TAGS: Sustainability / Natural Solutions
Wherever you look in the plastics industry today, materials and additive suppliers are developing next-generation sustainable products based on renewable or recycled materials.
With such a focus on sustainable development, it should be no surprise that many of the latest innovations also have a 'green' tint in polymer additive segments, such as:
These additives are generating strong interest in an emerging ‘green additives’ revolution.
Who thought recycled coffee grounds would contribute to plastic sustainability? Avient’s Maxxam™ BIO bio-based polyolefin product line with up to 40% natural filler grades sourced from cellulose fiber or powder produced from recycled coffee grounds.
Besides the sustainability advantages, bio-fillers often have a density advantage over mineral fillers. Coffee grounds can add a unique visual material aspect and as a function of a given dosage rate, an appealing scent, thereby enabling unique, differentiated end products. These compounds are manufactured in Europe and are commercially available globally.
Avient’s Maxxam™ BIO PO Recycled Coffee Grounds Filler (L); Compounded Plastic Knives (R)
(Source: Avient)
Sustainability and renewability appear to be the keywords in the coming green additives marketplace.
Let’s now turn our attention to reviewing six green additive innovations, priority-wise, namely plasticizer, filler, color, stabilizer, flame retardant, and process aid.
aurorium's Phthalate-free Plasticizer for Medical PVC Plastics
To start with, aurorium's (earlier Vertellus)
Citroflex™ B-6 phthalate-free plasticizer offers excellent performance in medical PolyVinyl Chloride (PVC) plastic compounds. With a clean toxicological profile, Citroflex™ B-6 is a proven, field-tested alternative to traditional Di-2-EthylHexyl Phthalate (DEHP) plasticizers. DEHP is the dominant traditional plasticizer used in PVC medical devices. Questions about DEHP have arisen since the 1970s concerning its safety in flexible blood bag systems and has recently been labeled as a reproductive toxin.
Citroflex™ B-6 is a Butyryl TriHexyl Citrate, which is partially derived from biobased raw materials and is biodegradable. It is listed by European Pharmacopoeia as an approved alternative to DEHP for medical products. Medical PVC compounders and blood transfusion product brand owners are rapidly preparing for next-generation products, and fast-tracking alternative, phthalate-free technologies development.
aurorium's Citroflex™ B-6 Plasticizer Rheology Curve (L, Green); Plasticized Blood Bag (R)
(Source: aurorium)
As shown above, on the left, the dynamic rheology temperature ramp curve data for Citroflex™ B-6 (L, Green) compared to other commonly used plasticizers display similar physical properties to those containing DEHP (L, Black).
Hoffmann Mineral's Natural Silica Filler with Lower Carbon Footprint
Next, Germany’s Hoffmann Mineral sees its natural silica mineral filler, Neuburg Siliceous Earth, as a lower carbon footprint option when compared to carbon black or synthetic silica fillers. Neuburg Siliceous Earth mineral is a combination of silica and lamellar kaolinite. It is marketed under the following tradenames:
Hoffmann Mineral has published LifeCycle Assessments (LCAs) for its
Sillitin® N 87,
Sillitin® Z86, and
Aktifit AM grades. Furthermore, with low-emission production processes like, cleaning of unavoidable exhaust air streams, minimization of waste and wastewater volumes, and economical use of raw materials and energy, the environmental impact is as low as possible. Besides sustainability, low density is a key property for mineral fillers, especially for automotive applications.
Hoffmann Mineral's Neuburg Siliceous Earth Silica Fillers (L); Base Structure (R)
(Source: LinkedIn - HOFFMANN MINERAL GmbH)
Eckart's Biobased Pigment Reduces CO2 Emissions by 50%
Continuing, color manufacturer Eckart has introduced MASTERSAFE BCR decarbonizing products, which use biobased materials as the carrier for silver aluminum effect pigments developed for plastics masterbatch production. They reduce CO
2 emissions by 50% compared to traditional carriers. For example, MASTERSAFE BCR 16-20B is a bright, fine silver dollar aluminum color additive in pellet form. They are compatible with:
- Low-Density PolyEthylene (LDPE),
- High-Density PolyEthylene (HDPE),
- PolyPropylene (PP),
- PolyStyrene (PS),
- Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS),
- PolyAmide (PA, or Nylon), and
- Post Consumer Resin (PCR).
