search.noResults

search.searching

note.createNoteMessage

search.noResults

search.searching

orderForm.title

orderForm.productCode
orderForm.description
orderForm.quantity
orderForm.itemPrice
orderForm.price
orderForm.totalPrice
orderForm.deliveryDetails.billingAddress
orderForm.deliveryDetails.deliveryAddress
orderForm.noItems
TECHNOLOGY | POLYMER FOAM


Right: Polymer foaming requires accurately dosed addi- tives, good dispersion, and fast and complete


decomposition


agents come in liquid form. We see benefits in processes that require highly accurate distribution, early decomposition and the finest cell sizes and distribution. The liquid carrier system allows a faster decomposition of the active ingredients, which can lead to lighter foam structures. As we primarily address customers in the food packaging market, our liquid chemical foaming agents have food contact approval.” Delivery of the foaming additives is also a key element in the delivery of a foaming solution, according to Groeseling. “For liquid chemical foaming agents we use the full service package that is already established in our colour business. This includes pump technology, dosing equipment and technical service. Due to ease of handling and implementation in existing process technology, it has been successfully applied in sheet extrusion lines. With this technology, we see significant improvements in cell size, distribution and mechani- cal performance of thermoformed end-use articles.” While a Europe-wide ban on azodicarbonamide (ADC) is currently on hold it still represents a threat for the industry, according to Jan-Erik Wegner, Product Manager Additives Europe, BU Master- batches at Clariant. He says that the company is prepared, however, and can already offer a portfolio of endothermic chemical foaming agents for ADC replacement in various applications, including plastisols, cables and profiles. Speaking at AMI’s Polymer Foam conference in November 2017, Dow Europe Associate Technical Service and Development Manager Przemek Olszynski highlighted advances in polyethylene foams for applications such as cushioning and protection, moisture insulation, thermal insulation, wrapping and sound dampening. The company has introduced three new high melt strength products to its Agility LDPE foam range, with targeted foam densities from 0.916-0.919. The new materials are claimed to offer improved cell stability compared with incumbent tubular LDPEs.


Above: Rigid packaging is a market where foaming can deliver environmental benefits


62


Specific advantages include: good processability; thicker and lower density foams; good foam quality after minimum optimisation time; good recover- ability after long term testing under load; smooth surface finish and higher gloss; good emission values according to VDA 278 (VOC/FOG) test; and reduced corrugation (EC7000). Arkema reported on developments in low


COMPOUNDING WORLD | January 2018


density Pebax foam at the same event. Research engineer Clio Cocquet explained that the structure of Pebax leads to a better energy return than some other thermoplastic elastomers (ELF divided by 2-4). Other performance benefits include flexibility at low temperature, tuneable mechanical proper- ties and the availability of bio-based options with renewable contents ranging from 28-97%. All Pebax grades are foamable by injection moulding using supercritical nitrogen (density of 0.2) to give a weight reduction of 80%. Sebastian Heitkamp, Marketing Manager at


Cabot in Switzerland, described developments in conductive foam through use of functionalisation and enhanced properties provided by conductive masterbatches based on carbon black. The company has recently introduced Cabelec XS6455A electrically conductive concentrate, which is made from speciality conductive carbon black dispersed in a specific carrier suitable for crosslinked foam. The carbon black provides cost effective electrical and thermal conductivity in the final compound, the company says. Heitkamp highlighted the growing need for functionalisation of foams to ensure they deliver the performance required in more demanding applications, in particular to meet safety require- ments. The Cabelec XS6455A masterbatch can be used in different polymer types and can be customised for foam density and hardness. A potential dilution rate up to 40% is possible, depending on process and requirements. CellMat Technologies and the CellMat Labora-


tory at the University of Valladolid in Spain de- scribed developments in production of multifunc-


www.compoundingworld.com


PHOTO: SABIC


PHOTO: CLARIANT


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72
Produced with Yudu - www.yudu.com