Plastics Additives & Compounding September/October 2004

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NewsINDUSTRY

The Pigments & AdditivesDivision of Clariant is buildingthe world's first plant wherewaxes are produced bymetallocene catalysis. Thetechnology has been developedby Clariant and it allows it todesign the properties of waxeswith great precision, says thecompany. Clariant adds that itwill invest more than 20million Euros in the new plant,which has a planned annualproduction capacity of severalthousand metric tons.According to Dr. Hans-Friedrich Herrmann, projectmanager for metallocene waxesat Clariant: "These promisingnew products have tremendousmarket potential because theirproperties are tailored exactlyto their respective application."The new high-performance

polymers from Clariantproduced with metallocenecatalysts are known asLicocene®. In the future,Clariant says that the polymerswill be manufactured on a largescale at Clariant's site inFrankfurt/Höchst, Germany.The property profile ofLicocene can be optimized fordifferent applications. Thecompany says that for the firsttime, it is possible to designwaxes with particularproperties, such as hardness,melt behaviour and viscosity,which can be adjusted exactlywithin a wide range. Theproperties can also becombined in many differentways. This paves the way forlimitless possibilities ofdesigning and monitoring theprocessing and application

properties of waxes. The rangecan be further increasedthrough chemical modificationof the metallocene waxes.The tailoring of the propertyprofile is a special advantage ofmetallocene catalysts. Theirsandwich-like molecularstructure allows modularmodification, allowing limitlesssynthesis of new wax grades. Itis in polypropylene waxes thatthis new possibility has thegreatest impact, since many ofthe types have until now notbeen accessible by conventionalmethods.The family of waxes comprisesmainly special polypropylenetypes, as well as waxes based onpolyethylene and co-polymers.Clariant says that they have agood cost-benefit ratio.Applications for metallocene

waxes include dispersion agentsin masterbatches and in glass-and natural fibre-reinforcedcompounds, often in the aircraftand automotive industries.For example, TP Licocene PEMA 4351 is a polar modifiedpolyethylene wax that can act asa coupling agent andcompatibilizer in natural fibre-filled polyethylene. TPLicocene PP 4201 is a newnucleating agent for themanufacture of foamedpolystyrene, EPS. TP LicocenePE MA 4221 is a colourless andmulti-functional lubricant,developed specifically forcolour-sensitive applications inpolyamide and polyester(PBT/PET).Contact:Clariantwww.pa.clariant.com

Metallocene waxes go into production

Great Lakes ChemicalCorporation has expandedproduction capacity at itsPyongtaek facility in Korea.The company says that this isto satisfy growing demand forits Lowinox® 1790 highperformance phenolicantioxidant that is used inpolyurethane fibres andpolyolefin applications."Making an investment to

increase production capacity ofthis key antioxidant supportsthe emerging needs of both thepolymer industry and,particularly, our customers inthe polyurethane fibres andpolyolefins markets. Thismajor capacity expansion forLowinox 1790 further ensuresthat Great Lakes can meetfuture demand for thisproduct," says Maurizio Butti,

executive vice-president ofpolymer stabilizers. The additional capacity atPyongtaek is fully installed andproduction of Lowinox 1790 isat full capacity. Great Lakessays that this latest investmentmakes Great Lakes the world'sleading producer of this type ofhigh performance phenolicantioxidant, with productionin both Europe and Asia.

The Pyongtaek plant is part ofAsia Stabilizers, a joint venturethat is majority owned andmanaged by Great Lakes withpartner Miwon Commercial, forthe production of UV stabilizers,main and speciality antioxidantsand additive blends.Contact:Great Lakes ChemicalCorporationwww.pa.greatlakes.com

Great Lakes increases antioxidant production

DSM Resolve and KTCConsulting GmbH arecollaborating to offer ananalytical, material testing andconsulting service tomasterbatchers, compoundersand plastics converters. Thecompanies say that the service

will be of interest toproduction-focused operatorswith limited research anddevelopment and laboratoryexpertise and facilities.The technical services offeredinclude: troubleshooting andsupport; polymer and additive

analytics; recipe development;material testing; and qualitycontrol. DSM Resolve is anapplication-oriented analyticaland testing laboratory with 70employees. KTC ConsultingGmbH is a technologyconsulting company

specializing in raw materialsand plastics applicationprocesses.Contact:KTC Consulting GmbHE-mail: mhund@ktc-consulting.dewww.ktc-consulting.de

Partnership to offer technical services