Expanded Line of Metal-Like Thermoplastics Includes Sustainable Alternatives

Avient has expanded its Gravi-Tech density-modified thermoplastics portfolio to include more sustainable grades based on recycled and bio-based resin and/or filler, reportedly without sacrificing performance. In late 2021, PT reported on Avient’s launch of the Gravi-Tech line that enable advanced metal plating surface treatments to deliver both the look and feel of metal in premium packaging applications.

Developed to mimic the luxurious look, weight, and feel of die-cast or machined metals by using select metallic fillers and thermoplastic resin, Gravi-Tech formulations are poised as cost-effective alternatives to metal, useful for applications in luxury packaging and consumer goods including caps and closures for cosmetics, bottle caps and boxes for spirits, and decorative knobs and grips for appliances, furniture, and automotive applications. The line included 15 grades suitable for electroplating and physical vapor deposition (PVD) processes in PP, ABS, or nylon 6 formulations that have densities similar to traditional metals. The five electroplating grades span a specific gravity range of 1.25 to 4.0, while the ten PVD grades offer specific gravities from 2.0 to 3.8. All boast excellent scratch resistance, adhesion, and chemical resistance, and several grades are FDA compliant for good contact.

Meanwhile, as OEMs and consumers seek more sustainable materials in the packaging industry, Avient has advanced its Gravi-Tech Density Modified Formulations line with two new sustainable solutions. The first, Gravi-Tech REC Recycled Formulations, is based on recycled resin and/or filler from post-industrial recycled (PIR) and/or post-consumer recycled (PCR) sources. The second, Gravi-Tech BIO Bio-based Formulations, contains biobased resin from renewable plant sources. Both are developed to offer comparable performance to conventional density-modified solutions but with less reliance on virgin thermoplastics, supporting the circular economy and reducing carbon footprint relative to fossil feedstock resin alternatives.

Said to be similar to prime density modified grades, these new materials can be extruded, molded, calendered, or thermoformed into complex designs without expensive tooling. Performance characteristics, including density, corrosion and chemical resistance, and mechanical performance, can be customized depending on application needs.