DUESSELDORF, Germany—Struktol Company of America will be promoting new products at K Show that it called unique process additives for reclaimed/recycled plastics and for polymer compounds that contain recycled content.
These products are used in a variety of different resin systems from polyolefins to engineered plastics, according to Struktol, and offer improved processing efficiency and enhanced performance. The company said they are targeted for compounds containing 100 percent recycled material or materials with varying levels of post-consumer or post-industrial recycled content.
For engineering plastics, Struktol said it has multiple products that combine a compatibilizer with lubricants to create a combination product that aids in the incorporation of fillers (mineral or glass) with improved mixing and flow properties as well as mold release. Struktol claimed the attributes of the products are better processing, improved surface quality and in some cases, better physical properties.
These products include:
• Struktol TR 229, for use in polycarbonate and PC/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene blends as well as nylon 6 and 6,6 compounds. The company said it can be used in FDA-approved applications and in recycled applications.
• Struktol TR 219. for use in nylon 6 and 6,6 compounds. The firm said it 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 has additions to its line of additive products for recycled polypropylene. They are:
• Struktol RP 38, a multi-functional package that incorporates vis-breaking technology with lubricant and odor control. It provides for significant viscosity reduction at low loading levels, the company said, claiming the lubricant base provides improved processing characteristics in both compounding extrusion, as well as increased mold flow and metal release for the molder. The odor control portion of the product reduces odors associated with the recycled polymer during and post processing.
• Struktol RP 37, designed to provide viscosity modification and lubrication in recycled PP compounds and resins that contain high levels of polyethylene contaminants.
• Struktol RP 11, a lubricant package that provides a combination of viscosity reduction and mold release characteristics for recycled PP resins and compounds. Loading levels as low as 0.2 percent result in increased melt flow and allow for significant improvements in mold filling and release, the company said. Processors using RP 11 will benefit from its versatility, Strucktol said, allowing greater use of regrind or recycled content material without sacrificing certain properties or performance.
• Struktol RP 06, which provides similar viscosity modification and mold release combined with low odor and volatiles that can be used in automotive applications. Struktol said this series of products can be made to fit the requirements of the recycle compounder, resulting in a unique additive designed to fit the application.
• Struktol RP 17, a combination lubricant and odor neutralizing mask. This originally was designed for reducing/eliminating compounding and end-product odors in wood-filled plastic compounds. 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, the company said. 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, a compatibilizer and blending aid that Struktol said is benefits incorporation of regrind/recycled product in a wide range of polymers. The firm claimed processors can realize improved physical properties and overall improved processability of compounds requiring some level of recycled content. TR 052 has been shown to improve the processability and performance of mixed recycled streams used when separation of the resins is not done prior, the firm said. The additive compatibilizes dissimilar polymer systems allowing for expanded use of these mixed recycled streams.
Struktol Company of America is a member of the Schill & Seilacher family of companies, which has a presence in more than 100 countries.