Compounding
Organic PVC Stabilizers Move from Europe to U.S.
A line of organic PVC heat stabilizers designed to replace heavy-metal stabilizers in environmentally sensitive European markets is now gaining a foothold in North America.
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New Sources of Help in Coloring Plastics
Two new color services for small to medium-sized firms that lack in-house color-matching and formulating expertise were announced at K 2004.
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K 2004 Wrap-Up on Additives: Problem-Solving Additives Tackle New and Old Challenges
The latest K show was rich in additives that can ease processing and end-use problems of thermoplastics and thermosets.
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Colorant Makers Expand Services to Speed Customers' Product Development
Independent color-concentrate producers have been expanding the range of services they offer beyond simple color matching.
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K 2004 Wrap-Up on Compounding: Quick Changes and Hybrids Add Versatility
New compounding technologies displayed at K 2004 included some unusual ways to broaden the range of products a twin-screw compounder can make.
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Polyurethanes: Foams Go 'Green' at Ever-Lower Cost
A great deal of effort is going into formulating rigid and flexible foams for lower cost and better properties, despite the transition to "cleaner" blowing agents. Improving fire and smoke performance is another challenge.
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D-LFT Composites Aim for Auto Body Panels
Direct long-fiber thermoplastic (D-LFT) compounding and molding is getting ready to expand beyond non-appearance structural automotive parts to exterior body panels.
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Chasing Nanocomposites
Nano-sized particles have mega-potential in plastics because just a pinch does so much more than heavy loadings of other additives. Three recent conferences presented almost 200 papers on the feverish pace of ‘nano’ R&D on boosting plastics’ mechanical and barrier properties, flame retardancy, and electrical conductivity.
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From Paper-Mill Sludge to Plastic Decking
Kadant Composites’ self-appointed mission for the past eight years has been to find commercial uses for paper sludge, a soggy mix of short cellulose fibers, calcium carbonate, and clay that is the copious byproduct of paper recycling.
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'Cleaner,' More Efficient Additives for Flexible and Rigid PVC
New vinyl additives designed to be more environmentally friendly while offering improved performance are available from Crompton Corp., Middlebury, Conn.
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