TECHNOLOGY | FUNCTIONAL FILLERS
better melt flow, improved extrusion behaviour, reduced water uptake, improved LOI values, better wet electrical performance, and better aging performance at high temperatures.
Opportunity for CaCO3 Calcium carbonate, widely used in rigid and flexible
Figure 1: Effect of addition of different grades of Magnifin MgOH on elongation, before and after ageing. Source: Huber
Figure 2: Effect on a PVC compound with 0.5 and 3 phr TiO2 of 500 hours accelerated weathering (QUV with a wet/dry cycle of 20 hours UV light at 50°C and 4 hours condensation at 40°C). Lower yellowing means less pigment is required, as well as superior retention of physical properties in the finished parts.
Source: Huber
PVC compounds, imparts a good balance in impact strength, stiffness and brightness, Huber claims. Its Hubercarb W3N has an extremely low concentra- tion of iron (40 ppm) and moisture (0.01%) along with a silica content below detectable levels. “The presence of iron chloride has been shown to promote the dehydrochlorination of PVC, even in small concentrations,” the company says. “The use of Hubercarb W3N imparts much improved colour retention for rigid PVC pipes and exterior profiles.” This effect is shown in Figure 2. Consultant DeArmitt points out that use of calcium carbonate often makes sense in the less expensive polymers such as PE, PP and PVC where it can improve stiffness, retain strength, and improve impact resistance while lowering com- pound costs. He explains that while fillers in general tend to reduce impact resistance in impact resistant polymers, including PP block copolymers, they can actually improve the impact resistance of more brittle polymers such as PP homopolymer. “It is observed that 10-20 weight % of fine calcium carbonate treated with stearic acid helps impact resistance by causing the polymer to cavitate in many locations upon impact,” he says. “This spreads the impact energy over a greater volume of polymer. As the particles debond, encouraged by reduced adhesion caused by the
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Thermoplastic Concentrates in NAFTA. Opportunities in a changing market
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