RECYCLING | ADDITIVES
Building knowledge on additives for recyclate
R&D in additives is leading to development of products that counter degradation and improve the properties of recyclate so they match the quality of virgin materials. By Peter Mapleston
The plastics industry is working hard to find ways to incorporate higher content of recyclate – especially post-consumer recyclate – in many key applications in order to meet sustainability goals driven by both growing consumer concern and stricter regulatory requirements. One of the major challenges is to mitigate the quality deficiencies of polymers arising from thermal and mechanical stress they are exposed to during the recycling process. In September, BASF launched its IrgaCycle
range of additives for improving the properties of mechanically recycled plastics. IrgaCycle is offered as part of BASF’s newly-branded Valeras portfolio of additives which enhance sustainability value in applications by improving durability, reducing waste, saving energy, reducing emissions and promoting biodiversity. The new range includes additive solutions that can help increase the percentage of recycled content in applications that include packaging, automotive, and construction. “These solutions address specific quality issues associated with recycled resins, such as limited processability, poor long-term thermal stability and insufficient protec- tion from outdoor weathering,” says the company. Sebastian Heitkamp, BASF’s Business Segment Manager Plastic Additives Packaging & Consumer Goods spoke to Plastics Recycling World during the Plastics Recycling World Expo in Essen, Germany in September, where he made a presen- tation on the IrgaCycle additives to visitors at the conference theatre. “Our ambition with IrgaCycle is
www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com
to provide solutions for mechanical recycling challenges,” he says. BASF is also involved in developing chemical recycling of plastics waste, but the start of the IrgaCycle product family shows that the group “puts both on the same page – me- chanical recycling is equally important as chemical recycling”, he says. Heitkamp says the first five IrgaCycle additives launched by BASF are “the start of a product platform based on our experience in the industry”. This experience in additives comes largely from BASF’s 2008 takeover of Ciba Specialty Chemicals and its broad portfolio of additive products. BASF is able to bring multiple benefits to the mechanical recycling value chain, including LCA support,
Main image: Returning recycled plastics to virgin-like quality is a key goal for additives suppliers
October 2021 | PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD 53
IMAGE: BASF
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