By Ron Shinn
Avient Corp.’s Cesa Unify A4R polyolefin compatibilizer additive lets recyclers mix incompatible polymers such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) together into a homogenous flow and improves the mechanical properties of the products.
This addresses the degradation that occurs during recycling so recyclers can produce a higher-quality, more cost-effective material. It is suitable for a wide range of applications, including packaging and consumer products.
Avient demonstrated Cesa Unify A4R along with a second product, Cesa Nox A4R, that reduces nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions during recycling and improves the color and odor of recycled material, at the Plastics Recycling Show Europe in Amsterdam in April.
The company said Cesa Unify A4R improves impact strength and ductility by maintaining stiffness and mechanical strength during recycling. This results in mechanical properties close to virgin polymers. Impact strength is improved by up to 50 percent and ductility by up to 100 percent.
“With more post-consumer recycled materials entering the value chain, brand owners, recyclers and converters are faced with new and increasing challenges,” Avient said in a news release. “This compatibilizer can help overcome some of those challenges.”
Flexible and rigid packaging widely used in food applications often contains layers of PP and PE that are difficult for recyclers to separate. Cesa Unify A4R is aimed at cost-effective applications like these where it is important to maintain properties close to the original materials.
The additive can be combined with color into a single masterbatch. It is available as pellets.
Avient also demonstrated its specialized antioxidant additive Cesa Nox A4R for reducing NOx emissions and lowering the environmental impact of recycling.
The company said Nox A4R also maintains material quality. The additive is designed to stabilize recycled material. It addresses the problems of oxygen, heat and shear degrading polyolefins, which lead to recycling defects such as discoloration, gels and black spots as well as loss of melt strength. These defects cause processing problems later.
Nox A4R provides excellent performance at low dosage levels and is suitable for high-value polyolefin applications with recycled material content, according to the company. It can be added to material batches early in the recycling process or incorporated in virgin resin to prepare it for future recycling.
Avient said Nox A4R uses a let-down ratio (the ratio of masterbatch that is added to the resin) that is half of what is required for standard antioxidants. It is suited for applications such as packaging, automotive parts and consumer goods.
Contact:
Avient Corp., Avon Lake, Ohio, 440-930-1000, www.avient.com
Ron Shinn | Editor
Editor Ron Shinn is a co-founder of Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing and has been covering the plastics industry for more than 35 years. He leads the editorial team, directs coverage and sets the editorial calendar. He also writes features, including the Talking Points column and On the Factory Floor, and covers recycling and sustainability for PMM and Plastics Recycling.
