MILLIKEN CHEMICAL

Millad NX8000 clarifier provides a significant change in haze reduction compared to the industry standard (typically a 50 percent reduction), enabling polypropylene to achieve a level of clarity that approaches polycarbonate. Polypropylene clarified with Millad NX8000 delivers high material strength and rigidity, and high resistance to heat and chemicals. In addition, ClearTint colorants have been developed specifically for use with polypropylene clarified with Millad agents. The colorants are designed to avoid interference with clarity, providing bright, transparent colors. The ClearTint colorants are oligomeric materials that combine the high aesthetics of dyes with the migration resistance of pigments.

For more information, visit: www.millikenchemical.com

CHEVRON PHILLIPS CHEMICAL CO.

New grades of Ryton polyphenylene sulfide have been formulated with a chlorine content of less than 900 parts per million. Ryton PPS R-4-280 is a 40-percent glass-filled PPS, offering electronics and electrical component manufacturers a strong resin well suited for connectors, bobbins, and other hard disc drive (HDD) structural applications. A higher flow version, Ryton PPS R-4-290, allows for more intricate part designs. Ryton PPS R-7-140 is a glass and mineral-filled PPS for applications where dimensional stability, stiffness, and electrical properties are required. A high-flow grade, Ryton PPS R-7-190, is also available for difficult-to-fill molds. Ryton PPS materials are well suited for electrical and electronic applications due to their low shrinkage, high stiffness, and UL94 V-0, which is achieved without use of flame retardant additives.

For more information, visit: www.rytonpps.com

BAYER MATERIALSCIENCE

Makrolon FR7087 polycarbonate resin is a clear thermoplastic material that meets UL 94 5VA at 3 mm thickness. (Internal Bayer test results. UL Yellow Card pending). UL 94 is widely used in electronics as the industry standard for flammability of plastic materials and components. With the exception of glass, there are few transparent materials available that meet the UL94 5VA requirement. While glass is prone to breaking and difficult to produce in complex shapes, the new polycarbonate resin offers the appearance of glass combined with the impact strength and moldability of polycarbonate, making it ideal for demanding lighting and electrical applications. The product has very good light transmission (close to 90 percent at 3 mm) while having around 1 percent haze.

For more info visit: www.bayermaterialsciencenafta.com

LYONDELLBASELL

The Koattro range of butene-1 based polymers feature high compatibility with polypropylene, which enables improvements in flexibility, transparency, impact resistance, tensile properties, and stress-whitening behavior. Test results showed that Koattro plastomers deliver a unique combination of softness (Shore A 70) and elasticity with a compression set of 45 percent that is constant almost up to the high melting temperature of 114 DegC. The elasticity of the polymers is obtained without cross-linking and the improved flexibility is achieved without the use of plasticizers. In addition, these improvements do not negatively impact processing properties. The resins are also much easier to regrind and recycle than traditional cross-linked materials.

For more information, visit: www.lyondellbasell.com

WACKER SILICONES

The ELASTOSIL Solar line of silicones includes a UV-activated specialty silicone as well as pourable, highly translucent silicone elastomers for molding optical parts employed in high-concentration photovoltaic modules. All of the grades in the line are resistant to weathering, radiation, and heat, making them ideal for bonding, sealing, laminating, and encapsulating photovoltaic modules and their electronic components. By virtue of their low elasticity modulus, these silicones also reduce thermo-mechanical stresses in the part. ELASTOSIL Solar 2120 UV encapsulant is a UV-activated silicone elastomer that cures at room temperature in a few minutes without any additional heat. The short curing time can be customized within a broad time frame and processing window, and thicknesses of several centimeters can be cured. The cured compound has a hardness of 40 Shore 00. ELASTOSIL Solar 3210 was formulated for high-concentration PV systems. The two-part rubber is pourable and is characterized by very good light permeability (transmission). It is thus ideally suited for the production of optical lenses and moldings, such as the pictured Fresnel lens. The material cures quickly and does not shrink. It is easily demolded and shows high dimensional stability. It is of medium hardness (approximately 45 Shore).

For more information, visit: www.wacker.com

TICONA ENGINEERING POLYMERS

MetaLX metal-effect polymers achieve the aesthetics of a metallic look while reducing costs and eliminating chemical pollutants associated with painting or plating. In addition, they allow the efficient design and application of one-piece configurations with internal features that would be difficult or impossible to produce in metal. The MetaLX metal-effect polymers are available in Hostaform /Celcon acetal copolymer (POM), Celanex thermoplastic polyester (PBT), and Riteflex thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPC-ET). MetaLX metal-effects grades include unfilled, glass-reinforced, flame-retardant, glass-reinforced, and elastomeric. MetaLX metal-effect polymers retain color after UV light and thermal exposure; deliver fine surface appearance and textures; provide resistance to stains, scratches, wear, and most chemicals and cleaners; stay non-thermally conductive and fingerprint resistant; and can match, or complement, mating metal parts.

