August 2013 Additives for Polymers5

In order to produce these new products, the company has upgraded its state-of-the-art continuous polymeriza-tion process in Geleen, The Netherlands. This enables it to engineer ‘an exceptional terpolymer’ with a high ther-mal stability and excellent adhesion properties due to the presence of the maleic anhydride groups, resulting in ‘the optimal balance’ between thermal improvement, mechan-ical properties and cost performance, Polyscope claims.

The company and its customers are continuously exploring new opportunities and applications for Xiran IZ grades, which could potentially be used in combina-tion with other polymers, it says. ‘Within Polyscope we strive for innovation excellence, by offering pioneering products to our partners in the plastic industry. These new products have been developed by further build-ing on our manufacturing and material development expertise in combination with intimate customer interac-tion’, explains Peter Tackx, business director Engineering Plastics at Polyscope. ‘As experts in styrene maleic anhy-dride copolymers and their chemistry, Polyscope is always ready to apply its in-depth knowledge in order to find new materials and bring these to the market. By working in close collaboration with our clients, we are able to cus-tomize our Xiran portfolio to fully meet their needs and develop new and exciting applications’, he concludes.

Contact: Polyscope Polymers BV, Geleen, The Netherlands.

Tel: +31 46 750 0010, Web: www.polyscope.eu

BYK-Chemie presents styrene suppressant and air release additives

Germany’s BYK-Chemie, part of the Altana group, has unveiled two new environment-

friendly additives. The first is a ‘green’ styrene emission reducer for unsaturated polyesters and vinyl ester systems with food contact legal sta-tus, and the second an air release agent based on renewable sources intended for unsaturated polyester resins as well as solvent-borne and solvent-free systems.

BYK®-S 760 is a new universal styrene suppressant additive for unsaturated polyesters and vinyl ester resins. These resin systems are often used to produce containers

and pipes that are later used in the food industry. BYK-S 760, which is composed of a combination of waxes with polar components, complies with standard food regula-tions in the EU, USA and China. Moreover, the content of ‘green’ raw materials in the new additive is greater than 85%, the company reveals. More than 70% of the ingre-dients contain unsaturated groups, which react with the resin during polymerization. The additive is a low-vis-cosity paste and therefore easy to use, according to BYK. Moreover, it shows no negative influence on interlaminar adhesion, the company reports.

The additive is recommended for use in ambient cur-ing systems, including orthophthalic resins, resins con-taining DCPD, isophthalic resins and vinyl ester resins. An addition level of 0.3–1.0% additive (as supplied) based upon the resin is suggested as a starting point ‘for orientation’, followed by determination of optimal dosage levels through a series of laboratory tests. BYK-S 760 can be added to the resin at any time. If the viscos-ity is too high during processing, it can be melted at 40°C so as to reduce the viscosity, the company advises.

Air release agent BYK-A 505 is a silicone-free mixture of foam-destroying polymers based on renewable sources. In recent years a trend towards environmentally friendly polyester resin systems has emerged, the company reports. BYK-A 505 is the first air release additive for these systems that is based completely on ‘green’ renew-able raw materials, it claims. The product’s performance is on a par with traditional air release agents but the additive is VOC-free and the ingredients do not compete with food production, BYK says.

According to the company, BYK-A 505 is an ‘excellent’ air release additive in hand lay-up and spray-up applica-tions without impact on UV resistance. It is recommended for use with ambient-curing unsaturated polyester resins and in particular for ‘green’ resins as it is entirely based on renewable resources. It is also recommended for use with solvent-borne and solvent-free systems. The suggested addition level is 0.3–1.0% additive (as supplied) based upon the total formulation, though again the optimal levels should be determined through a series of laboratory tests. While the additive can be incorporated during any stage of the production process, including post-addition, it is recommended to add it to the resin at an early stage.

Contact: BYK-Chemie GmbH, Wesel, Germany. Tel: +49 281 670 0,

Web: www.byk.com/additives

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