SpecialChem Oxo-biodegradable plastics (OBPs) additives are catalytic materials incorporated into typically traditional polyolefins to alter their degradation behavior. These plastics undergo a two step degradation; an oxidative process that is promoted by the included catalytic additives, followed by biodegradation.

SpecialChem Molecules can be banned for various reasons: human risks, carcinogenic, mutagenic, reproductively-toxic effects; pollution of air, water, land; persistent, bio-accumulative substances; greenhouse effect. Ban can be total or partial depending on the countries and applications. The article emphasizes on this aspect...

SpecialChem Aura, a proprietary color infusion technology launched as part of Bayer MaterialScience's Fantasia, color and special effects program for engineering resins infuses the surface of already-molded thermoplastic parts with color. The infusion process takes place in a heated bath containing a mostly aqueous dispersion of dye and a proprietary, polymer-friendly surfactant.

SpecialChem Bacteria, fungi and algae can affect the aesthetic and physical properties of a plastic or a rubber by causing black spotting or discoloration, pink staining, odour and polymer degradation, fouling etc. Biocides are used to fight these microorganisms. After 'Research and Markets' the market for biocides in plastics had soared to $145m (€113m) in 2005 that is to say a significant rise of 40% since 1995.

SpecialChem VOCs or Volatile Organic Compounds form a broad heterogeneous category of chemical compounds, some of which pose a health hazard and can also lead to greenhouse effect, ozone layer depletion and acidification of the globe atmosphere. Others pose marketing problems of odours, fogging, discolourations, staining. The article emphasizes on this...

SpecialChem Plastics, rubbers, TPE, composites are not monolithic materials but are made from the association of several entities, one or several polymers, fillers and chemicals.When the polymers are immiscible, one of them forms a continuous phase and the other polymer(s) and ingredients are dispersed into it.If there is no compatibility between the continuous phase and the dispersed droplets of the other ingredients, too weak are the mechanical performances and the applications are very reduced. To obtain an industrial material it is necessary to have fine particles homogeneously distributed in the continuous polymer matrix and linked to it by physical and chemical interactions. The article emphasizes on this aspect...

SpecialChem The economic requirements, the environmental regulations, the low processing costs of emergent nations, the more and more reduced design times worsen the competition and push converters to manufacture cheaper and faster. Multiple ways are investigated from the simplest ones such as the optimization of processing parameters up to the most sophisticated ones such as modelling or rapid prototyping...

SpecialChem Processing of a polymer is inherently more or less easy according to its nature, microstructure, morphology, molecular weight, ramifications etc. Moreover, for a given polymer, the processing is more difficult when the level of filler increases...

SpecialChem As other materials, polymer parts and goods have a limited lifetime. Durability is important from all the points of view: technical, economic, marketing, and ecological. The article emphasizes on different ways to improve durability...

SpecialChem All the industrial or agricultural or more generally human activities consume chemicals from natural or synthetic sources. Until 2007, each nation decreed its laws, regulations and standards concerning the use, risks and health hazards of some chemicals for some activities...

SpecialChem One of the most important technological advances in the field of plastics over the last half of the twentieth century has been the extensive replacement of metals with plastics...

SpecialChem Colorants, in the form of polymer additive pigments (inorganic and organic) and dyes, change the look of a given plastic to the human eye. The CIE 1931 Standard Colorimetric System in use today was established at the 1931 Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage conference as a means for precisely defining the color of light. The article emphasizes on colorant selection and coloring methods...

SpecialChem In the plastics industry today and as has been since the start of plastic extrusion, the end user has depended on the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and/or screw manufacturer to supply them with the proper screw design for their material and process. This topic emphasizes on some of the basic knowledge needed in order for an end-user to make the proper decisions when using or purchasing a new single screw for a smooth bore application...

SpecialChem Polymers have often an hydrophobic and soft surface with a somewhat unappealing look and a low surface tension, which is harmful for adhesion of inks, paints and other coating, adhesive joining, decoration, scratch resistance. The article emphasizes on some of the reasons leading to surface treatments and some of the effects of surface modifications...

