Functional fi llers | additives feature
Making the most of minerals
Minerals of many types are useful tools for modifying the properties of polymers, as well as reducing costs by replacing a portion of the resin or fi bre reinforcement. Some minerals can also reduce warping, improve barrier properties, or add fl ame retardancy. Formula- tors should be aware of what these functional fi llers, such as mica, talc and calcium carbonate, can do. A very high-aspect ratio (VHAR) phlogopite mica
from LKAB Minerals (formerly known as Minelco), is fi nding increasing use in many markets, including automotive applications, says Chris DeArmitt, business development manager for polymers and coatings at the company. For example, the MicaFort PW80 grade of mica has
no detectable silica and is especially benefi cial in glass-fi bre fi lled polyolefi ns or nylons because of its exceptionally high aspect ratio, which allows it to reduce warping but retain strength and modulus. It also offers scratch resistance and sound damping. LKAB recently introduced UltraCarb LH3, a fi ner-
particle size range of its blend of huntite and hydromag- nesite, which is used as a non-halogenated fl ame retardant. In these new products, careful control of topcut leads to better elongation to break and impact resistance in fl ame-retardant polyolefi ns, notes DeArmitt.
In June, LKAB commissioned a new, dedicated
manufacturing facility to meet increasing demand for its UltraCarb grades. The mill is co-located with the company’s mine in Turkey, and product is shipped globally from there. Trinity Resources promotes its Altiplus pyrophyllite as a North American-sourced alternative to imported
www.compoundingworld.com
Jennifer Markarian looks at recent developments in mineral fi llers for enhancing the performance,
sustainability and cost-effectiveness of a wide range of polymers
Asian lump talc for reinforcing PP. Altiplus is said to exhibit a high aspect ratio and high brightness compa- rable to imported talcs. Pyrophyllite is an aluminosilicate that has “the
structure of a talc and the chemistry of a kaolin,” and can be used to replace either talc or kaolin, says John Hurley, president and CEO of Trinity Resources. The company’s Altiblock antiblocking mineral additives for fi lm recently received FDA and Health Canada approvals. HPF The Mineral Engineers, a division of Quar-
zwerke Group, notes that minerals can add desirable properties to specialized polymer fi lms. Agricultural fi lms, for example, must allow certain wavelengths of UV light to penetrate, but should absorb infrared light. Researchers at HPF prepared PE fi lms with 10% microspar (feldspar) and found that they had lower IR transmission compared to unfi lled PE fi lms. Laminated, multilayer packaging fi lms are often designed with a layer for barrier properties. Research- ers at HPF tested the barrier effect of several grades of mica, and found that PE fi lms containing 10% mica exhibited improved barrier to water vapour as well as
August 2015 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 55 Rock stars:
minerals have lots to offer plastics
compounders
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