These color compounds are based on over 94% renewable carbon as confirmed by the American Society Testing Materials (ASTM) D6866 standard. These colors come in six silver dollar pigments and two cornflake types that cover a wide range of very light to extremely dark metallic effects.
Eckart’s Biobased MASTERSAFE BCR Silver Pigment Reduces CO₂ Emissions
(Source: Eckart)
Cargill's Carbon Negative Stabilizer for Polyolefin Plastics
Moving forward, Cargill Bioindustrial’s
Incroslip™ C stabilizer additive imparts exceptional compound stability and low odor to polyolefin plastics and is designed for high organoleptic stability applications such as caps and closures for carbonated soft drinks.
Incroslip™ stabilizers are produced with 100% biobased carbon. The carbon footprint is 'carbon negative,' which means, it absorbs more carbon dioxide during the growing of the biobased crops than it emits during stabilized manufacture.
Further, it can meet end-user scope 3 carbon emissions qualification. Cargill has measured the Incroslip™ C stabilizer’s mechanical recycling of High-Density PolyEthylene (HDPE). It has several positive recyclate effects including:
- a stabilizing whiter surface appearance,
- enhanced flow, and
- unchanged mechanical properties.
After three mechanical recycles, with the addition of Incroslip™ C, the HDPE recyclate had a melt flow rate twice as high as HDPE without the stabilizer additive.
Virgin HDPE Samples (L); Control rHDPE (C); Whiter Colored Cargill Incroslip™ C Stabilizer (R)
(Source: Cargill Bioindustrial)
Clariant's Eco-friendly HFFR Additives for Nylon Connectors
Delving further, Clariant is expanding its Exolit® OP 14XX range of environmentally friendly, phosphinate-based Halogen-Free Flame Retardant (HFFR) additives. Two new grades are nitrogen/phosphorus-based blends targeted at unattended electrical appliance applications. They are:
These HFFR compounds achieve Underwriters Lab UL94 V-0 lowest flame certification in thin wall sections and meet the demanding Glow Wire Test (GWIT) according to the International Electric Code (IEC) 60695-2-11 at 750 °C. Brominated flame retardants have been traditionally used here, but end-users are rapidly going halogen-free.
Clariant’s
Exolit® OP 1400 HFFR uses environmentally friendly chemistry that meets sustainability criteria like the European Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) registrations while providing high thermal stability and outstanding flame retardancy to PA connector parts.
Clariant’s Exolit® OP 1400 HFFR for High Voltage PA Connectors (Orange)
(Source: Clariant)
Palsgaard’s Plant-based Process Aid for Polypropylene Compounds
Let’s conclude with Denmark-based Palsgaard’s vegetable oil, plant-based process aid additive,
Einar® 201. It acts as a mold release agent in PolyPropylene (PP) compounds for dust-free molded automotive bumper applications. Einar® 201 chemically is a high-quality Glycerol MonoStearate (GMS) chemistry and can be used at low and adjustable loading levels. It is available in:
- powder form,
- pellet form, and
- masterbatches.
It provides a very clean denesting and slip effect for automated downstream molded product stacking and handling. Also, Einar® 201 in molded PP provides high heat resistance and low volatility/low odor in other door trim, dashboard applications, and bumpers. Furthermore, it reduces the scope 3 carbon footprint of injection molding operations without compromising performance or cost efficiency.
Palsgaard’s Einar® 201 Process Aid Pellets (L); Mold Release in PP Automotive Bumper (R)
(Source: Palsgaard)
Recent Innovations in Green Additives Landscape
Talk to our industry expert, Donald Rosato, and identify
cutting-edge advances in green additives to focus your R&D on the right projects with a structured review of game-changing innovations and applications (plasticizers, stabilizers, fillers, colorants, flame retardants, process aids). Also, get insights about a new hemp-fiber filler additive that is being trialed in a range of plastic applications, a whole new range of sustainable bio-based polymer additives, and more!
Explore the Complete Biobased Additives Range
View all commercially available biobased additives in the market today, analyze the technical data of each product, get technical assistance, or request samples.