additives | Electrically conductive
Above: Ionphase additives are used in a variety of applications requiring static management
been adopted by an increasing number of end custom- ers.” These standards specify measurement conditions to be set at 12% RH, 23°C, which Matikainen says means that traditional antistats do not function. Colourability, recyclability and other green values
have also increased importance in the market. “These requirements favour IDPs instead of, for instance, conductive carbon black and coating solutions,” Matikainen says. “Certain regulation developments, with tightened migration limits related to materials in contact with food, are also increasing the use of IDPs.” IonPhasE IPE additive product portfolio covers a wide
range of host polymers and the company says it has placed a special focus on compatibility and processabil- ity when developing its additives. Highlights from the product portfolio include IPE hSTAT, which has high thermal stability and can be processed up to 330°C, enabling its use with several high temperature polymers that have traditionally been out of bounds for IDPs. IPE fSTAT and PE0108M FCC are IonPhasE’s flagship products for industrial films and food packag- ing applications. Layers as thin as three microns are sufficient to provide stable ESD protection. “Growing use in automotive and consumer appliances with high requirements for long life cycle of the poly- meric materials sets new challenges yet also opportuni- ties for IDP additive development,” says Matikainen. A new Pebax elastomer series, MF50XX, from
Arkema includes six commercial grades specifically designed to bring “outstanding” antistatic and static dissipative properties to a variety of resins. The new Pebax resin grades have approved applications in injection moulded parts, extruded sheets and films, and blow moulded containers. Some grades can be used in food contact, in compliance with 21 CFR 177.1520, up to 40% by weight of the polymer. Pebax resins are well-suited for various polymer matrices, notably polyolefins, styrenics, acetals, PC blends, and TPU.
Safety solutions Polypropylene PP raffia tapes are widely used in woven bags, including flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs). Finnish compounder Premix, which specialises
34 COMPOUNDING WORLD | April 2016
in electrically conductive plastics, says electrically conductive raffia tapes are needed in “type C” FIBCs, also known as groundable FIBCs, to avoid fire and explosion accidents caused by any type of ESD which may occur during filling or discharging of the bags. Interconnected and grounded electrically conductive yarns remove and prevent a hazardous electrical charge, it says. Premix has recently launched Pre-Elec PP 1353
polypropylene-based electrically conductive carbon black concentrate especially designed for raffia tape extrusion. The company says it offers good processabil- ity combined with high strength, toughness and extensibility. “Thanks to optimal formulation, stable electrical properties are obtained even at high stretch- ing ratios,” the company claims. Compounder Lati notes that the traditional solution
for antistatic compounds is the use of carbon black, graphite, and carbon or steel fibre-based fillers. “These approaches are all valid, but strongly limit the image of the finished product, which is available only in black,” it says. The company’s LatiOhm PD02 grades incorporate undisclosed polymers ensuring, in addition to perma- nent antistatic properties, colourability without the need for painting. One recent application is an ATEX-compli- ant modular torch for professional workplace applica- tions made with yellow-coloured LatiOhm 62-08 PD02 G/35. The PA6-based compound also contains 35% glass fibre reinforcement.
Compounders extend ranges Several other compound developers have announced developments in conductive materials in recent months. TBA Protective Solutions’ new conductive PC/PBT carbon nanotube injection moulding compounds use MWCNT technology to give permanently conductive materials. The company, which manufactures its own range of shielding, static management and magnetic detectable products as well as compounds, says it has developed special compounding techniques at low filler loadings to disperse the nanotubes ensuring the retention of physical properties and excellent cleanliness. ESD and shielding compounds have been produced
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