MATERIALS | PVC ADDITIVES
Right: Dow is seeing demand for its process- ing aids and capstocks in areas such as outdoor living
of this market. “Our extensive acrylic portfolio provides excellent UV weather durability, and Acryligard Capstock Resins from Dow offer exceptional weathering and impact resistance for use in PVC decking, railing and outdoor furniture,” said Ala.
Another key additive provider seeing a slower
market is Norac Additives. “That does not mean that things are bad, but there is a sluggishness to the market that has been absent in the previous 2-3 years,” said Stuart Parks, technical manager at the US-based company. “However, there are opportu- nities in this slowdown for new developments to make their way to trial and for companies to sit down and think about what their goals are long term. Contrast this to the market before, where they were only able to think about how to get their next order out of the door.” Sustainability, again, is cited a as a key trend by
Above: The AM Stabilizer plant at Valparaiso in Indiana, US, produces
stabilisers for flexible and rigid PVC markets
Parks. “The main trends really do centre around the important issue of sustainability. Particularly in stabilisers, there is interest in how to make addi- tives with a lower carbon contribution, either through energy expenditure or with the additive ingredients themselves.” One of Norac’s latest products is Norstab 85, which was developed when tin stabilisers were in short supply and the industry needed a way to stretch availability. “To that end, Norac developed this ‘booster’ system, which allows producers to lower their tin dosage,” Parks said. “We do see synergy between calcium-zinc systems and tin stabilisers, offering better early colour and improved weathering - in QUV acceler- ated weathering testing - than tin stabilisers alone. The cost in the worst cases is offset. However, there are cost saving opportunities. That simply depends on the formulation, and what it is hoped to accom- plish. Norac is happy to assist in determining how
best to deploy Norstab 85 in specific applications,” he said. “Future developments we hope to address
revolve around offering zinc-free stabiliser options for rigid PVC applications,” Parks said. “With the industry and consumers focusing increasingly on environmental impacts, we feel that the move away from heavy metals will be important for the long-term growth of our industry. Norac will collaborate with any company sharing the same idea and interest.”
Environmental concepts Environmental considerations are prime considera- tions in the latest stabiliser developments at Adeka. “A lot of PVC materials for building, film, and wire and cable are now being developed according to environmentally friendly concepts,” says Marie-Raphaël Morvillier, technical director, Adeka Polymer Additives Europe. “To accommo- date these requests, Adeka has been offering calcium-zinc system stabilisers as an alternative to lead stabilisers, such as the ADK STAB RX-300 series for fittings and the ADK STAB RUP series for wire and cable. They provide good heat and colour stability, processability and mechanical properties.” Adeka has also been working on tin stabiliser
replacement. “Although it is considered to be difficult to replace them due to their good stability performance, our latest stabiliser can provide similar transparency, colour and heat stability, and heat ageing characteristics in comparison to tin stabilisers,” said Morvillier . “In addition, we have developed a stabiliser formulation with good weatherability for flexible PVC. The system can provide long-term weatherability in outdoor applications.”
16 PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION | July/August 2023
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www.pipeandprofile.com
IMAGE: AM STABILIZERS
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
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