Avante Releases New Polyolefin Antioxidant for Recycling

Avante introduces a new polyolefin antioxidant, Cesa™ Nox A4R Additive, for polyolefin and PET recycling and PCR color prediction services. 

These sustainability solutions are specifically designed to improve the experience of customers working on PCR for packaging. These programs are aligned with Avante's eight approaches to helping clients achieve sustainability.

Cesa™ Nox A4R additives for recycling provide good value and they use half the dilution of standard antioxidants. Applications for polyolefins stabilized with this additive include packaging, automotive parts and consumer products.

The PCR color prediction service helps brands understand what color can be achieved based on PCR usage. It uses sophisticated techniques to determine whether color is feasible in a new application with the addition of PCR, usually by color matching in advance.

First for the plastics industry, this in-house developed scheme also calculates how much PCR can be added to an existing application without affecting its signature color. Using proprietary software, Avante experts measured resin properties to determine the gamut of colors that could be successfully reproduced on PCR-based materials.

This service simplifies and accelerates the selection of target colors for PCR-containing polymers, thereby avoiding time-consuming trial and error. By speeding up the evaluation process, the service brings greater flexibility to customers who would otherwise need to switch from one PCR resource to another, which is especially important due to fluctuating supply.

BASF and Thor collaborate

Development of non-halogenated flame retardants for polyolefins

BASF and THOR have partnered to develop non-halogenated flame retardants, providing customers with comprehensive solutions to improve the sustainability and performance of specific plastic blends, as well as meet combustion safety requirements.

Growing demand from the global construction and automotive industries, coupled with stricter combustion safety standards, will significantly impact the demand for sustainable flame retardant chemicals.

Combined experience with flame retardants provides customers and end users with information highlighting the synergies of BASF's halogen-free flame retardant Flamestab® with THOR's phosphate ester AFLAMMIT® technology for use in polyolefins, which is often a challenge Applications.

Experts from THOR and BASF Plastic Additives have worked together for several years to develop solutions to meet flame retardant specifications for applications with a focus on replacing halogenated flame retardants. Both parties are active members of the Phosphorus, Inorganic and Nitrogen-based flame retardant association PINFA, working closely together to provide sustainable polymer systems that withstand ignition and flame propagation during their use.

BASF supplies antioxidants to 3T Company

For stable recycling of HDPE sheets

BASF and 3T Industries, helping pineapple cultivation in Malaysia to increase its production and save resources. 3T Industries uses BASF's IrgaCycle™ UV033 DD additive to improve 100% recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) sheet for use as a pineapple protector.

When pineapples require a warm and humid climate, they are susceptible to damage from solar radiation and high temperatures (> 32°C), which greatly reduces market yields and reduces growers' profits. HDPE protector protects the fruit from direct sunlight while allowing photosynthesis to occur.

IrgaCycle™ is available as a one-pack solution, giving the recycler immediate access to the solution without further pre-blending. It is also more effective than traditional antioxidant systems, reducing the overall number of adjuvants required.

This results in easy and precise metering, improved product quality, and upgraded recycled materials for long-term applications. BSAF not only provides the 3T process with a suitable additive solution, but also provides a recommended solution to stabilize the polymer during processing and outdoor weathering. This is important because an efficient and sustainable application of recycled materials depends on the optimization of processing conditions and modification aids, among others.

IrgaCycle™ includes a range of plastic additive formulations that allow recycled plastics to be combined with virgin materials for the production of high-value plastics. This additive package addresses specific quality issues associated with recycled resins, such as limited processability, poor long-term thermal stability, and insufficient protection against outdoor aging.

New processing aids from Riverdale Blocks electrostatic charge on plastic surfaces

Riverdale Global introduces +Zero Processing Aid, which prevents surface charge build-up during processing of plastic parts, and also acts as a good mold release agent, reducing cycle time by up to 25% by reducing surface tension.

At Riverdalethe, the approach is to create carrier systems to add value to processing and to support pigments in carriers. Innovative carrier technology that enables higher pigment concentrations, better compatibility with engineering resins, and longer stability, especially for pearlescent and metallic colors.

The new carrier system also allows the polymer to flow more easily with less heat, which in turn reduces injection and cooling times. It also makes it possible to use 100% comminuted stock, and as a result processors will see good mold release, whether using virgin or regrind.

The new and improved +Zero formula has a higher concentration, which will result in lower usage levels resulting in significant cost savings. This new processing aid also provides improved regrind processability, as the newly formulated additive allows the use of higher percentages of recycled material, as well as the use of lower grades of regrind. Flow and dispersion are improved with consequent reductions in cycle times.

