the coatings industry. The pigments are both inthe nanoparticle range and the company has reg-istered the names TOR Brite™ and TOR Coat™for marketing identification. Richard Bowers,president/CEO, says that the company had soldquantities in advance of commercial production,which was expected to begin in September. Thenew pigments are said to impart hardness andgloss to coatings, improving characteristics likeimpact and scratch resistance.

These new pigments are the first of a number ofnew products the company is introducing thatutilize its propriety production process, which itsays allows economical production of commer-cial quantities of nanoparticle-size pigments.TOR plans to introduce further nanoparticle pig-ments targeted at applications including plasticsand paper.

Contact: TOR Minerals International, PO Box2544, Corpus Christi, TX, 78403-2544, USA;tel: +1-361-882-5175; fax: +1-361-883-7619;e-mail: info@torminerals.com; URL:www.torminerals.com

FDA approvals for ShepherdColor, Sun Chemical, EliokemShepherd Color’s StarLight™ FL 105 special-effect pigment has been approved by the USFDA for use as a colorant in all types of food-contact polymers. This complements StarLight’sexisting approval in Europe, making it widelyavailable for use in items such as plastic tum-blers, dinnerware and packaging for food andcosmetics. The StarLight product line (ADPO,September 2003) has been developed usinginnovative MicroMirror™ silver-coated glassflake technology to obtain an outstanding bril-liance and sparkle in a variety of different appli-cations. StarLight FL 105 is the medium-sizedparticle size in the range that Shepherd Colorcarries and can be used at levels up to 0.3% byweight in whatever article is being fabricated.Other grades will follow in the future. Since theapproval has been granted for a wide range ofpolymers, products can be manufactured in sim-ple LLDPE to the engineering polymers, such asLCP, the company says.

Sun Chemical’s C.I. Pigment Red 122 productshave also received FDA approval under rule

FCN 426 as a colorant for food contact use innon-fatty food types. This allows pigment loadlevels up to 1.5% by weight in all polymers forthis use, the company reports. Two powder ver-sions and two low dusting granular versions ofthe pigment are covered by the approval.

Finally, Eliokem has gained FDA approval for itsChemigum® P89 nitrile (NBR) powder, whichis commonly used in flexible PVC compounds toimprove heat, chemical and oil resistance whileenhancing mechanical properties such as abra-sion, compression set or elongation. The FDAapproval will extend the use of the NBR powderto applications requiring food contact, such asfilm packaging, food conveyor belt or pipe andtubing. According to Eliokem, Chemigum P89’svery fine particle size makes it ideal for use inPVC film where the consequent increase in filmstrength and tear resistance allows film thicknessto be significantly reduced.

Contact: Eliokem, 14 av Tropiques, 91940 LesUlis, France; tel: +33-1-6929-2700; fax: +33-1-6929-2701; URL: www.eliokem.comShepherd Color Co, 4539 Dues Drive,Cincinnati, OH 45246, USA; tel: +1-513-874-0714; fax: +1-513-874-5061; URL: www.shep-herdcolor.comSun Chemical Corp, 222 Bridge Plaza South,Fort Lee, NJ 07024, USA; tel: +1-201-224-4600 x120; fax: +1-201-224-4392; e-mail:bartonp@sunchem.com; URL: www.sunchem-ical.com

Impact launches new colourmasterbatch portfolioUK-based Impact Colours has launched a uni-versal stock colour masterbatch range, follow-ing investment of nearly £100 000 (�147 000)in its Rushden site. The Maxim universal mas-terbatch portfolio comprise an initial 30 colours,with a further 190 formulations to follow.Impact expects to have the full range availableby the end of the year.

Maxim is available in sizes down to 1 kg for nextday delivery and is capable of colouring 26 differ-ent polymers at addition rates of just 1%, Impactsays. The company will be targeting a wide varietyof injection moulders, as well as thin PVC sheetmarkets, for such applications as food packaging.

November 2004 Additives for Polymers

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