For more information, visit: www.ticona.com

SOLVAY ADVANCED POLYMERS

AvaSpire AV-651 modified PEEK (polyetheretherketone) provides better ductility and impact resistance than comparable PEEK grades, while retaining most of PEEK’s other key performance attributes. It is specifically formulated for applications requiring a good balance of chemical resistance, mechanical strength, and environmental stress crack resistance. The material provides good aesthetics and offers improved part economics when compared against similar standard PEEK grades. AvaSpire AV-651 also exhibits low shrinkage, high dimensional stability, and withstands a broad range of standard cleaning agents and disinfectants. It is easily processed on standard injection molding machinery.

For more information, visit: www.solvayadvancedpolymers.com

GLS THERMOPLASTIC ELASSTOMERS

DYNALLOY 8900 thermoplastic elastomers can reduce setup time for higher productivity and solve a persistent technical challenge by bonding to both low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP). The dual bonding grades eliminate a requirement for two separate TPEs and are ideal for two-shot overmolding and insert molding in consumer, personal care, and packaging applications. The DYNALLOY 8900 portfolio includes three grades with 30 Shore A, 60 Shore A, and 80 Shore A hardness along with a specific gravity of 0.89. The materials deliver enhanced tear strength for greater part longevity. And, compared to thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs), these materials offer up to 20 percent better tear strength, making them an excellent choice for seals and caps. These translucent grades can also be colored easily using the same concentrates used for TPVs and styrenic TPEs. The materials set quickly, enabling parts to be completed 10 to 15 seconds faster than unfilled styrenic TPEs. They can be processed using two-shot overmolding, insert molding, or extrusion.

For more information, visit: www.glstpes.com

EASTMAN CHEMICAL CO./POLYONE SPECIALTY ENGINEERED MATERIALS

PolyOne Edgetek XT high-performance blends offers opaque compounds that deliver exceptional chemical resistance and hydrolytic stability, as well as outstanding toughness, high gloss and ease of processing. The new product family, which incorporates the positive attributes of Eastman Tritan copolyester, provides an innovative and effective solution for high-quality, durable plastic housings in hand-held device applications such as GPS and PDA systems, binoculars, small electronics, battery-powered tools, housewares, sporting goods, and more. The blends also provide superior toughness and added resistance to chemicals used in cleaners. These blends also are easy to process and provide good melt flow, and because Tritan performs similarly to polycarbonate during processing, minimal retooling is needed.

For more information about Eastman Tritan copolyester, visit: www.eastman.com/tritan

For more information about PolyOne, visit: www.polyone.com

EVONIK INDUSTRIES

VESTAMID Terra bio-based polyamides are derived from monomers produced partly or entirely from fatty acids. The most important source is currently castor oil. VESTAMID Terra DS is a 100-percent bio-based polyamide 1010. Its property profile bridges the gap between high-performance long-chain polyamides such as PA 12 and PA 1212 and the shorter chain standard polyamides PA 6 and PA 66. It is particularly suitable for manufacturing glass-fiber-reinforced molding compounds. VESTAMID Terra HS is a polyamide 610 that contains approximately 60 percent renewable raw materials. From a technical viewpoint, this variant occupies a position between the high-performance polyamide 612 and the standard polyamides PA 6 and PA 66. Both of the VESTAMID Terra molding compounds are semicrystalline and therefore distinguished by high mechanical strength and good resistance to chemicals and stress cracking. They also have high to very high heat deflection temperatures and a low absorption capacity for water, so that the good mechanical properties are retained even at high humidity. Both compounds are available in two different viscosities and also as glass fiber-reinforced grades with glass fiber content of 30 to 65 percent.

