A weekly look at new products, innovations

Editor's Note: Each week, Rubber & Plastics News will take a look at some of the rubber industry's new products and innovations on www.rubbernews.com. Does your company have a new product or new innovation? To be considered for inclusion in this recurring feature, email [email protected]

Struktol Co. of America developed unique process additives for reclaimed/recycled plastics and for polymer compounds that contain recycled content.

The company will showcase the product expansion at NPE2015: The International Plastics Showcase (Booth #S27082) March 23-27 in Orlando, Fla.

Struktol said these products are useful in a variety of different resin systems from polyolefins to engineered plastics, offering greater processing efficiency and enhanced performance. They are targeted for compounds containing 100 percent recycled material or materials with varying levels of post-consumer or post-industrial recycled content.

New products include:

• Struktol TR 229 is for use in both polycarbonate and PC/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene blends as well as nylon 6 and 6,6 compounds. It can be used in FDA-approved applications, Struktol said, and also is ideal for use in recycled applications.

• Struktol TR 219 is for use in nylon 6 and 6,6 compounds and has been found to be effective in polyester compounds, especially recycled or recyclate-containing applications, or in cases where the polyester compound is contaminated with other plastics.

• Struktol RP 11 is a unique lubricant package that provides an unmatched combination of viscosity reduction and mold release characteristics for recycled PP resins and compounds, Struktol said. Loading levels as low as 0.2 percent result in increased melt flow and allow for significant improvements in mold filling and release. Processors using RP 11 will benefit from its versatility, Struktol added, allowing greater use of regrind or recycled content material without sacrificing certain properties or performance.

• Struktol RP 06 provides similar viscosity modification and mold release combined with low odor and volatiles that are ideal in automotive applications.

• Struktol RP 37 is designed to provide unmatched viscosity modification and lubrication in recycled PP compounds and resins that contain high levels of polyethylene contaminants.

• Struktol RP 17, a combination lubricant and odor neutralizing mask, was originally designed for reducing/eliminating compounding and end-product odors in wood-filled plastic compounds. Struktol said the product has been modified for use in a variety of polymer resins and compounds that require the multi-functionality of lubrication, mold release and odor reduction. RP 17 can be used in recycled applications as well as automotive interior compounds where neutral odor may be a requirement. In addition to this product, Struktol is doing custom product design around odor and volatile reduction in a variety of resin types.

• Struktol TR 052 is a compatibilizer and blending aid that is extremely beneficial for incorporation of regrind/recycled product in a wide range of polymers. Processors can realize improved physical properties and overall improved processability of compounds requiring some level of recycled content.

For more information on these and other Struktol Intelligent Additive Solutions, visit its website.

Dymax Corp. is showcasing products, such as its 215-CTH-UR-SC, an LED-optimized catheter adhesive for rapid bonding of a variety of substrates including Nylon 12 and PEBA, at Booth #2239 at MD&M West, Feb. 10-12 in California.

215-CTH-UR-SC is formulated with new Encompass technology that combines Dymax exclusive See-Cure color change and Ultra-Red fluorescing technologies with LED-curing capabilities. Dymax said 215-CTH-UR-SC provides secure bonds with the added benefits of easy cure confirmation and post-cure bond-line inspection.

Dymax said it will introduce the BlueWave QX4 high-intensity spot-curing system, which features all the benefits of LED-curing technology in a smaller, more versatile unit.

Dymax also will showcase a variety of adhesives for needle bonding and curing demonstrations featuring the UVCS LED conveyor system, the BlueWave LED flood system and the BlueWave LED Prime UVA high-intensity spot-curing system.

Visit Dymax's website for additional information.

Chemineer Inc., a National Oilwell Varco brand, has increased productivity and reduced operating costs in cooling hot melt adhesives with a new heat exchanger.

The Kenics Heat Exchanger has proven to be highly effective in reducing time-to-cool when handling viscous, hot melt adhesives, the company said, providing short-term return on investment and long-term contribution to the bottom line.

Chemineer, in conjunction with the Den Group, recommended the Kenics heat exchanger for efficient, cost-effective handling of the hot melt adhesive product. At the heart of the Kenics heat exchanger is Kenics static mixer technology, National Oilwell Varco said, which exclusively offers the highest available heat transfer coefficients for fast, uniform heat transfer. Chemineer engineered and installed a custom, jacketed Kenics heat exchanger system to effectively cool the product in less time than previous heat transfer devices.

In the evolution of continuous process engineering improvements, the manufacturer reduced the time to form and package a batch of hot melt adhesive from 18 hours to less than two hours, according to National Oilwell Varco. The Kenics heat exchanger system was designed to remove 100°F from molten materials at 4,000 pounds/hr.

The Kenics system solution required 20 percent less floor space, the company said and is also used less energy than the previous heat transfer device since the only power needed was a small horsepower pump to move the coolant through the shell side of the Kenics static mixer. The Kenics static mixer itself uses no outside power source.

Click here for more information.