Vertellus promote sustainability, recycling with innovative additive solutions for polymers at K show

To help customers address increasing demand and toughening regulatory requirements regarding material safety and sustainability, Vertellus is spotlighting at K 2016 (hall 5, stand C08-2) its ZeMac copolymers and Citroflex bio-based plasticizers. The company, a leading global supplier of additives to the plastics and polymer industries, offers a robust portfolio of specialised solutions – including a range of additives that provide proven alternatives to potentially harmful phthalate plasticisers – to help compounders and manufacturers stay ahead of key environmental and health trends. Other Vertellus advanced material technologies raise the performance properties of recycled polyamide (PA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and other resins to encourage their reuse in compounds. They are also used as size regulators in microencapsulation to create temperature controlled mattresses and clothing, and in the construction of energy-efficient buildings by improving insulation performance.

“The plastics industry faces growing pressure to demonstrate that it is part of the solution – not the problem – for better safety and sustainability,” said Ashok Adur, PhD, global commercial development director, Plastics at Vertellus. “We help our customers respond by offering targeted additives to meet challenges, ranging from reducing raw materials and energy consumption to protecting consumer health. Adding to their value, our products can also help customers increase profits and differentiate their materials from competitors. These solutions are a key part of Vertellus’ active participation in the American Chemistry Council's Responsible Care initiative.”

Vertellus, in its press statement cites that the National Association for PET Container Resources, saying, US alone accounts for 5.35 billion lb of PET plastic a year, less than a third of which is recycled, ZeMac powders and masterbatches – including a new line of masterbatches launched at the show – promote greater use of post-consumer and post-industrial PET and other resins by improving their performance and processability. By incorporating up to 40% recycled resin with virgin polymer, compounders can cut costs while helping to reduce raw material use and avoid landfilling.

At cost-effective low loadings, ZeMac copolymers raise a recycled resin’s performance properties, including flexural modulus and strength, tensile strength and elongation, impact resistance and heat deflection temperature (HDT). They can be used with PA, PET, TPU, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polycarbonate (PC), polyoxymethylene (POM) and biopolymers.

Vertellus additives also improve compounding and processing of recycled materials. For example, ZeMac E60-P powder and new ZeMac Extend P62 masterbatch compatibilise PA and recycled PET, which are normally incompatible, to reduce material costs and increase profits. The new ZeMac Extend L65 masterbatch raises the viscosity of recycled PA to make it suitable for injection moulding. In blow moulding and profile and film extrusion applications, the new ZeMac Extend L68 masterbatch ensures even distribution of the additive to produce smooth, uniform surfaces with no gels.

Other areas where ZeMac provides sustainability include temperature control and energy conservation. Here, ZeMac E400 powder and ZeMac Solution S407015 and S403520 water-based grades are used for the microencapsulation (surrounding very tiny droplets or particles of liquid or solid material with a continuous film of polymeric material) of phase-change materials. This technology has applications in maintaining mattress and clothing temperature for comfort and building insulation to support green building initiatives.

Meanwhile, many manufacturers are turning to iso-phthalates and bio-based plasticisers in view of restrictions of US-EPA on traditional phthalates use. Vertellus’ Citroflex bio-based plasticisers are manufactured without the use of phthalates and have proven their safety in food-contact and medical applications. As a leading plasticiser on the market today derived from bio-based citric acid, Citroflex products offer a non-toxic, biodegradable option for biopolymers and specialty polyvinyl chloride (PVC) used in food packaging, medical applications, children’s toys and coatings.