SpecialChem Practitioners often assume that laser material additives are required for all plastics laser marking applications. However, depending upon the type of plastic to be laser marked and its end-use requirements for contrast and sharp/fine-line quality detail, it may not always be necessary to utilize laser optimized material formulations. Instead, proper selection of the wavelength and type of laser will achieve the requisite degree of markability. The article emphasizes on this technology...

SpecialChem The global plastics additives industry is well into recovery as it continues to hit record sales with revenue close to US $22 billion for 2006 following a record year of US $21 billion in 2005. The article emphasizes on this market...

SpecialChem Despite of a severe selection of polymers and additives and of a careful processing, compounds of plastics or rubbers, can be not enough white. To improve their whiteness and appealing white and opacifying fillers can be used, the most used being titanium dioxide, brighteners that absorb UV and reflect them in visible light making the compound brighter with a slightly different shade, often bluish. The article emphasizes on all this...

SpecialChem Beside the mass-production goods based on superabsorbent polymers, the versatile hydrogels thanks to their large spectra of chemical structures allowing to control at will the absorption rates and capacities open the door to the development of smart applications in various sectors. The article emphasizes on these sectors...

SpecialChem In the determination of antioxidants in plastics and rubber most of the analytical problems arise from three factors: the situation of the antioxidant in a more or less in soluble polymer matrix, the high reactivity and low stability of many types of antioxidants, and the low concentrations of antioxidants present in the polymer matrix.The article emphasizes on these different methods for determination...

SpecialChem Polymers are naturally colored, greyish or yellowish and so on, and are somewhat unappealing and the situation is even more disastrous with compounds incorporating additives. The article emphasizes on white color in polymers, basic problems associated in attaining white color, effects of weathering, processing and some common additives on it...

SpecialChem Originally, rubbers are independent macromolecular chains with poor characteristics and it's essential to incorporate numerous additives into them, currently 10 up to 15, during a mixing process to subsequently promote crosslinking, reinforcement, ageing protection...

SpecialChem Versatile hydrogels thanks to their large spectra of chemical structures allowing to obtain outstanding absorption rates and capacities are predominantly used in superabsorbent materials for mass production disposable goods such as diapers, adult incontinence products, and feminine hygiene products accounting for 94% of the superabsorbent polymer consumption...

SpecialChem Hydrogels are versatile materials involving a large spectrum of chemical structures to obtain a broad range of applications emerging from sectors as various as diapers, hydroswelling seals for public works, wire & cable water blocking, agricultural & horticultural artificial media, drug delivery devices, stimuli responsive smart polymers, hydrophilic coatings, polymer additives...

SpecialChem Changing attitudes on how best to employ nanofillers in plastics material systems is taking shape. Very current thinking is emphasizing a shift away from viewing the nanofiller or nanoadditive as the single most critical constituent in a plastic compound or nanocomposite...

Plastics Additives & Compounding Applications in the electrical and electronics market sector make large demands on additives and is a area that continues to grow in volume and value. This article discusses the modification of the conductivity of plastics for applications in housings and enclosures for all types of equipment, as well moulded connectors and circuitry.

SpecialChem Against the background of the recent Polymer Nanocomposites Meeting at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA, the 2007 Nanocomposites Conference in Brussels, Belgium, and Nanopolymers 2007 held in Berlin, Germany, the erudite Richard Smalley, University Professor, Rice University spoke on and answered questions from SpecialChem Plastics & Elastomers regarding the emerging trends in carbon nanotube (CNT) nanotechnology...

SpecialChem The deepest dream of any designer is to manufacture his new device in an only one continuous process leading directly from the raw materials up to a packaged device...

SpecialChem The tire industry is constantly facing more demanding challenges. In addition to the increasingly astringent safety and environmental requirements, new technical challenges arise. Efforts to further reduce Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are putting new constraints on Tire Pressure Management. Formulating better performing tire innerliners is thus becoming a priority target for the industry.

SpecialChem Plastics are indispensable in electrical and electronic applications. They are extraordinarily versatile and offer numerous possibilities besides insulation...

SpecialChem Originally, the rubbers are independent macromolecular chains with poor characteristics and it's essential to form a 3 D network to link these independent chains to obtain a tougher and more performing material...

