materials feature | Weatherability
Americhem is developing formulations to allow weather- resistant siding to be produced in rich colours
Using test data for real applications Test equipment is only one part of the weathering equation — the results generated by such systems support the formulation or selection of colourfast pigments and additives for plastics compounds. The durability of the finished products ultimately verifies the results of indoor and outdoor tests. For Americhem, ongoing developments in test methods are vital to advancing products such as the company’s pre-colour eCap capstock compounds, many of which are specified for outdoor applications like decking, fencing and other profiles extruded from polyolefin, acrylic, styrenic or vinyl-based polymers. These products rely on aesthetics as much as physical performance to generate retail sales. As such, the ability of manufacturers to integrate new colours and textures is crucial to their market acceptance. In the US, for example, decking is getting darker as
producers seek to duplicate the look of rich, upscale woods in extruded planks, says Rick Keatley, who works in product development for architectural markets. Vinyl siding, a big market for weather-resistant colours, is moving away from wood-like textures and toward smooth surfaces to enhance the visual appeal of installations. Both applications require cap layers that resist heat build-up, in order to preserve colour and prevent cracking and other defects. The accuracy of the test data Americhem receives from vendors and the results of its own in-house tests are critical factors in pigment selection. Another example of a supplier that is adapting
product offerings to meet expanding colour palettes is PolyOne. At the recent NPE show, the company formally launched its Geon Bold line of vinyl materials for outdoor residential use. These incorporate rich, dark colours, and are formulated to resist weathering and, equally important, heat build-up. The Geon Bold line can be used for capstock and
54 COMPOUNDING WORLD | June 2015
cladding for window profiles and door lineals, decking and railings, fencing, roofing and siding. PolyOne says that it used its in-house expertise to develop com- pounds that allow architectural-supply OEMs to broaden their colour offerings while maintaining weather resistance. The ability to respond quickly to shifting market needs
is evident in a low-volume program at Americhem. The company created “cell teams” to produce colour compounds in small-lot volumes of 250 to 1,000 lb. (110 to 450 kg). Teams are composed of specialists with colour matching and processing skills, Keatley says, who take orders for compounds, select and approve the colours specified, produce material on small extruders in special areas of the plant, and ship product to meet just-in-time (JIT) inventory needs of customers. “Lot sizes, especially for masterbatches, are shrinking,” he notes. “No one wants to store large inventories in plants anymore.” The trend towards JIT colour compounding is most
evident in the automotive sector, which of course has its own standards for maintaining colour accuracy and ensuring durability. The advances in test procedures and equipment,
notably those involving accelerated indoor and outdoor trials, coupled with ASTM’s groundbreaking D7869 standard, allow compounders access to formidable development and process capabilities in colour selection and durability. This in turn gives them the tools they need to meet shifting market preferences in colour that have their own performance requirements.
Click on the links for more information: ❙
www.q-lab.com ❙
www.atlas-mts.com ❙
www.eyesolarlux.com ❙
www.americhem.com ❙
www.polyone.com
www.compoundingworld.com
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