MOSCOW (MRC) -- Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, has announced the introduction of a new liquid additive masterbatch that minimizes yellowing and greying of polyester terephthalate (PET) polymers caused by the introduction of post-consumer-recycled resin (PCR), said the company in its press release.
The new optical brightening products, which are part of the HiFormer family of liquid masterbatch solutions and application technology, can be used in a wide variety of PET resin grades and processes, including injection-blow molding, injection molding and extrusion. Typically, PET resins are used in bottles and formed-sheet packaging. The additive has received approval for food-contact applications from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
"Packagers are under heavy pressure from consumers and environmental advocates to use more PCR in their products," explains Peter Prusak, Head of Marketing – Clariant Masterbatches North America, "but the recyclate tends to reduce or discolor the crystal clarity that PET is known for. Clariant's new HiFormer PET-enhancing additives promise to minimize this problem, opening new opportunities for more sustainable packaging."
The new liquid additives were tested on a production scale blow-molding machine in Clariant's facility in East Chicago, IL. Bottles made using 25% recycled PET and 75% virgin PET and no brightening additive were compared against bottles made with the same PCR resin and the additive in concentrations of 0.025, 0.035 and 0.05%. While the unmodified bottles showed significant yellowing, all the bottles made with the HiFormer additive were visibly brighter (less yellow and more blue).
HiFormer is Clariant's global brand that encompasses its high-performance liquid color and additive concentrates, dosing/handling equipment, expertise and service. It was created to help customers select the right masterbatch solution for their particular needs. Liquid masterbatches can be used in many of the same applications as pelletized material and in some cases they offer critical advantages to the packaging and consumer goods segments of the plastics industry.
HiFormer liquid masterbatches are highly concentrated, so that less is needed to achieve brilliant, vibrant color, especially in translucent and transparent polymers like PET. Processing efficiencies can deliver high productivity at a low total cost. With its tailored carrier technology and customized dosing- and handling systems, HiFormer opens up new dimensions: fast and simple color changes, maximum flexibility, and high reproducibility of the defined color.
As MRC wrote previously, in February 2015, Clariant announced the global availability of a new line of "animal-free" MEVOPUR standard masterbatches and compounds. The development offers the makers of pharmaceutical packaging and medical devices a consistent and traceable supply of products that are compliant with global standards and support a wide range of product design, marketing, and manufacturing needs. Manufactured to meet the needs of the medical and pharmaceutical market, these products are not only free of animal-derived ingredients but they are also free of phthalates and heavy-metal pigments. The new line of standard MEVOPUR color masterbatches includes 17 polyolefin (PP and PE) colors.
Clariant AG is a Swiss chemical company and a world leader in the production of specialty chemicals for the textile, printing, mining and metallurgical industries. It is engaged in processing crude oil products in pigments, plastics and paints.
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