May 1994 Additives for Polymers

can be set to automatically display the results in the required scale, yet results expressed in a different scale can be displayed at the touch of a button. Contact: The Tintometer Ltd, Waterloo Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SPI 2JY, UK. Tel: +44- 722-327242. Fax: + 44- 722-412322.

On-line calorimeter

The non-contact tri-stimulus calorimeter Colorex, for in-line colour comparison and control, is now available in a US Hunterlab colour scale version. The new model extends Colorex’s capability for repeatable, accurate, product quality-control to manufacturers throughout the world who have standardized on the Hunterlab scale. Product colour is a reliable indication of process quality in many applications including colouring of polymers and plastics, and Colorex is already used in the converting, textiles and plastics industries in closed-loop quality-control and open-loop final inspection systems. Colorex’s tri- stimulus colour method of measurement is optimized for in-line colour comparison - continuously monitoring colour trending over time, or from batch to batch, and providing process control information. The instrument is said to be ideal for use with dilution and mixing processes such as colouring and a wide variety of heat and chemical treatments. Not limited by size or shape, Colorex can be used with almost any product type - continuous or discrete, regular or irregular - including powders, liquids, granules, flakes, pastes, sheets and slurries. Contact: Gordon Coventry, Infrared Engineering, Galliford Road, The Causeway, Maldon, Essex, CM9 7xD, UK. Tel: +44- 621 -852244. Fax: i- 44-621-856180.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Concern around the ozone depletion potential of CFC blowing agents led to the development of the Montreal Protocol in 1987

Ol994 Elsevier Science Ltd

which laid down a timetable for complete phase-out. Progress towards suitable alternative blowing agents has been swift in some areas, and the original phase-out agreement has been amended (London, 1990 and Copenhagen, 1992) to bring CFC elimination forward to 1995 and to set a scale of reduction measures for the reduced impact HCFC materials, leading to elimination by 2030.

The European Community is likely to impose more stringent HCFC phase-out scales than those contained in the latest Montreal Protocol amended (2014 has been proposed) and these are likely to be supplemented by a number of usage restrictions. At the present time it seems that use may be prohibited in flexible foams and rigid foams for non- insulating applications but allowed for rigid insulating foams and integral skin foams used for safety applications. Although many European processors have already made the move to HCFCs (particularly HCFC14lb), in the long term CO2 and hydrocarbon foaming options seem to be the likely solutions. The domestic appliance market is among those making the fastest progress towards zero ozone depletion technology. In part this has been driven by the introduction of the Blue Angel environmental award in Germany. This requires that the blowing agent used in the insulating foam is non-CFC, chlorine-free and has no ozone depletion potential. Today, most appliance makers favour cyclopentane materials because they provided better insulation performance than foams produced using n-pentane. Both are relatively low cost materials that process reasonably well.

CONFERENCES: SYMPOSIA

SPI Composites Institute conference proceedings

The complete illustrated texts of over 75 technical reports presented at the 49th

9

Additives .for Polymers May 1994

conference of the SPI on 7-10 February 1994 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, are now available.

The proceedings contain the work of specialists from industry, universities, and research organisations in the United States and Europe. The reports provide in-depth information on important new developments in the materials, processes, performance and applications of a wide range of reinforced plastics and composites. Broken down into 18 sessions, this large book contains up-to-date info~~ion on the following topics: elusion, Fillers and Additives, Resin Transfer Moulding, SMC/BMS, Corrosion, Construction, Regulatory, Marine, Recycling, Resins, and Reinforcements.

been adopted by Ford on the Mondeo and Citroen on the Xantia and have resulted both in cost savings and improved engine m~agement. Resecting the increasing importance of the automotive and similar consumer orientated markets for European compound producers, CDC have restructured the scope and content of the annual ‘Compounding’ conference series in order that more focus and attention can be directed to exploring - in greater detail - market and technical developments of significance to impounders, and their suppliers, over the shod-to-medium term. Contact: Corporate ~eve~o~rne~t Combatants Ltd, 3 7&e Plain, Thornbury, Bristol, BS12 2AG, UK. Tel: -I-44-4.54-41950.5. Fax: i-44- 454-41 3421.

SPI Composites Institute’s 49th Annual Conference & Expo ‘94 Proceedings, 1994 is priced at SFr 195 and is available from: Technomic Policing AG, Missionstrasse 44, CH-40.55, Base& ~w~t~er~~. Tel: +41-61- 381-5226. Fax: + 41-U -381-5259.

Conference on functional fillers in thermoplastics and rubbers

Conference on compounds & additives in automobiles

The first in a new series of Compound User conferences to be organised by Corporate Development Consultants in the UK will be held at the Amsterd~ Schiphol Hilton on 16 May 1994 and will examine the technical and commercial trends influencing the demand for performance compounds and additives in the European automobile market. Despite the length and depth of recession in Europe generally over the past few years, the automotive industry has remained a dynamic developmental market in which new opportunities for performance polymers and compounds are continually being created through advances in new material and process technology. Perhaps the most outstanding example in recent years has been the commercial adoption in 1993 of air inlet manifolds injection moulded in glass reinforced heat stabilized 6/6 polyamide. Produced by fusible core technology, replacing aluminium die castings, these have

“~nc~on~ Fillers and Additives for Thermoplastics aud Rubbers” is the title of a conference to be held in Berlin, Germany, on 26-28 September 1994. The purpose of the conference is to bring together users and producers for a full discussion on emerging opportunities, applications and materials development/technology for fillers and additives in thermoplastics and rubbers. Fillers and additives which will be considered are calcium carbonate, silica, kaolin, talc, ATH, ZnO, wollastonite, cenospheres, antioxidants, light stabilizers, silanes and other materials. Users will learn about new grades as well as new techniques for getting the maximum benefit from each filler and additive. Producers will hear about new market opportunities, as well as learn new ways to modify, classify, micronize and add value to their products. Other sessions will deal with surface treatments, compounding, blending, and the special problems of using recycled plastics. The market for fillers and additives in thermoplastics and rubbers has grown an average of 8% per year over the past decade. This growth is expected to continue through the 1990’s as resin suppliers, compounders and end users gain a

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