ADDITIVES | COMPATIBILISERS
Compatibilisers play an essential role in ena-
Above: TPE compounds using Kraton’s polymer compatibilisers are widely used in the automotive sector
inorganic/organic surface. Additionally, the coupling agent may have up to six functions in the matrix – which include polymer catalysis and other heter- oatom effects – independent of inorganic content. Typically, titanate-treated inorganics are hydro-
phobic, organophilic and organofunctional. Fillers may be pre-treated or treated in situ, absent of water of condensation and the drying techniques needed with silanes. When used in polymers, the advantages of titanates are said to include in- creased adhesion; improved impact strength and mechanical properties; reduced embrittlement; higher filler loadings; optimised particulate dispersion; increased flow of filled and unfilled polymers at lower process temperatures; and prevention of phase separation. For recyclates, Kenrich offers its Ken-React CAPS
KPR 12/LV titanate coupling agent, which has been designed as an in situ catalyst for copolymerising recycled plastics in the melt. According to Kraton Corporation, multiple end-use applications for thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) compounds are impacted by evolving market needs across different value chains. Some of these can be addressed by creating new compatibilisers. “Industry pressure to reduce carbon emissions has increased emphasis on sustainability and the circular economy,” says Bas Hennissen, Kraton’s Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Specialty Polymers. “The downstream focus on sustainability-driven
innovation and product redesign is among the key trends influencing new product development in TPE compounding,” says Hennissen. “For example, the general automotive industry’s focus on achiev- ing net zero by 2050 and electrification create a need for a product redesign with alternative lower CO2
materials, reducing the part weight through light-weighting and incorporating sustainable recycled or renewable materials to reduce the use of fossil-based resources.”
42 COMPOUNDING WORLD | May 2023
bling TPE compounding innovation to meet evolving industry needs around sustainability and the circular economy, adds Hennissen. One of the significant challenges for new product design is achieving similar performance requirements such as durability, mechanical properties, low-tempera- ture performance, and thermal stability, and preserving product aesthetics while maintaining a comparable system cost. Compatibilisers can effectively enable the use of recycled resins together with virgin plastics, enhance the compat- ibility of different materials and improve product performance for multi-resin design – for example, through increased adhesion between polar substrates.
TPE compounds made from Kraton polymers
are used in a wide range of commercial and consumer products. These high-performance polymers are designed to improve a wide array of end-use products and applications. In addition to the multi-resin compatibility enhancement, Kraton compatibilisers enable multiple functionalities extending from high impact strength and elasticity, durability, transparency, and colourability to processing versatility through compounding, multi-substrate over-moulding, and engineered thermoplastic (ETP) modification. In 2020, Kraton launched its CirKular+ solutions for plastics upcycling and the circular economy with the Performance Enhancement and Compati- bilization Series. CirKular+ products are specifically engineered to address the three key industry challenges to promote end-of-life product recycla- bility, improve inferior PCR quality, and increase the limited reusability of mixed plastic waste. Kraton’s offerings to promote the circular economy have been strengthened with the release of the ISCC PLUS certified renewable CirKular+ ReNew series. “The CirKular+ ReNew series is made using ISCC PLUS certified butadiene ena- bling up to 70% certified renewable content in ReNew equivalents,” says Hennissen. “Certified butadiene is made with a renewable source based on the mass balance approach. Certified renew- able feedstock enables a significant carbon footprint reduction compared with fossil-based alternatives. Using certified renewable butadiene in our product formulations allows up to 65% carbon footprint reduction for Kraton hydrogenated styrenic block copolymers manufactured in our Berre facility in France.” Hennissen adds that the ReNew series products
can offer a drop-in high-performance solution for users of styrenic block copolymers across various
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IMAGE: KRATON CORPORATION
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