For more information, visit: www.evonik.com/hp

DUPONT ENGINEERING POLYMERS

Several families of high-performance renewably sourced engineering polymers, including Hytrel RS thermoplastic elastomers, Sorona EP thermoplastic resins, and Zytel RS long chain nylons, are available. Containing between 20 and 60 percent renewably sourced ingredients by weight, Hytrel RS elastomers are made using renewably sourced polyols derived from plant-based raw materials and are easily processed by conventional thermoplastic methods. Properties include excellent flex fatigue and flexibility at low temperatures and high impact resistance. The new renewably sourced long-chain nylons include Zytel PA 1010, which is 100 percent renewably sourced, and Zytel PA 610, which is more than 60 percent by weight renewably sourced. Seven different grades now are commercial. Zytel 610 nylon resin, which made its debut on an automotive radiator end tank, marked the first use of DuPont renewably sourced plastic in mechanical components exposed to a hot, chemically aggressive environment. Sorona EP resins are available in glass-reinforced and unreinforced grades and on average contain 35 percent renewable content by weight. Sorona EP is an engineering polyester resin and performs and processes similarly to PBT in molded automotive parts, electrical components, and industrial or consumer goods.

For more information, visit: www2.dupont.com

FRX POLYMERS

High-performance, halogen-free, flame-retardant polymers can be used as transparent, high melt-flow, non-burning specialty plastics, or as polymeric, phosphorus-containing flame-retardant additives. The materials are primarily polyphosphonate homopolymer and copolymers of polyphosphonate with polycarbonate. These products exhibit Limiting Oxygen Index values up to 65 percent. They are extremely stable, with a Thermal Gravimetric Analysis of more than 400 DegC. Their high glass-transition temperature starts at 105 DegC for homopolymers and extends up to 140 DegC for the copolymers. In addition, due to their polymeric nature, the FRX materials will not migrate out of a host plastic when used as additives. The materials are designed for use in a variety of electrical and electronic products, including appliances, televisions, printers, cell phones, as well as connectors and components inside such products.

For more information, visit: www.frxpolymers.com

POLYONE GEON

Geon brand metallic special-effect, rigid vinyl, molding compounds are formulated to help appliance manufacturers meet current design trends for bold colors and metallic accents while reducing costs by eliminating secondary processes such as painting or plating. Substituting a pre-colored vinyl compound for metal or painted plastic in appliance applications offers processors and OEMs several key benefits. Metallic effect vinyl compounds eliminate the added cost and environmental compliance burden associated with painting or plating, and they reduce returns due to surface scratches and mars because the color goes all the way through the part. While polymers pre-colored with metallic pigments are not new, manufacturers have had difficulty molding them into high quality parts because they are prone to developing visible weld lines, which limit their use to low end-applications. PolyOne technical support and expertise in color matching, part design, tool configuration, and process optimization allows the company to derive methods of moving the weld lines to an area not readily viewed by users. The end results are high quality, production-ready injection molded parts.

For more information, visit: www.polyone.com

SABIC INNOVATIVE PLASTICS

Two LNP Thermocomp bio-based composites have been formulated to use curauá fiber and wood flour natural reinforcements instead of traditional glass fiber and mineral fillers. Compared to traditional reinforcements, natural fibers offer several environmental benefits. They are renewable, biodegradable and require less energy to produce. Further, they are lighter in weight than glass and other traditional fibers, helping to reduce energy consumption in shipping. LNP Thermocomp PX07444 specialty compound is a polyamide (PA)-6 nylon that is reinforced with up to 20 percent curauá fibers, which have high mechanical strength. It provides a strength-to-weight advantage with good surface aesthetics. Also, natural fibers such as curauá are not as abrasive as glass or mineral reinforcement, thus reducing wear and tear on molding equipment. LNP Thermocomp MX07442 specialty compound is a polypropylene (PP) that is reinforced with 30 percent wood flour. It is aimed at replacing wood because, in addition to having a similar appearance, it is more resistant to fungi and has better dimensional stability than natural wood. Compared to unfilled PP or 30 percent mineral-reinforced PP, this lower specific gravity compound has higher flexural strength with retained impact strength, thus providing a strength-to-weight advantage. It can be extruded and injection molded, and provides a colorable surface with the natural grain of wood.

For more information, visit: www.sabic-ip.com

NATUREWORKS

Ingeo 3251D is a new and improved injection-molding grade of Ingeo biopolymer that has been designed specifically for the consumer goods segments such as electronics, cosmetics, housewares, toys, and custom molding. The material improves productivity by shortening molding cycles, reducing entry cost, and allowing the same mold and screw use as with styrenics such as GPPS, SAN, HIPS, and ABS. Ingeo 3251D is suitable for semi-durable applications that require impact resistance similar to medium impact polystyrene and can be clear or opaque. Ingeo biopolymers are derived from natural plant sugars using a proprietary process.

For more information, visit: www.natureworksllc.com