Clariant's Pigments & Additives Division At The K 2007

Muttenz,SV - The 17th International Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber will be held from October 24 to 31, 2007, in Düsseldorf, Germany. At the world's most important trade fair of the polymer industry, Clariant's Pigments & Additives Division will present its innovative products in Hall 8A /Stand 8AJ11. The focus will be on Licocene, the high-performance "designer waxes", and Exolit, the non-halogenated flame retardants. For pigments, Clariant will be showcasing its high-performance new red pigments PV Fast Red D3GW and PV Fast Red HGR as well as the pre-dispersed pigment preparations of the Hostacryl series. The range of products on display will be complemented by two special polymer additives: the UV absorber Hostavin B-CAP and the stabilizer Hostanox O3.

Licocene: Designer waxes with a broad range of applications and tailored effect
With its Licocene products, Clariant offers "designer waxes" for different applications. Licocene are a new class of high-performance materials manufactured in a special process developed by Clariant that uses metallocene catalysts. This makes it possible to tailor properties of the Licocene , such as melt temperature, viscosity, or hardness for special applications. The results are products with a property profile that precisely fits the individual requirements.

The Licocene PE MA and Licocene PP MA series were specially developed as coupling agents and compatibilizers for natural fiber-filled composites. WPC (Wood Plastic Composite) is a high-performance composite of polymers and wood fibers that has experienced a tremendous boost in recent years. A prerequisite for the successful use of this material is an optimal property profile, to which Licocene contribute significantly. In WPC with polyethylene as the polymer ingredient, Licocene PE MA 4351 TP is used. In WPC in which polypropylene is used as a polymer, Clariant recommends Licocene PP MA 6452 TP. Both additives are waxes based on polyethylene, or polypropylene, respectively, that were polar- modified with maleic anhydride. Unlike materials without additives, the addition of Licocene increases the hardness of the composite in both cases, thus improving its impact resistance and increasing its e-module. With its reduced water absorption, the material also features increased dimensional stability, while its higher elasticity reduces the risk of splintering and breaking. Thus Licocene significantly improve the quality of WPC both indoors and in outdoor flooring and fences.

Exolit flame retardants: Safety first!
With its Exolit systems, Clariant has set the standard for flame retardants. Exolit are high-quality non-halogenated flame retardants based on different phosphorus compounds. Exolit fulfils today's requirements of environmentally friendly and highly effective fire protection. One of the many advantages of Exolit products is their relatively low smoke density. The absence of corrosive gases developing in case of a fire also speaks for Exolit . Clariant offers its flame retardants in numerous modifications and combinations with synergists, meeting the requirements in various applications.

Clariant's Exolit OP series for high-performance engineering plastics in the electrical and electronics industry has been in the market for several years now. These non-halogenated flame retardants based on a metal phosphinate have an outstanding property profile. They are colorless and easy to disperse, and they feature good rheological properties. Unlike conventional flame retardants, Exolit OP has only a minor effect on the mechanical properties of the compounds.

Exolit OP 1312 has established itself as a proven flame retardant for fiberglass-reinforced polyamides 6 and 6.6. It stands out by a high CTI (Comparative Tracking Index) of 600 Volt. Already relatively low amounts are sufficient to meet fire protection classifications such as UL 94 V0 down to 0.4 mm thickness, or a GWFI (Glow Wire Flammability Index) of 960° C. Exolit OP 1230 is a flame retardant with high temperature resistance that can be also used for high-temperature polyamides (HTN). Exolit OP 1240 was especially developed for thermoplastic polyesters (PBT and PET). It is used in combination with synergists in the injection molding of electronic components, where it has the same advantageous effects as in polyamides. The requirements for fire prevention and environmental protection are particularly high in E&E. Exolit OP meets all of the requirements of the EU-Directives WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) and RoHS (Restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment), providing an interesting new alternative for material developers.

The high temperature resistance of products of the Exolit OP series, such as Exolit OP 935 makes the latter an attractive non-halogenated co-flame retardant for printed circuit boards which must be processed in lead-free solder bath.

For compounds of polyolefins and reinforcing natural fibers such as WPC (Wood Plastic Composites), Clariant recommends the flame retardant Exolit AP 422. WPC, high-performance composites of polymers and wood fibers, have been on the upswing in recent years. Exolit AP 422 is a highly effective non-halogenated and environmentally friendly flame retardant that optimally fits the properties of WPC. It fulfils the most stringent safety standards even in low dosages. This opens interesting areas of new applications for WPC where the fire protection requirements are high, for instance in the construction industry.

Exolit RP is a series of flame retardants based on red phosphorus. Applications include fiberglass-reinforced polyamides and cast resins for electronics. Like the other Exolit products, the series stands out by excellent efficiency, fulfilling the highest fire protection classifications already even in low dosages.

PV Fast Pigments: Two new signals in red
Clariant's PV Fast Pigments series offers high-performance organic pigments for coloring numerous polymers. Thanks to their excellent temperature resistance, lightfastness and resistance to bleeding, they are also suitable for demanding applications.

The range of PV Fast Pigments was recently expanded by two new red pigments. PV Fast Red D3GW is part of the family of diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) pigments with excellent color fastness. Like all other pigments in the DPP family, it stands out by outstanding dispersibility and a technically superior property profile. PV Fast Red HGR is also strong in color and exhibits excellent performance.

What makes these two pigments special is that they hardly influence the warpage or shrinking in semi-crystalline plastics, so they are a perfect fit for coloring bottle crates and bottle caps made out of high-density polyethylene.

Hostacryl: An easy way to color acrylics, with beautiful results!
Clariant's Hostacryl, a range of pre-dispersed pigment preparations, opens innovative ways of coloring thin acrylic layers. The construction industry is witnessing a growing demand for door and window frames made of sturdy thermoplastics coated with a thin acrylic protective layer. Based on fashion trends, consumer tastes change rather quickly, and new architectural developments require a fast and accurate color matching. With Hostacryl Clariant offers a range of colors with excellent properties. In addition to outstanding weather resistance, they feature high color strength and low heat absorption. Other significant advantages are their easy processing and free flowing, which allows accurate dosage. Color "change-over" is also relatively easy and fast. Low dusting makes the handling more secure. As the pigments are pre-dispersed, they can be directly worked into the acrylic resin.

Hostavin and Hostanox: Visually attractive polymers for a long time
Hostavin B-CAP is an easy-to-process high-performance UV absorber for engineering plastics. The colorless product acts as a physical screen that protects the substrate from the high-energy portions of the sunlight. Unlike conventional UV absorbers, Hostavin B-CAP does not interact with metal ion residues from catalysts or other processes. The product prevents or considerably delays yellowing or discoloration even in extreme climatic conditions.

Hostavin B-CAP does not affect the color or transparency of the plastic. In combination with other stabilizers, Hostavin B-CAP is a first choice for the long-term protection of transparent polycarbonate sheets in roofs and building facades.

Another product in Clariant's range of "specialty" additives is Hostanox O3, a highly effective phenolic antioxidant. It stands out by its high resistance to hydrolysis and its high performance as a long-term thermal stabilizer. The product improves discoloration behavior under extreme conditions, thus extending the life of polymers even in demanding applications, for instance the stabilization of pipes in contact with extractive media such as water or oil. Clariant recommends Hostanox O3 especially for applications in the yellow color range, such as gas pipelines.

This information is based on our present state of knowledge and is intended to provide general notes on our products and their uses. It should not therefore be construes as guaranteeing specific properties of the products described or their suitability for a particular application. Any existing industrial property rights must be observed. The quality of our products is guaranteed under our General Conditions of Sale.

SOURCE: Clariant