Improving plastics is the name of the game for additives makers at K 2019

Milliken & Co. and other additives makers will be at K 2019 with a wide range of products to improve the performance of plastics.

Spartanburg, S.C.-based Milliken will be represented by its Milliken Chemical unit, a global supplier of additives and colorants for plastics based in Ghent, Belgium. Like many materials suppliers at the event, Milliken will be focused on sustainability.

"Waste reduction and the recycling of plastics are necessary megatrends impacting today's consumer products sector," Herrin Hood, global additives product line manager, said in a news release.

"As we all work to limit excess plastics use, support the recycling of polypropylene and move toward a circular economy, Milliken is fully supporting these efforts with sustainable technological innovations that impact color, care, clarity and performance," he added.

Milliken (Hall 6, Booth A27) has partnered with Chicago-based PureCycle Technologies to advance closed-loop recycling of PP resin. Using technology developed and licensed by Procter & Gamble Co., PureCycle plans to open its first plant employing a patented recycling method that restores virgin-like quality to waste PP resin.

Officials said this method will enable the recycled material to become "truly circular" and to be reused in its original application, as opposed to having to be downcycled into lower-value products. The Ohio plant is set to open in 2021.

Milliken is also continuing to build partnerships with other global sustainability organizations to advance circular-economy initiatives. Several of Milliken's additive technologies are helping converters to be more sustainable by reducing energy use, enabling the use of more mono-material packaging solutions and promoting the recyclability of resins such as PP or the use of a higher percentage of recycled PP in end products.

Milliken's Millad NX 8000 clarifier for PP resin is a key component in nearly 80 percent of the world's clear PP today. Officials said the clarifier not only transforms PP into a lightweight, crystal-clear alternative to glass, but also boosts its sustainability by enabling converters to process the material at a lower temperature. Lower temperatures result in both faster cycle times and energy savings for injection molders.

Grades of Millad NX have been optimized for various processes, including injection molding, thermoforming and blow molding. Several Milliken additives serve to improve the performance of the polymers they modify, officials said, including Hyperform HPN nucleating agents for both PP and polyethylene. The materials improve the performance of recycled polypropylene and also enable the production of stronger, lighter parts, increasing stiffness significantly when compared to conventionally nucleated PP.

At K 2019, Milliken will be introducing its latest grade — Hyperform HPN 715 — which will offer new opportunities for PP to replace more expensive engineering resins in demanding applications. Hyperform HPN 715 delivers an optimized balance of various key factors, while also providing higher heat-deflection temperatures compared to other advanced nucleators. This allows PP to be used in microwaveable containers, under-hood vehicle components and in household appliance parts.

Milliken's KeyPlast colorants for plastics can be used by liquid and solid masterbatch producers, resin producers and compounders, and they are suitable for use with a wide range of polymer and resins systems. These include PET in transparent, food-contact applications, as well as other transparent amorphous polymers such as polystyrene, polycarbonate and acrylic.

In August, Milliken announced plans to build a new plant and technical center in Singapore. The plant is expected to open in early 2021. The new facility "expands Milliken's chemical manufacturing footprint to support increasing demand across Asia, including rapidly growing markets in India and China," officials said at the time. Milliken currently operates an applications lab and technical service and sales office in Singapore, where it's had operations for 20 years.

Also at K 2019, Spanish additives maker Tolsa (Hall 8B, Booth 46) will launch an extension of its ADINS-brand range of flame-retardant additives for PP, PVC, rubber polymer systems and silicones.

The new ADINS clay synergists deliver reduced smoke production and improved heat release in PP, PVC and rubber polymer systems, in addition to the existing FR additives used in other polymers, officials with Madrid-based Tolsa said in a news release.

"Our unique FR technology continues to evolve and we see continuing growth for clay synergists in a wide range of systems that require the highest standards of flame retardancy," technical manager Antonio Esteban said. "Our materials are highly versatile and can be fine-tuned to meet the high-performance needs of formulators and end users."

Tolsa's expanded product line includes a new grade that uses titanium dioxide to improve the performance of intumescent systems for PP and coatings. This new ADINS clay grade demonstrates further stabilization of the char in intumescent systems — dosages of around 1-2 percent — improving the flame retardant efficiency.

Officials added that Tolsa is focused on translating its unique FR technology to other polymer matrices including nylon, polycarbonate and thermosets.

Additives maker Vertellus (Hall 8B, Booth F78) of Indianapolis will launch a developmental material at K 2019, while spotlighting the firm's expanding portfolio of plastics technologies.

Focus areas for Vertellus at the event include advanced performance additives for the PVC, polyester, polyolefin and nylon industries, as well as next-generation adhesives and sealants, and gel products that officials said are helping device manufacturers maintain product integrity in harsh environments.

Vertellus will also be introducing a new developmental product designed to upgrade fiber reinforcements used to produce plastic compounds and composites, as well as presenting high-performance intermediates and catalysts for making a broad range of vinyl and sulfone polymers.

In a news release, CEO John Van Hulle said that Vertellus "has a great portfolio of existing products as well as a pipeline of innovations that position the company to drive real value for our customers and stakeholders."

"After my first year as CEO, I am even more excited than ever about the opportunities available to the company," he added. "My aim is to help our customers deliver profitable growth year over year, and I firmly believe we have the products, people and processes to make that happen. This is the message I'm taking to K 2019."