4Additives for Polymers July 2013

Minerals Technologies reveals new reinforcement product for polymer applications

New York-based firm Minerals Technologies Inc has launched a new calcium carbon-

ate product for the reinforcement of plastics. Named Vicron® FRP, the reinforcement is intend-ed for use in sheet and bulk moulding com-pound (SMC and BMC) applications and thermo-set polyesters. The product was developed by the company’s wholly owned mineral additives subsidiary Specialty Minerals Inc.

According to the company, Vicron FRP has been specifically designed with controlled particle size and surface treatment in order to reduce resin demand and improve the flow of plastic compounds. The new rein-forcement additive is reported to reduce the viscosity of thermoset compounds to improve the productivity and quality by providing a better mould-cavity fill at a faster rate. Moreover, reinforcement with Vicron FRP provides excellent mechanical properties in the finished thermoset part, Minerals Technologies claims. Incorporating the new additive is a cost-effective solution for reinforced plastic applications without sacrificing performance prop-erties, it says.

Contact: Minerals Technologies Inc, New York, NY, USA.

Tel: +1 610 997 8306, Web: www.mineralstech.com

Roquette expands its range with third-generation sorbitol-based clarifier

In France, Roquette has restarted its pro-duction unit for Disorbene® sorbitol-based

polymer clarifiers at Lestrem. The unit uses an ‘efficient and environmentally sustainable’ pro-duction process, the company says. In addition, Roquette has launched a third-generation poly-mer clarifier, Disorbene 3.

Disorbene 3 is a bis(3,4-dimethylbenzylidene) sorbitol (bis-DMBS) product. According to Roquette, it therefore

offers the polymer industry an alternative and reputable source for this chemical, which until now has only been available from Milliken Chemical under the registered trade name Millad® 3988. Millad 3988 is a widely used clarifier and the introduction of Disorbene 3 therefore also provides additional bis-DMBS capacity to meet the growing needs of the polymer industry, Roquette says. Disorbene 3 is report-ed to have the same quality standards and ‘advantageous granulometry’ as Milliken’s industry reference product.

Thierry Laurent, head of Roquette’s Plant-based solu-tions department, reports that polypropylene produc-ers in Europe are welcoming the company’s decision to re-enter the clarifiers business as they were dependent ‘on one non-European supplier in the past’. Roquette has recently created a new Performance Plastics unit to strengthen its link to the polymer industry, Laurent reveals. Alongside the Disorbene clarifiers, the company’s portfolio of plant-based solutions for the polymer indus-try includes its phthalate-free Polysorb® ID plasticizer [see ADPO, September 2009] and other isosorbides under the Polysorb tradename, as well as Gaialene® plant-based resins and Reverdia’s Biosuccinium™ sustain-able succinic acid [ibid., March 2013]. Reverdia is a joint venture between Roquette and Royal DSM.

Roquette serves a comprehensive range of indus-trial sectors with more than 700 products, all derived exclusively from renewable raw materials such as maize, wheat, potatoes and peas. The company operates facto-ries in Europe, America and Asia.

Contact: Roquette, Lestrem, France. Tel: +33 3 2163 3925,

Web: www.roquette.com

Holliday Pigments and Cytec present new offerings at Chinaplas 2013

UK-based Holliday Pigments Ltd and Cytec Industries Inc of the USA were among

the non-Asian firms to unveil new products at Chinaplas 2013 in May ( see also page 2). In a K show year, when previously companies tended to reserve their product launches for maximum impact at the triennial German event, this is note-worthy and indicative of the rapidly growing

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July 2013 Additives for Polymers5

importance of the Chinese and Asian plastics man-ufacturing industries for international suppliers.

Ultramarine pigment specialist Holliday Pigments, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rockwood Color Pigments [ADPO, September 2008], presented new additions to its violet and pink ranges for plastics applications. Within the ultramarine violet colour space, Premier VSB is a violet, strong, blue-shade pigment and Premier VSR a violet, strong, red shade. Both grades exhibit a 20% higher tinting strength compared to exist-ing industry standard pigments, the company claims. Similarly, Premier PX is a new ultramarine pink that is reported to extend the tinting strength of Holliday Pigments’ red-shade inorganic offering by a further 10%. The company also exhibited its Premier FRX ultramarine blue pigment.

Cytec Industries used the occasion of the Chinaplas show to introduce its new Cyasorb Cynergy Solutions V Series of stabilizers intended for automotive applications to ‘meet the challenges’ of extreme thermal and UV spec-ifications, the company says. ‘Cytec provides a focused approach to anticipate and fulfil the needs of customers in the plastics industry’, comments Paolo Arnaboldi, global sales director for Additive Technologies. ‘Our heritage, which spans over 50 years, and our focus on our customers serve as the foundation for each and every product we bring to the market to ensure our products are ready today for tomorrow’s needs in plastics’, he adds.

Contact: Cytec Industries Inc, Woodland Park, NJ, USA.

Tel: +1 973 357 3100, Web: www.cytec.com

Or contact: Holliday Pigments Ltd, Kingston upon Hull, UK.

Tel: +44 1482 329875, Web: www.holliday-pigments.com

Tosaf launches anti-fog and anti-drip masterbatch for use in greenhouse films

Israeli firm Tosaf Compounds reports its recent development of new anti-fog/anti-drip mas-

terbatch AF0406PE for greenhouse films. The new product has been especially developed for hot climates, the company explains.

According to Tosaf, extensive field trials have demon-strated the ‘exceptional performance’ of the new anti-

fog/anti-drip solution, which lasts for two full seasons at an addition level of 4–6%. ‘We have received excellent feedback from customers who are extremely satisfied with the long-term, stable performance of this additive in their greenhouse films’, says Asaf Eylon, Tosaf ’s VP International Sales. Although anti-fog solutions already exist on the market, the company claims that this latest development is ‘a significant breakthrough’, due to its long-lasting, consistent performance.

Tosaf Compounds was established in 1986 by the Megides family. In 2001, Belgian plastics group Ravago acquired a stake in the company. Tosaf manufactures a wide range of raw materials and additives for the plastics process-ing industry. It employs 800 people at 12 production and distribution sites, including two sites in Germany, three in Israel, and single sites in Russia, Italy, France, Holland, Turkey, the UK and Ukraine. The company reported an annual turnover in 2011 of some US$400 million.

Contact: Tosaf Compounds Ltd, Afula, Israel. Tel: +972 4 6420419,

Web: www.tosaf.com

COMPANY STRATEGIES...Continued from front pageAccording to Smith, the name Addivant was chosen by its employees. ‘It symbolizes our commitment to serve as a

speciality additives company that partners with customers to develop solutions that enable their success and provide marketable advantages in the plastics and rubber industries’, he explains. Alongside its new corporate identity, Addivant has revealed plans for global expansion, a broader product offering and increased emphasis on innovation. A renewed commitment to customer service, a broader and deeper team and a strong balance sheet, will fuel Addivant’s invest-ments in innovation and expansion of capacity ‘to achieve the ambitious sales targets of the new company’, Smith says. The growth plans will include its joint ventures in the Middle East and Asia, highlighting Addivant’s commitment in two of the fastest-growing regions in the world. ‘We are executing our plans to increase our capabilities and position ourselves closer to our customers to support their growth plans and provide improved supply security and service standards’, Smith adds.

Addivant says it will grow its existing technical sales force, distributor relationships and team of highly

STRATEGIES