         Dow and Valoregen Partner

          Construction of the largest mixed recycling site in France

Dow has announced an agreement with French recycling company Valoregen to continue construction of the largest single hybrid recycling site in France, owned and operated by Valoregen.

The collaboration is another example of Dow working with companies across Europe and around the world to invest in innovative new recycling options, accelerate the circular economy and tackle plastic waste.

The project, which is expected to start operations and deliver recycled materials in the first quarter of 2023, will mark an important step in both mechanical recycling (processing certain plastic waste into secondary products) and newer more advanced recycling processes (which will Waste plastics and hard-to-recycle plastics are degraded into a liquid form similar to naphtha to make resins like virgin materials).

Valoregen's ultimate goal is to create a unique ecosystem capable of recycling all forms of plastic waste in one place. Both mechanical recycling and advanced recycling technologies are complementary and fundamental to achieving Dow's ambition to add at least 100,000 tonnes of recycled plastic to its product options sold to the EU by 2025.

By incorporating these technologies in the same plant, the plant will increase energy efficiency by making yields greater than 80%, well above the average conventional mechanical recovery efficiency of 60-70% - minimizing waste - due to the use of a Intelligent energy management system. Valoregen will also reduce the combined carbon emissions generated by these processes as it works to limit the transportation of waste products to different locations.

SDK and partner development

Microwave-based chemical recycling technology

Showa Denko (Showa Denko = SDK) and Microwave Chemical Co., Ltd., began to jointly develop a new microwave-based chemical recycling technology that directly converts used plastics into chemical raw materials. The two companies are taking various steps to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 and aim to commercialize the new technology in the near future.

SDK and Microwave Chemistry aim to develop a technology that uses radiated microwaves to break down used plastic containers, from which basic chemicals like ethylene and propylene are produced.

By the end of the year, the two companies will study the conditions for forming products through microwave heating, look for catalysts to improve yields of target components, and try to optimize the conditions and processes for decomposition to establish the basic technology.

Compared to other heating methods, microwave heating is special because it only heats the target. In the planned process, we will use microwave absorbers (fillers) to radiate energy to the used plastic in a focused manner, causing the used plastic to break down into base chemicals.

SDK has been in the chemical recycling business at its Kawasaki City plant since 2003, producing clean hydrogen and ammonia through the pyrolysis of used plastics. Therefore, SDK has accumulated comprehensive knowledge related to raw material procurement, disassembly and manufacture of end products.

With these high levels of technology and deep experience in process development, Microwave Chemicals has the ability to advance microwave technology. In the field of chemical recycling, the company has established "PlaWaveTM", a microwave-based plastics decomposition technology platform that enables the processing of various types of plastics.

BASF releases catalyst and absorbent portfolio

Purification of pyrolysis components

BASF has launched PuriCycle®, a new line of advanced high-performance products for the purification of many complex waste plastic pyrolysis products. The PuriCycle® portfolio includes novel catalysts and absorbents developed for the selective removal or conversion of a wide range of impurities in oil, enabling downstream processing of recycled plastic streams.

PuriCycle® can help customers meet industry portfolio compliance standards, benefit from efficient purification and upgrading solutions, and add flexibility to chemical recycling processes for plastics.

PuriCycle® purified pyrolysis oil, a secondary raw material obtained from the chemical recycling of plastic waste, will be added to the production process of new plastics at the beginning of the value chain.

The purification of pyrolysis oil obtained from waste plastics is the most demanding technical task in the recycling of chemical plastics. Impurities, such as halogens, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur compounds, and high levels of reactive components, such as dienes, complicate downstream use and impose restrictions on the further processing of such streams in the production of new materials.

Domo Chemical Company Targets

Driving the circular economy in the industrial chain

DOMO Chemicals has announced its ambitious new sustainability goals, accelerating the group's strategy to be recognized as an industry leader in sustainability.

Domo has made great strides towards the first two goals, reducing CO2 emissions from 400 tons in 2019 to 350 tons today, and increasing its electricity from renewable sources from 4 in 2019. % to 10% today.

Domo's new target demonstrates the company's ambition to actively promote its subsequent conservation and circular economy along the complete industrial chain, thus making a huge contribution to the chemical industry's commitment to achieving global CO2 reduction goals.

At DOMO's new Sustainability Strategy Center, there is one goal:

□ Reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40% by 2030, 80% by 2040, and carbon neutrality by 2050.

□ Increase electricity from renewable sources by 50% by 2030 and 100% by 2040, compared to 4% in 2019 as a baseline.

