Additives | scratch and mar
Maintaining a perfect surface
Consumers want their purchases – whether it be furnishings, appliances, electronics, automotive interiors, or anything else for that matter – to look like new for as long as possible, and they certainly view scratches as a sign of a damaged or cheap part. “Good scratch and mar resistance (SMR) provides a perception of good quality. A part that continues to look like it did when it was new for a longer period of time provides the perception of quality and a well-manufactured part,” says Dharmendra Khanolkar, CxO and Executive Director of Business Development at ExCista Corporation. Resistance to scratching is infl uenced by many
factors, starting out from base polymer selection - some polymers (such as ABS) are inherently harder and more resistant to surface damage while others (notably PP) tend to show scratches more easily. The type and amount of mineral fi ller also affects the visibility of scratches. However, there are a wide range of additives available to compound formulators to improve SMR, and these include amides, polymeric additives, silicones, and, most recently, treated nanoclay. The best SMR solution will depend on the polymer,
the overall formulation (including other additives used), and the end-use application, including the tendency for scratch exposure as well as other mechanical, appear- ance and manufacturing processing requirements. Other essential elements include the need to meet health and safety regulations and to provide a level of durability that matches the service life of the product, says Dr Sam He, Technical Fellow in the Advanced
www.compoundingworld.com
Today’s consumers are pretty demanding and expect top quality surfaces with a fi nish that lasts. Jennifer Markarian looks at the
latest additives to improve scratch and mar performance
Development Group at Inteva Products, which supplies engineered components and systems to automotive and other industries. Business needs also play a role in choosing a solution. “The digital and Internet age sets aggressive timing for new technologies, and there is a sensitivity to the cost of an item from everyone, including suppliers, manufactures, retailers, and customers,” notes Dr He. The automotive market, especially for interior parts,
is a growing area for SMR additives. Lightweighting and the trend “toward a more luxurious and less utilitarian interior” is driving changes in the types of plastics used, according to Shawn Mealey, senior industry specialist for the Dow Corning Plastics Team. Good scratch resistance is one of the requirements, he says. Inteva’s Dr He points out that automotive interiors
also require low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs); thermal, UV, humidity, and chemical stability;
February 2016 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 31 Main image:
Automotive is a key market for SMR materials, but maintaining top surface quality is fast becoming a priority in many other sectors
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