Performance Additives extends product range for wood–plastic composites

Performance Additives extends product range for wood–plastic composites

MATERIALS and expanding spray foams must be treated with flame retardants. Many of the halogenated flame retardants conventionally used in these appl...

59KB Sizes 1 Downloads 176 Views

MATERIALS

and expanding spray foams must be treated with flame retardants. Many of the halogenated flame retardants conventionally used in these applications have been or are being phased out due to their proven or suspected harmful effects on human health and the environment. Although alternatives are available on the market, the search for non-harmful and effective replacements for halogenated flame retardants is on-going. The approach taken by Empa researchers, in conjunction with Swiss company FoamPartner, has been to study the flame retardant potential of a group of organic phosphorus-containing compounds called phosphoramidates. Several of these compounds – differing from each other only in the type of amine substituents attached to the phosphorus – have been synthesized, and added to polyurethane foam in increasing concentrations. First results indicate that the novel flame retardants did not have a negative effect on the foam manufacturing process, with no discernible effect on the microscopic structure of the foam, the team reports. The research results have been accepted for publication by the journal Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research. The collaborative development work has been carried out within the scope of a project sponsored by Switzerland’s Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI). Contact: Empa, Ueberlandstrasse 129, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland. Tel: +41 58 765 11 11, Fax: +41 58 765 11 22, Web: www.empa.ch

Performance Additives extends product range for wood–plastic composites

M

alaysian additives manufacturer Performance Additives Sdn Bhd has expanded its comprehensive range of processing additives for the wood–plastic composites (WPC) industry, with the development of a new product, Ultraplast™ WF 109 AF. The new additive is claimed to offer greater processing improvement than the company’s original Ultraplast WF 109 product. A blend of fatty acid derivatives, WF 109 AF improves the fibre dispersion in WPCs based on PVC. Like its

4

Additives for Polymers

predecessor, WF 109 AF provides an ‘excellent lubricating effect’ and therefore increases output, according to Performance Additives. However, it also offers additional surface protection of the finished parts, helping to reduce water absorption and mould formation, the company reports. A dosage level of 1–5% is suggested. WF 109 AF is also effective in polyolefin compounds where improved processability is required, Performance Additives says. In other news, the company recently expanded its distribution network in Brazil via the appointment of Quimica Anastacio as the distributor for its family of processing promoters and multifunctional additives for the plastics and rubber industries. Headquartered in Sao Paulo, Quimica Anastacio is a well-established distribution company. Contact: Performance Additives Sdn Bhd, Selangor, Malaysia. Tel: +60 3 80263481, Web: www.performance-additives.com

ENSO Plastics reveals biodegradation technology for synthetic rubber

E

nvironmental plastics solutions company ENSO Plastics of Mesa, AZ, USA, reports that it has developed a technology that accelerates the natural biodegradation of synthetic rubber in landfills. While the issue of plastic waste has generated a lot of attention and action in recent years, there has been no parallel attempt to address the problem of the increasing amount of landfilled rubber and latex waste, the company points out. This is now becoming ‘an imperative concern’ for government entities and environmentalists worldwide, it says. According to ENSO, a ‘huge amount’ of rubber waste is going into landfills but, so far, the rubber industry has produced little technological advancements regarding environmental remediation. The company claims that its development of ENSO Restore™ RL is a breakthrough that may now ‘change the entire rubber industry’. The new ingredient is described as a ‘unique material’ that increases the biodegradation of synthetic rubber within natural microbial and municipal landfill environments. Independent laboratory testing shows nitrile treated with

September 2013