Coupling agents & dispersants | additives feature
Developments in coupling agents, dispersants and compatibilizers are meeting the challenge of new and evolving polymer blends and composites, reports Pat Toensmeier
Matchmakers: creating compatibility in compounds
Producers are busy enhancing coupling agents, dispersants and compatibilizers to improve compound performance in a number of applications. They are extending the properties of established additive chemistries and, in many cases, working with select compounders on custom versions. One of the applications that is benefi ting from these
enhancements is polyolefi n wire and cable sheathing, which relies on coupling agents among other additives to meet a range of requirements, from water resistance to voltage loads. Another important end-use market is the automotive
industry, where high-quality recyclate compounded with virgin resin is fi nding growing use for non-cosmet- ic parts, such as under-the-hood components. The recycling of plastics is itself a major driver for developments in compatibilizers and dispersants.
www.compoundingworld.com
Streams of commingled materials from high-volume markets, such as the packaging, automotive and carpet sectors, are raising the bar for compounders when it comes to effectively converting these materials into formulations whose value extends beyond applications in commodity parts. One notable infl uence occurred early last year, when China enacted an initiative called Operation Green Fence that restricted imports of poorly sorted or contaminated shipments of scrap material. For years countries had shipped scrap to China for use by local industries, which were hungry for a source of inexpen-
August 2014 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 33
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