SURFACE MODIFICATION | SCRATCH AND WEAR
take-off and winding speed by lowering surface friction, according to the researchers. Combining both additive systems could help unlock further applications for biodegradable polyesters, according to Wacker. The combination mitigates the processing and performance disadvantages – relative to conventional thermo- plastics – that have limited the use of these polymers to date. In the usual application quanti- ties and, depending on the system in question, the two additives do not lead to impairment of degradability in, for example, PBS, PLA or thermo- plastic starch and combinations of these biode- gradable polymers.
Enduring quality Over the past two decades Evonik reports seeing high demand for surface modification additives for the plastic compound market. “These types of additives are primarily utilised to prevent scratches during transportation - shipping and handling - of plastic parts and their assembly and to ensure the quality of factory goods such as appliances and automotive parts after they reach the customer,” says Dr Ido Offenbach, Americas Segments
Manager – Specialty Additives. “Lately, we have also seen an increase in interest for these type of additives for sustainability initiatives. As automotive companies are working to become more environmentally-friendly and reduce the need for animal-sourced materials in their products, we see them finding new ways to impart desired qualities in polymer materials to replace their organic counterparts. For example, several OEMs are looking for a surface additive that can modify the haptic feel of polymers to be more leather-like to the touch. While this initiative comes from a sustainable source, OEMs are discovering that surface modified polymers can improve both function and form – an aesthetically pleasing improvement that allows them to pursue the next evolutions of interior design more flexibility,” Offenbach says.
“One place we see this focus is for manufactur-
ers of prototype self-driving cars, where there is a greater emphasis on the vehicle being a place of comfort. Surface modification opens the door for OEMs to increasingly utilise recycled polymers, such as polypropylene, in places that had previ- ously only allowed use of virgin materials or a
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