforpolymers.com
Dow Performance Silicones tackles squeaking in automotive interior applications
N
oise minimization in automotive interiors is becoming increasingly important due to the rising uptake of electric cars with their ultra-quiet operation and the introduction of self-driving vehicles. To address this issue, Dow Performance Silicones, a global business unit of DowDuPont Specialty Products Division, has launched Dow Corning™ HMB-1903 Masterbatch, a silicone-based additive technology developed to eliminate squeaking in automotive interior components. The new, patented additive is designed for use in polycarbonate/ acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (PC/ ABS) vehicle cabin parts such as instrument panels and centre consoles, and is reported to deliver high anti-squeak performance that remains stable throughout the useful life of the part. Supplied as easy-to-use pellets that simplify handling, the new masterbatch can replace time-consuming, labour-intensive posttreatments used to reduce squeaking, thereby improving cost control, design freedom and productivity, while retaining the resin’s important mechanical properties, the company claims. Described as ‘the first in a new product family’, Dow Corning HMB-1903 Masterbatch works by immediately and permanently reducing the resin’s coefficient of friction (COF), thus avoiding
noise when treated surfaces are rubbed, Dow Performance Silicones explains. Reported tests show that, at a typical low loading of 4 wt%, the new grade achieved an anti-squeak risk priority number (RPN) rating below 3, where an RPN of <3 indicates that the material is not squeaking and does not present any risk for long-term squeaking issues. According to the company, the new masterbatch also demonstrated an ‘impressively low score’ for impulse, which represents the number of stickslip phenomena appearing during the squeaking test. Caused by friction between two surfaces, stick-slip phenomena are typically the source of the squeaking noise. The new Dow Performance Silicones masterbatch ‘dramatically reduced the impulse value’ when compared to unmodified PC/ABS blends, the company reports. As an additive masterbatch incorporated into the PC/ABS resin, Dow Corning HMB-1903 Masterbatch helps to streamline part production and keep costs down compared to competitive anti-squeak solutions, which include post-treatment with felt, lubricants and coatings, or the replacement of PC/ABS with specialized anti-squeak resins, Dow Performance Silicones comments. Posttreatments increase production time, expense and complexity, and can interfere with design freedom as intricate parts may need to be simplified Continued on page 2...
Contents MATERIALS Dow Performance Silicones tackles squeaking in automotive interior applications 1 Axel presents latest process aid for thermoplastics
2
Lifocolor Farben unveils metallic effect masterbatches
3
Sanyo Chemical’s innovative resin modifier improves wetting of polyolefins 3 Parx Plastics extends antimicrobial technology to wood-plastic composites 4 Colour Tone gains patent for improved PVCu colour masterbatch 4 COMPANY STRATEGIES BASF invests in capacity expansions for antioxidants and pigments
5
Carolina Color acquires Chroma Corp; receives new patent for G3 technology 6 AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals further extends organic peroxides footprint 7 Bain Capital agrees to purchase Italmatch Chemicals from Ardian
8
Silvergate installs new extrusion line www.biometrics-today.com to raise masterbatch capacity
8
Lehigh, Hera joint venture completes Spanish micronized rubber plant
8
Visit us @
Birla Carbon to expand carbon black capacity by 150 000 tonnes/year 9
Visit us @
www.membrane-technology.com FINANCIALS
Clariant reports increased sales and income in the first half of 2018
9
Record result for Specialty Additives boosts Lanxess’s 2Q 2018 figures
Visit us @ 10 Eastman Chemical delivers strong growth in the second quarter of 2018
11
EVENTS CALENDAR 12
Visit us @
ISSN 0306-3747/18 © 2018 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.
Visit us @
www.networksecuritynewsletter.com
MATERIALS
...Continued from front page to permit complete application of the post-treatment, the company explains. In addition, lubricants can wear off over time, while coatings require hand application and post-curing. Coatings are also very sensitive to impact and can develop micro-cracks that affect anti-squeak performance, while niche anti-squeak resins can cost twice as much as standard PC/ABS. In contrast, the addition of Dow Corning HMB-1903 Masterbatch to the resin provides immediate anti-squeak properties to moulded parts so they can move to the next production step straight away, the company observes. Elimination of anti-squeak post-treatment steps further accelerates cycle times and raises productivity, it says. According to Dow Performance Silicones, another significant advantage of using its new silicone-based masterbatch is the retention of important PC/ABS mechanical properties. Room-temperature impact resistance remains the same as that of pure resin, while tensile modulus, elongation at break and tensile strength are also maintained at a high level, the company reports. In addition, PC/ABS containing the new anti-squeak additive offers ‘an attractive surface appearance that enhances part aesthetics’, it says. ‘Major emerging trends in electric and autonomous vehicles are emphasizing the importance of noise minimization in automotive interiors’, reports Christophe Paulo, Industrial and Consumer strategic marketer, EMEA, Dow Performance Silicones. Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) become more noticeable in ultra-quiet electric vehicles, and more intrusive in self-driving cars that will be used for entertainment and relaxation, not just transportation, he explains. The new Dow Corning HMB1903 Masterbatch ‘directly addresses NVH by offering automotive OEMs and tiers a fresh approach [combining] outstanding anti-squeak performance with cost-effectiveness and processing efficiency’, Paulo concludes. In addition to automotive interior applications, the new silicone additive masterbatch can potentially be used for appliance components such as refrigerator bins and trays as well as in transportation applications, the company suggests. Dow Corning HMB-1903 Masterbatch was launched earlier this year at Chinaplas 2018 but is receiving its European tradeshow debut at the upcoming Fakuma event to be held 16–20 October in Friedrichshafen, Germany. More information: www.dow.com/en-us/transportation/solutions/multibase
2
Additives for Polymers
MATERIALS Axel presents latest process aid for thermoplastics
C
onnecticut-based mould release and process aid specialist Axel Plastics Research Laboratories has launched a new process aid additive offering a pronounced reduction in coefficient of friction. Described as a unique 100% active additive, MoldWiz INT-33LSER is recommended for use with all polyethylenes and polypropylenes, including thermoplastic olefins (TPO), and other thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) such as thermoplastic vulcanizates and thermoplastic urethanes. It is also ‘highly effective’ in other resins such as polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate where improved lubricity of the moulded part or reduced coefficient of friction is required, Axel claims. The new additive is a synergistic blend of modified polymers and organic components, which will not interfere with any secondary operations such as pad printing or labelling, the company says. It is designed for incorporation directly into resins and provides a range of benefits, according to Axel. Chief among these is a greatly reduced coefficient of friction: the company reports test measurements carried out on a slip machine showing that the dynamic coefficient of friction for a sample containing MoldWiz INT-33LSER is about a third of that for an unmodified resin sample, and about half the value obtained using Axel’s older additives such as MoldWiz INT-33LCA and INT-33CFW. It also substantially outperforms the company’s recently introduced MoldWiz INT-34KF process aid [ADPO, June 2018] as far as reducing coefficient of friction is concerned, Axel says. In addition, the new process aid provides lower torque values compared to the company’s existing additives, such as MoldWiz INT33CFW and INT-34KF. Furthermore, MoldWiz INT-33LSER is claimed to improve the dispersion of other resin additives, provide antistatic properties, enhance resin flow/fill, shorten cycle times, reduce the temperatures and pressures of moulding machines, reduce or eliminate weld/knit lines, and eliminate the need for external mould release agents. Axel reports that its latest additive is compliant with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations for food
September 2018