IMPACT MODIFIERS | ADDITIVES
Getting the measure of impact
Many plastics applications require enhanced impact performance, with the growing use of recycled content only adding to the challenges for
compounders.Peter Mapleston reports
Plastics are durable and tough materials but sometimes simply not tough enough. Whether due to exposure to low temperatures or simply use in very highly demanding environments, there are plenty of applications where virgin polymer materi- als can benefit from having their inherent toughness improved through the addition of suitable additives. These vary in chemistry in many ways, depending on the polymer that needs to be modified and, of course, the producer of the additive itself. This article takes a look at some of the latest options virgin and recycled plastics modification. Dow offers compounders a broad portfolio of modifiers under different brands – Fusabond, Surlyn, Elvaloy and Elvaloy AC. These are designed for use with a variety of polymers, including glass-filled PP, ABS, and engineering polymers such as polyamides and polyesters. Last year, it extended its offering for PA with the launch of three new grades. According to Marie Buy, Marketing Manager
www.compoundingworld.com
EMEA for Dow, the company offers several polymer modifier technologies that can be used for polyam- ide toughening. These typically combine increased low-temperature impact properties with good adhesion to the polyamide. The adhesion is achieved as a result of the reaction of amine or carboxylic acid end-groups of the polyamide polymer with the functional group of the tougheners. Fusabond N functional polymer grades are maleic anhydride (MAH)-grafted polymers, which Buy says are selected from Dow’s extensive range of polyole- fin elastomers, which includes its Engage polyolefin elastomers and Nordel EPDM. They provide com- pounders with high-flow impact modification for tough and super-tough PA6 and PA66 compounds, including good performance at very low tempera- tures. Automotive EV applications are considered prime targets for impact modification. Fusabond A is a modified ethylene-acrylate copolymer. “It provides compounders with a very good combination of flow and toughness for
Main image: Impact
performance has long been a challenger for plastic
compound formulators and the growing use of recycled content
intensifies that
April 2021 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 23
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
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