MATERIALS | PVC ADDITIVES


Below: Calcium-based stabiliser systems are being used in foamed profile applications in Europe


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important for foamed profiles because most are coextruded, enclosing the foamed core with a PVC or acrylic compact skin. Calcium-based stabiliser systems used in continental Europe for foamed applications are typically designed around the acid scavengers, metal soaps and co-stabilisers that are used in non-foamed rigid PVC profile extrusion. Baerlocher says, however, that specific care must be taken when choosing the co-stabiliser system as some of the known chemistries interfere with the blowing agents used and can lead to some yellow- ing from the start. Perhaps the most challenging part of a one-pack formulation development is the lubricants. The company says adjusting melt viscosity is crucial to successfully extrude wide sheet with an even, flow line-free surface lines and the desired density. Melt viscosity adjust- ments are not exclusively linked to the lubricant selection either; applied acrylic processing aids can also influence the results.


Right: Internal view of IKA’s additive


manufacturing facility at Bitterfeld- Wolfen in Germany


Construction drivers According to German PVC additives manufacturer IKA, the building and construction sector is a key driver towards the use of calcium-based products for PVC worldwide. chief executive officer Alexan- der Hofer says there is a clear trend towards more sustainable products and, as the complexity increases, so do the technical requests. Availability and sustainability of feedstock


remains an issue, Hofer says, while systematic innovation is necessary to meet the ever-increasing demands of the customer base - recycling being a good example. IKA has now developed calcium- based products to replace liquid and tin solutions in almost all application areas. In January of this year IKA Group and Ingenia


Polymers incorporated a joint venture for produc- tion of stabilisers and additives to the North American PVC market. The Houston, Texas-based company — IKAvin Additives — marks another step in IKA’s long term strategic growth, according to Hofer. It will focus on providing added value stabilisers and technical support for North Ameri- can customers, including alternatives to tin in rigid PVC. IKA group board member and co-owner Timo Seibel says the company will continue to focus on ensuring future sustainability along the full PVC supply chain and aims to expand its sustainable- focused product lines worldwide. He says achiev- ing the VinylPlus Supplier Certificate for incorporat-


12 PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION | July/August 2023 www.pipeandprofile.com


ing sustainability in its corporate strategy last year, can be seen as confirmation of its constant efforts in this area. In addition to product development, IKA is also focusing on using energy from renew- able sources, as well as on initiatives for closed loop recycling management and energy consump- tion reduction.


While the construction industry may be key to


PVC additive development, demand has been impacted by a slowdown in the sector and the wider economy, according to Dow. “As a result, there was a sudden drop-off in demand in Q4 of 2022, resulting in an overstocking of PVC additives from last year that the industry is still working through,” said Azize Ala, North American marketing manager within the company’s plastics additives business. “Market signals suggest a continued slowdown in 2023 throughout the value chain coming off the wave of strong demand through the first half of 2022. Despite these challenges, the PVC industry is expected to grow in the next few years, with many PVC capacity expansions announced publicly over the past few years,” Ala said. Like other key players in the PVC additives


market, Dow sees sustainability as a priority in development terms and sees it high on customer priority lists. “This trend in sustainability has led to a significant emphasis on using post-consumer recycled materials in finished PVC products, influencing the development of additive products and how they handle re-processing and formulating


IMAGE: IKA


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