ADDITIVES | IMPACT MODIFIERS
Whether in automotive or packaging, end users are demanding lighter solutions with improved impact resistance. Mark Holmes explores the latest developments in impact modification
Making a better impact
Main image: Impact modification is a key requirement in many
performance plastics applications
Whether for automotive body panels, electrical connectors, or rigid packaging, impact perfor- mance is a key material consideration. Add in growing demand for compounds with recycled resin content or formulated using bio-based materials and the need for additives to enhance impact properties is clear. This article takes a look at some of the latest developments and product offerings in impact modifiers. According to Dow, polymers such as polypro- pylene (PP), polyamide (PA) and polyesters are frequently formulated with impact modifiers to reach the toughness levels required in demanding applications in the automotive, electrical and electronics, and other industries, often in combina- tion with reinforcing fillers to provide an optimised stiffness/toughness balance. “Dow offers polar and non-polar ethylene copolymers that are very efficient materials for the different impact modification needs across a broad application temperature range,” says Dr Olaf Henschke, Dow’s EMEA Marketing Manager, Transportation. “Engage polyolefin elastomers in PP compounds, Fusabond functional polymers and Surlyn ionomers in PA6 and 66 compounds, as well
54 COMPOUNDING WORLD | April 2023
as Elvaloy AC and Elvaloy copolymers and terpoly- mers in PET or PBT compounds, are well estab- lished modifiers.” In terms of new development, Dow says its
efforts are now focused on developing technolo- gies that minimise environmental footprint. “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a critical driving force across many industries, with specific challenges for plastic compounds in the automo- tive industry. As a result, OEMs are innovating new ways to reduce carbon emissions in the selection of raw materials, their manufacturing process and dur- ing the vehicle lifetime,” says Henschke. “Lightweighting is a key approach to reducing car emissions by helping reduce fuel consumption or increasing the range of electric vehicles. Replacing metal parts with thermoplastic solutions is one way to create lighter vehicles; we are seeing an increasing number of developments in PP and PA compounds, but also in polyesters,” he says. “With the electric vehicle (EV) trend, metal
replacement for weight reduction presents different challenges that include a lower coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) for PP compounds but also improved combinations of flame retardancy
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IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
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