ADDITIVES | RECYCLING
Right: Ecopuro’s Boundary Breaker
additive (top) improved the surface finish in this flexible PVC garden hose project
compound producer Aaron Industries has intro- duced Jet-Flo Polypro, a high melt flow recycled PP compound for durable thin-wall parts such as housewares, using the additive to deliver a high melt flow index and good impact performance. Milliken says it will introduce the latest addition to its DeltaMax family at K2019. A new additive introduction from Ecopuro is said to be neither a coupling agent nor a viscosity- modifying additive, but is claimed to solve similar problems. The company says its patented technol- ogy improves dispersion through mechanical action of the particles in the extrusion melting process. The inert additive – called Boundary Breaker – is said to function by creating turbulent flow at the boundary layer between extruder and melt, which helps break up and distribute contami- nants, such as carbon particles, to create smoother surfaces and to allow higher levels of recycled content to be incorporated in a compound.
PCR masterbatch Another recent emerging global trend is increasing demand for masterbatches using 100% PCR as the carrier, says Doreen Becker, Ampacet’s Sustainabil- ity Director. “In the past, most companies were using masterbatches made with virgin resin and letting them down into PCR. Now, we see brands promising to use 100% PCR, which means they need masterbatches made with PCR.” This requirement comes with challenges, including the cost of PCR, which has risen signifi- cantly in the past year, and the quality of PCR, which is not always good and could get worse, says Becker. Contaminants in PCR include incorrectly
sorted polymers as well as adhesives and other low molecular weight species. PCR containers might also have been used to hold something other than the original material and so could have multiple organic contaminants. And as more recycled plastics are used, they may enter the feedstream multiple times. Contaminants and degraded material often lead to bad odour in PCR. Ampacet’s Odor Scavenger 1000258-E is a wide-spectrum odour-absorbing masterbatch that is designed for PE-based PCR but could also be used in other resins, says Becker. The company’s BlueEdge masterbatch is designed specifically for challenges with recycled PET. “For water bottles, in particular, consumers
Turning polymers to valuable additives
Despite the progress being made in mechanical recycling, developing a circular economy is likely to require other innovative approaches. Chemical recycling of polymers back to syngas feedstock and other monomers is attracting a great deal of interest and investment from major players. Canadian company GreenMantra Technologies is one of the technol-
GreenMantra produces its Ceranovus additives from plastic waste by chemical recycling
36 COMPOUNDING WORLD | October 2019
ogy providers in this area. In May this year, for example, it began a joint project with styrenics manufacturer Ineos to chemically convert PCR PS into monomers to feed Ineos Styrolution’s polymerisation process. The company also has technologies to chemically recycle post-con- sumer and post-industrial LDPE, HDPE, and PP into waxes and additives for use in plastics and other materials, such as inks, asphalt, and roofing. Its Ceranovus A series of additives for plastics include A115, A120, and A125 for PE and A155 for PP. It recently began supplying them for PE and PP wood-plastic composite (WPC) lumber production, where they are claimed to increase strength and stiffness. �
www.greenmantra.com
www.compoundingworld.com
PHOTO: GREENMANTRA
PHOTO: ECOPURO
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