TECHNOLOGY | IMPACT MODIFICATION
Right: JET- FLO Polypro high melt flow recycled PP from Aaron Industries uses Milliken’s DeltaMax Performance Modifier
nation of high MFI and good impact strength makes JET-FLO Polypro a good choice for durable thin-wall parts such as housewares. By adding significant value to
recycled PP, Aaron Industries aims to encourage broader use of sustainable alterna- tives to virgin PP resin. “Our new JET-FLO PP is a major step forward toward expanding the use of recycled plastics,” says Robert M Tocci, Vice President of Aaron Industries. “Manufacturers no longer have to sacrifice impact performance to achieve the high melt flow, which is essential for thin-wall moulding and faster throughput. Our collaboration with Milliken to leverage DeltaMax technology has been a great success. Milliken is one of the few suppliers with the knowledge, enthusiasm and technical resources we needed to help us develop this new compound and drive true innovation in the recycling industry.” Historically, Aaron Industries used peroxide to
increase the MFI of its recycled PP. However, the peroxide route also reduces impact strength. The DeltaMax technology enables recycled PP to deliver equal or better performance and processability compared to virgin resins, increasing MFI by as much as five times while maintaining impact strength. Aaron Industries and Milliken finalised the development of the JET-FLO compound in seven months. The product, which is available in eastern parts of the US and Canada, is supplied as pellets in black and grey. The companies say that although many manufacturers want to incorporate recycled PP into their applications to increase sustainability and reduce costs, they face challenges in sourcing materials with the needed properties. This is
Right: Additive masterbatches from Clariant are being used to improve impact
performance of post-consumer recyclate
particularly true when moulding thin-wall parts requiring good impact
resistance. A key issue facing
recyclers is the large proportion of recycled content that comes from single-use applications such as packaging. These material streams may lack
the more-robust physical properties required for typical
recycled PP applications such as durable goods. Recyclers also have to contend with variability in feedstocks.
Capacity expansion Mitsui Chemical is currently expanding capacity for its Tafmer high performance polyolefin elasto- mers at its plant in Singapore. Available in several grades, the resins are suitable for a range of compound applications, with two grades devel- oped specifically for use as impact modifiers. Tafmer PN is a propylene-based grade that features what the company describes as a con- trolled nano-crystalline structure. It is said to offer good impact modification in PP resins. Tafmer M is an acid-modified type suitable for low cost impact modification of polyamides. Clariant Masterbatches and its Packaging
Market group have developed a number of additive masterbatches to ensure that plastic packaging is recycled, including impact modifiers. Its CESA-mod additive masterbatches reduce brittleness and increase impact strength enough to allow bottles and containers made of post-consum- er recyclate (PCR) to better meet top-load and drop-test standards. “We can recover – we must recover – much,
much greater volumes and turn the vast amount of packaging waste into new raw material. To do that, we need to overcome major challenges around the capabilities of proper sorting of waste to produce a high-quality PCR and around issues related to colouration, stabilisation, product safety and process stability,” says Alessandro Dulli, Clariant Masterbatches Global Head of Packaging.
High-heat solutions Turning to some of the impact modified compounds on the market, SABIC recently introduced its Xenoy HTX resin, which uses a polyester-based high-heat technology for impact resistant, high performing structural automotive applications. The company says that Xenoy HTX resin is especially relevant for
54 COMPOUNDING WORLD | April 2020
www.compoundingworld.com
IMAGE: MILLIKEN
IMAGE: CLARIANT MASTERBATCHES
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