Vol. 17, No. 8, Page 16

PLASTICISERS : WORLD There is a continuing world shortage of plasticiser grade SUPPLY AND DEMAND chemicals. The vital materials are alcohols, most frequently 2

ethylhexanol, which is derived from propylene, and phthalic anhydride, made from orthoxylene. During 1986, both alcohols and phthalic anhydride were scarce as a result of soaring world demand and plant difficulties. The alcohol shortage shows no sign of relaxing as demand, particularly in the Far East, extends available capacity to the limit. The growth in production of plastics-related items in countries such as Taiwan and South Korea is increasingly shifting the balance of world demand. The U.K. demand for phthalate plasticisers is running well above earlier expectations; in the first 4 months of 1987, consumption was 7% above the same period in 1986. European stock levels for plasticisers currently totals 36,000 tonnes compared with a normal level of 50-55,000 tonnes.

Plast. Rubb. Weekly, 1987, (June 201, 4

COMPANY NEWS

NEW SOLID ADDITIVE Following their successful antistatic concentrates, the ARMOSTAT CONCENTRATES FROM AKZO 'ID" series based on liquid amines, AKZO has developed the

technology further, and can now supply plastics compounders with a second generation of high activity granulates known as NOURYMIX. These additive concentrates include: special fast working antistats for polyolefins, based either on glycerol esters or ethoxylated amines; silicone oil at 20 - 30 % as a lubricant or release agent; sorbitan ester as a PE antifog additive; and maleic anhydride coupling agent for PP. Other experimental NOURYMIX products are underway, and details are available on request from Croxton and Garry Limited, Dorking, Surrey (UK).

COUPLING AGENTS Carboxylated polybutadienes, developed by ICI as a coupling agent for its Fortimax CaCO filler, are being introduced as a product in their own right fo 2 use with a range of other fillers. The products will be marketed by the Resins and Coatings Intermediates business of ICI's Chemicals and Polymers Group.

COMPOUNDING CAPACITY Victor International in the UK has increased its capacity for masterbatch manufacture at its Salford site, and total polymer throughput is now in the region of 400 tonnes/month. In Coventry, Victor has extended the capacity of its colour compounding plant.

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Vol. 17, No. 8, Page 17

METERING OF COLOURANTS

The Conomix metering equipment, recently introduced by Conair in the UK,meters colours and other ingredients from up to four hoppers into a blending hopper equipped with an agitator, under microprocessor control. Throughputs ra=ge from 100 to 1,500 kg/ hr, and accuracy of metering is put at -1 percent. The computer handles programming and closed-loop control of the speed of each metering auger, and provides master speed control to allow raising or lowering of total throughput while maintaining the pre-set blend ratio.

DOSING EQUIPMENT Colormax (UK) has added a low profile compact feeder to its range of blending, loading and storage equipment. It is suitable for automatic dosing of masterbatch, pigments, or other additives directly on to the screw, and costs 2850. Advantages of direct- to-screw dosing include elimination of segregation in the hopper due to vibration, and the ability to dose powders into granules and vice versa, says the company. Dosing range is from 75 grams to 80 kg per hour, and cleaning or colour changing can be done in around two minutes.

CONTINUOUS COLOUR Continuous mixing of colourants is possible with equipment from MIXING Spiroflow based on a rotating spiral elevating conveyor and

three-compartment hopper. A typical use is the blending of virgin, regrind, and masterbatch.

LIQUID PIGMENT DISPENSING PUMP

The latest liquid pigment dispensing pumps from CP instrument the BE 7513 which dispenses liquid colour during injection moulding, using microprocessor control to ensure even distribution and colour consistency from batch to batch. The new pump is selfadjusting, monitoring each moulding cycle in order to programme itself to a consistent colour mix. System features include full digital read-out, maximum flexibility for liquid types and shot size capacity up to 114 ml/min.

BLOWING AGENTS The dispersibility of all Porofor chemical blowing agents made by Bayer in plasticized PVC, polythene, and other thermoplastics has been improved. Dispersion is faster and simple mixing equipment can be used. In addition, two new, special-purpose trial products have been developed: KL j-2014 and KL 3-2019. The former, a modified azodicarbonamide (ADC), is used for PVC and other thermoplastics_ Its low decomposition temperature, which is reached without the need to add kickers, is a great advantage in the expansion of PVC. The new product is used in the production of foamed leathercloth, floor covering, wallpapers and other

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Vol. 17, No_ 8, Page 18

expanded PVC articles. KL 3-2079 has been specially developed for making peroxide crosslinked PE foam. The light coloured foams made with this new product are noted particularly for their low density and uniform fine cell structure.