In engineered materials sales, double cyclical products by 2030, using this year's 10% as a baseline.

Additives and Pigments

Tolsa offers mineral antimicrobials for thermoplastics

Tolsa offers three different mineral antimicrobial products for thermoplastics under the trade name ADINS® Protection, two silver-based and one zinc-based.

The company's ADINS® technology enables the loading of different active substances on natural magnesium silicate. This will allow the active to be optimally distributed in the matrix resin to which it is added, a technology Tolsa claims results in high antimicrobial activity.

It also improves the thermal and chemical stability of the active, helping to minimize the amount of addition required for a given level of protection. Target applications include automation, plastic toys, swimming pools and hospital products.

Tolsa recently conducted a study on PVC formulations for swimming pools with ADINS® Protection products, in collaboration with Spanish masterbatch specialist Delta Tecnic.

According to European Standard 14476:2013+A2:2019., ADINS® Protection can be said to be active against all enveloped viruses, including coronaviruses, noroviruses, rotaviruses, adenoviruses. This product also complies with the EU Directive (2009/48/EC) on the safety of toys.

Solvay's new stabilizer portfolio

Protect polyolefin surfaces

Solvay announced the development of a new portfolio of UV-C stabilizers. They are designed for demanding hygienic applications, where the polyolefin surface is treated with UV-C (200-280nm) ultraviolet light to combat COVID-19 and hospital-susceptible infections.

The new proprietary stabilization technology represents an important milestone for the polyolefin industry as it is the first to address polyolefin degradation, discoloration and microcrack formation caused by frequent exposure to UV-C radiation of.

Solvay has developed an engineered application technology that can use UV-C light as an antimicrobial agent for the sterilization of polyolefin surfaces while safely protecting these surfaces from UV-C-induced degradation.

UV-C irradiation can inactivate microorganisms and is scientifically proven to be effective against the new coronavirus. However, the proven UV-C germicidal effect also exposes the treated surface to much higher UV energy than conventional UV-A and UV-B stabilizers, potentially accelerating material degradation.

Solvay's new UV-C stabilization technology targets a wide range of polyolefin applications, including surgical medical equipment and patient rooms, aircraft and shared vehicle interiors, and sports venues.

Solvay says its new UV-C stabilization technology helps end users achieve levels of UV-C disinfection that are effective on surfaces of polyolefin parts without sacrificing material performance.

FRX meets WSDE regulations

Training customers on sustainable flame retardants

FRX Innovations announced that it is accelerating its communications and education programs to help customers, OEMs, and wholesalers meet upcoming WSDE regulatory changes that will impact the consumer electronics supply chain of companies active in this state (Washington) and Material Design, and as a result, affects the entire United States.

The development is part of a broader Washington initiative for safer products, a groundbreaking set of laws to replace potential exposure of consumers to toxic chemicals in a range of applications.

WSDE issued its Phase 3 regulatory decision proposal to the state legislature to permanently ban the use of brominated flame retardants in all material casings of various electronic products and appliances.

Specifically, this action will impact high-touch electronic devices such as televisions, computer monitors and home appliances, and will drive a shift to more sustainable alternatives such as FRX's line of Nofia® flame retardant polymer-based additives.

FRX has invested more than $120 million and is in commercial production at a safety-licensed facility in Antwerp, Belgium. FRX is currently supplying its Nofia® flame retardant product line to a growing number of multinational OEMs around the world.

ECKART Launches Color Blue Pigment

Has fade resistance

ECKART introduces the first EDELSTEIN series of sapphire blue pigments, a high chroma blue pigment with anti-fade technology. It offers striking dark-down flop and strong opacity. It helps to maintain the high chromatic blue of the pigment at all viewing angles, even at very flat angles.

The above features distinguish this EDELSTEIN sapphire blue pigment from conventional effect pigments, in which the hue changes to an off-white light shade depending on the viewing angle. These properties make this pigment an ideal solution for darker shades.

Another feature of this innovative pigment is its sharp flop, which improves the plasticity of the end product when interacting with and reflecting light. In addition, there is excellent depth, combined with noble shimmering effect and strong hiding power.

Due to its sharp hiding power and high chemical resistance, EDELSTEIN Sapphire Sapphire is suitable for a variety of applications. It is suitable for plastics, paints and printing inks. It can be processed in all systems, according to all coating techniques and printing processes. It does not exhibit electromagnetic shielding effect, but provides high radar transmittance. It has a shelf life of up to 10 years.

For outdoor applications, ECKART recommends that these pigments perform well because of their good weather and moisture resistance. Furthermore, they show interlayer adhesion of the coatings.