additives | Functional fillers
Steer cuts shear to protect effect fillers
able to manufacture and package a product with a moisture level of 0.1-0.2%, compared with a normal 0.4%. This means that the talc can be used in hydrolyti- cally unstable polymers, such as PLA, polyesters and polyamides, and we believe has much wider potential. We have also introduced a super fine talc – SF310 - for use as a nucleating agent, primarily in polypropylenes. Kish is able to mill the product to an extremely fine level and we are seeing great interest in this product at present.” Sphere One – a Kish subsidiary – has also launched
Steer claims its
Omega system reduces damage when processing fragile fillers such as mica
India-based machinery maker Steer Engineering has developed its Omega twin screw compounding extruder with a new screw configura- tion designed for incorporation of special effect pigments, such as mica, with minimal damage to the fragile platelet structure. It claims up to 80% of particle size is retained in the final compounded product. “The demand for performance and special effect pigments is seeing a
dramatic rise, driven by developed markets and the emerging economies like China and India,” says Steer Engineering CEO Atanu Maity. “The Omega platform is configured to process mica-based pigments with minimum damage to the platelet structure. It not only provides greater product appearance but effectively eliminates issues related to quality of properties, adaptability and damage.” Coated mica crystalline platelets are used as effect pigments in thermoplastics to create a pearlescent lustre or glitter-like appearance. However, the platelet structure is extremely sensitive to shear in the melt and even small alterations or changes in size can have a dramatic impact on coloration and appearance of the final compound. The Omega Platform’s special mixing elements are designed to
eliminate shear peaks and, by maintaining a barrel to screw gap and screw to screw gap of less than 0.25mm, Steer claims it is able to achieve a full wiping, rather than shearing, effect. This addresses the issue of leakage, the company says. In addition, a deeper root depth of 1.71 draws more of the resin into the low shear screw root region and away from the high shear – and potentially damaging - barrel wall. This is also said to help prevent stagnation and reduce risk of degradation. “Omega allows manufacturers to create brilliant effect pigment
masterbatches. The production trials conducted at our Application Development Center in Bengaluru have given us phenomenal results,” says Rob Roden, AVP and Global Head, Continuous Manufacturing Technology at the company. He says Omega allows producers to capture the full value and elegance of the special effect pigment. ❙
www.steerworld.com
18 COMPOUNDING WORLD | August 2016
a new product in its Extendosphere ceramic bead range, widely used for lightweighting applications in plastics. Manufactured from a new source mineral with a higher alumina content, the spheres are white rather than the usual grey, which the company believes will increase their appeal in the industry. They are claimed to be particularly strong compared with other spheres. They are available in hollow (Reluminasphere) and solid (Solosphere) versions.
Improvements in compounding Industrial minerals group LKAB Minerals has been involved with compounding machinery manufacturer Leistritz Extrusionstechnik in a collaborative venture to improve the processing of its hydromagnesite huntite filler material. LKAB Minerals has developed UltraCarb LH3C – a coated, very fine and pure hydromagnesite huntite with high hydromagnesite content. Both hydro- magnesite and huntite have intrinsic flame retardant properties. However, in combination they can offer specific properties that can be adjusted through selected mining and processing to meet a number of applications. “We are seeing a huge interest in replacing synthetic
energy consuming fillers with more sustainable mineral fillers,” says Stefan Viering, research and development engineer Polymers at LKAB Minerals. UltraCarb is used in a range of polymers such as polyethylene, polypropyl- ene and PVC. However, in order to maximise the benefits in these resins, the company needed to address
Lightweighting of automotive parts is a key driver in functional filler development
www.compoundingworld.com
PHOTO: MINERAL TECHNOLOGIES
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