SpecialChem Energy saving decreases pollution and fuel consumption, thus saving money and enhancing environment. Processing of industrial polymers consumes energy at each step. Specially, the moulding and extrusion need a high energy for plasticization, pressure increase, heating and cooling, and mechanical work...

SpecialChem Energy saving decreases pollution and fuel consumption, thus saving money and enhancing environment. Processing of industrial polymers consumes energy at each step as we can see on the following diagram 'Energy-Consumption':

SpecialChem The crosslinking or curing consists in linking the independent macromolecules of a polymer to build a three-dimensional structure obtained by chemical or physical means...

SpecialChem Some rubber families are intrinsically high-temperature resistant, but this feature can be partially controlled by a clever formulation with specific additives. As for all the polymers, additives have also collateral effects and allow to modify the balance of properties needed to satisfy special requirements related to each actual application...

SpecialChem Worldwide consumption of rubber is roughly 18-20 million tonnes of very diversified goods. Among them, tyres are the most known but many industrial parts require high resistance to immediate or long-term exposition to high temperatures. Often this is combined with another requirement such as a good behaviour versus chemical media, for example mineral oils in automotive engines...

SpecialChem The automotive industry has taken much interest in the nanotechnology revolution attracted by the possibility of significant weight reductions, improved performance, aesthetics and recyclability offered by these materials and is exploring a range of new uses for nanocomposite materials. The article emphasizes on such materials...

SpecialChem Modern material based on polymers could be very complex. The polymer itself could be a blend or a copolymer, several additives for special material behaviour are added...

SpecialChem Polymer nanocomposites are formed from blends of nanometer sized fillers with either thermoset or thermoplastic polymers. The properties of polymer nanocomposites are remarkably different from those of conventional materials. The article emphasises on nanocomposites markets, new development trends, new nanocomposites strategies and global technology highlights...

SpecialChem Carbon nanotubes are known for exhibiting unique mechanical, electrical and thermal properties, useful for a wide range of applications. Nanocyl, a leading carbon nanotubes (CNT) specialist, manufactures thin multi-wall CNTs that are incorporated as an electro-conductive additive in plastics for applications in the electronics and automotive industry. Attributed benefits in engineering plastics are high retention of elongation at break & impact strength when designing electrostatic discharge (ESD) materials for automotive applications requiring Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1645 specifications. Electronics assembly and packaging require more and more clean and conductive materials. Minute additions of Nanocyl’s carbon nanotubes enable again plastics to achieve more constraining specifications thanks to the low level of addition (< 3 wt. %). Examples are trays, conveyor belts...

SpecialChem As soon as the reason of a compensation claim has to be investigated, masterbatches or compounds are analysed with extensive efforts. The same is true for the deformulation of competition products...

SpecialChem For technical, economical or environmental purposes the vulcanization can be carried out at lower temperatures or even at room temperature by using special or adapted curing systems...

SpecialChem Originally, the rubbers are independent macromolecular chains with poor characteristics and it's essential to enhance their properties by linking the chains to build a tough 3D network...

SpecialChem Polymers are generally more or less long linear macromolecules with a little number of rather short branches. The same monomer can lead to branched or linear structure, which has several effects on the end properties...

SpecialChem TPVs are a special category of TPEs made out of a dispersed phase of a soft partly or fully vulcanized elastomer forming microscopic droplets in a continuous phase of a hard thermoplastic...

SpecialChem This report covers U.S. patents that issued during the period full year 2005 until 18 September 2006. Around 1,370 patents had the term "polycarbonate" their claims, and this number was reduced for this report to 90 that described either new compounds or compositions or processes for making or treating polycarbonates...

SpecialChem VOCs or Volatile Organic Compounds form a broad category of chemical compounds, some of which pose a health hazard and can also lead to greenhouse effect, ozone layer depletion and acidification of the globe atmosphere...

SpecialChem Syntactic foams are primarily used for a unique combination of a lightweight and fair compressive modulus and strength, and secondly for thermal or acoustic insulation and more rarely for optical and special dielectric properties...