COMPATIBILISERS | ADDITIVES
Bringing together dissimilar materials
Innovative technologies improve performance of fillers and blends of dissimilar polymers, and enable compatibilisation of recycled materials, writes Jennifer Markarian
When combining two types of different polymers — as can occur in recycling of mixed plastics — or when adding an inorganic filler to an organic polymer, compatibilisers and coupling agents play a key role at the molecular interface to knit the dissimilar materials together and boost processing, mechanical properties and appearance. Innova- tions include new ways to use these additives as well as bio-based additives to meet the growing demand for renewably sourced materials. Kenrich Petrochemicals’ latest is Ken-React KR
PTOA, a titanate coupling agent manufactured from pine-tree based oleic acid. Sal Monte, Kenrich President and Owner and inventor of the technol- ogy, said that the product was developed as a result of market pressure to use domestic, plant-derived
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sustainable materials in polymeric compositions. He said: “We chose the American pine tree as an oleic acid raw material source for our new titanate as it is widely available and eliminates any supply logistics concerns; comes from responsibly managed forests; is consistent in supply all year round; does not compete for land with food crops (non-edible); does not require land use change; is non-genetically modified (non-GMO); and is palm oil free.”
Monte said that the additive currently has US
EPA clearance to sample for R&D purposes. The company’s existing commercial plant-based
titanate, Ken-React KR TTS, was invented by Monte 50 years ago and is based on isostearic acid derived from rapeseed, which is used widely to
May 2024 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 61
Main image: Getting materials to mix is the focus for specialist additive companies
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK/ALEXA_SPACE
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