MIXING AND DISPERSING Plasticolour units produced in the UK are guaranteed to overcome EQUrPMENT - 1 dispersion problems caused by other types of mixing, in extrusion

and injection moulding, and may reduce masterbatch usage by up to 50 per cent, according to Regan Machinery. They are based on thyristor-controlled DC motors, and use small diameter screws to meter masterbatch into the turbulent area just above the screw. The design incorporates a neck-piece, for mounting on the machine between the hopper and the feed throat.

MIXING AND DISPERSING The Montan range of colouring equipment in the UK includes the EQUIPMENT - 2 MB Colour Mini, for metering and mixing one granular additive; the

MB Colour for two/three granular additives; the Unicolour for one main granular component and additives in liquid, powder or granulate form, and the Spectrocolour which handles up to four components. The MB Colour Mini is mounted on the processing machine, between the hopper and the screw inlet. It handles up to 50 kg/hr, and operates on what is described as the throughput gravity mixing principal.

MASTERBATCH FACILITIES Colloids has increased its masterbatch manufacturing capacity at IN THE UK - 1 Widnes for both colours and black, and is to make a number of

changes to its product range. These include the introduction of additional polymer-specific masterbatches, an extension of its universal colour masterbatch range, and a limited range of engineering polymer masterbatches. Antioxidant concentrates and flame retardant masterbatches are also under development, and the company has recently brought out a 'ceramic' effect colour master- batch for domestic end uses. Black concentrates. based on engineering materials such as ABS, nylon 6 and 6.6 and PET are being developed, and two new PE film masterbatches are now avail- able for agricultural applications such as silage covers and for refuse sacks.

MASTERBATC~ FACILITIES Additive Polymers of Chichester specialise in producing tailor- IN THE UK - 2 made masterbatch formulations_ The company manufactures a wide

range of colour and additive masterbatches designed for individual customers in such fields as injection moulding, films, rope and twine, and blow moulding.

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ADDITIVBS FOR No part of this publication may be reproduced. stored in a retrieval system. or transmitted by any form or by any

POLYMERS means. electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers. (Readers in the U.S.A. - please see special regulations listed on back cover.]

Vol. 17, No. 8, Page 19

ADDITIVE FEEDER The AccuMeter additive feeder marketed by AEC Inc. in the US is said to offer metering accuracy and flexibility along with simple calibration. The unit can feed as many as four different materials at rates up to 500 lb/hour per auger with better than 1% accuracy. Its Delrin sheathed augers can be changed quickly to accommodate a wide variety of resins, colourants, regrinds, and other additives.

COLOUR TECHNOLOGY Chroma Corp. in the US is offering colour-technology seminars for SEMINARS its customers_ One-day seminars include an in-plant colour-

control slide show, six hours of lectures, and visuals on controlling colour tolerances_ The next classes are scheduled for August 20 and November 12.

HEAT STABILISERS A brochure issued by M&T Chemicals (US) describes heat stabilizers, impact modifiers, and process aids for use in the production of polyvinyl chloride plastic packaging_

'NEW NAME' MODIFIERS Bayer's Baymod A range of ABS and SAN modifiers for PVC and other FOR FOOD CONTACT USES plastics have now been approved for food contact applications

throughout Europe. The grades in question are designated with an additional code letter F. Applications include film and thermoformed articles for packaging jams and margarines. Estab- lished modifiers Novodur A were re-named in 1986 Baymod A for 'indoor' uses such as in window profiles. The high performance Ultramoll is now marketed as Baymod PU. The modifiers are used widely within the PVC industry by designers and manufacturers for increased reliability and other beneficial properties. These include improved high impact strength, thermoformability, heat and chemical resistance and weatherability. Further information: Bayer UK Limited, Newbury, Berks (UK)

GLASS FIBRE PLANT IN PPG Industries and Formosa Plastics have announced an agreement TAIWAN to build and operate a continuous strand glassfibre manufacturing

plant in Taiwan. The 50-50 joint venture of PPG an Nan Ya Plastics, a subsidiary of the Formosa Plastics Group, is subject to the approval of the Taiwanese government. The plant will have an initial annual capacity of 20,000 tonnes. Production is scheduled to begin in early 1989.

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Vol. 17, No. 8, Page 20

EM1 SHIELDING General Electric Co. Pittsfield, Mass., has entered into an agreement with American Cyanamid Co., Wayne, N.J., to become sole

distributor for Cyanamid's Dry-Blend NCG line of conductive, nickel-coated, graphite-fibre bundles treated with a polymeric binder.

DIARY

COMPOUNDING 88 This international Conference will be held in London on

February 16-17, 1988. Further information Corporate Development

Consultants, Thornbury, Bristol (UK).

GLASS REINFORCED A conference to be held in Jugoslavia September 30 to October 1,

THERMOPLASTIC AND 1988. THERMOSET COMPOSITES

ISSN * ACkONil! 03063'47 WF3 ISSUESEQLTNCE OC168

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