TAGS: Sustainability and Bioplastics Automotive Electrical & Electronics Medical Thermoplastic Composites
2022 saw an astronomical increase in sustainable product launches. We witnessed all kinds of innovations majorly focused towards reducing environmental carbon and footprint and building a circular economy.
Let’s recap 2022’s impactful polymer product launches from major industry suppliers that cater to prime end-use applications.
Sustainable Polymer Grade Offerings
SABIC’s low-carbon resins
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LNP™ ELCRIN™ CRX7412UB and LNP™ ELCRIN™ CRX7416UB by SABIC are bio-based, unreinforced, amorphous, flame-retardant polycarbonate (PC) copolymer resins. These are sustainable grades which helps to lower carbon footprint upto 36% and reduce environmental impacts
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SABIC introduced LNP™ ELCRIN™ WF0061BiQ resin, a novel material that uses ocean-bound polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles as a feed stream for chemical upcycling into polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) resin
Dryflex Circular MWR TPEs from HEXPOL contain recyclate coming from post-use maritime ropes. The new materials form part of the Dryflex Circular TPE portfolio, which also offers custom-formulated materials with PCR (Post Consumer) and PIR (Post Industrial) recyclate. Dryflex Circular TPEs are recyclable in closed-loop systems.
Kalix® 10000 series by Solvay is a partially bio-based material made with renewable feedstock from non-food competing sources, is produced with 100% renewable electricity.
Trinseo launched a more sustainable version of its established MAGNUM™ ABS resins for automotive applications.
BASF launched Ultramid® A3EM8 OP, a grade optimized for painting as it provides a class A surface finish and high bonding strength.
Nymax™ BIO Formulations by Avient (Formerly PolyOne) is a bio-based line of flame-retarded, cost-effective, durable polyamides (PA).
DSM Engineering Materials announced the launch of a new, more sustainable version of its flagship product Stanyl®: Stanyl® B-MB (Bio-based Mass Balanced), with up to 100% bio-based content.
Teknor Apex Announces NEW Sarlink® R2 3180B TPV with 25% recycled content – another product portfolio advancement in their sustainability journey.
INEOS Styrolution has introduced the first bio-attributed Terluran® ABS solutions. These grades are based on the attribution of renewable feedstock according to an ISCC-certified mass balance approach: the new ISCC-certified renewable feedstock can be used as a replacement for conventional feedstock for all three components in Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS).
KRAIBURG TPE offered its latest THERMOLAST® R RC/PCR/AP and RC/FC/PCR/AP sustainable TPE compounds for universal industrial and consumer applications.
NOVA Chemicals Corporation announced the launch of its new, mechanically recycled polyethylene resin: EX-PCR-NC4. EX-PCR-NC4 contains 100 percent post-consumer recycled polyethylene (rPE) and offers highly versatile design flexibility making it an ideal solution to lower the carbon footprint of packaging and address climate change.
Teijin Frontier Co., Ltd. announced that it has developed a practical polylactic acid (PLA) resin that biodegrades faster in oceans, rivers and soil compared to conventional PLA products.
Green Dot Bioplastics launched its Terratek® BD line with nine new compostable grades that are targeted for single-use and packaging applications.
TotalEnergies announces the launch of its new product range RE:clic for its low-carbon polymers that contribute to address the challenges of the circular economy.
Medical-grade Polymers
New grades from DSM:
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Akulon® Care K1U range of unfilled PA6 for injection molding & Akulon® Care K1G6 for 30% glass reinforced PA6 for injection molding for catheters, IV fluid bags, insulin pens and autoinjectors, surgical robotics and advanced wound care
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Novamid® Care N3U, unfilled PA6/66 copolymer for (film) extrusion with excellent barrier properties for IV fluid bags and medical packaging
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Arnite® Care A1U, unfilled PET for injection molding is highest purity medical grade PET featuring low water absorption, excellent wear properties and color stability for catheters, insulin pens and autoinjectors, and surgical robots
Ascend’s product lines:
Ascend Performance Materials announced a new portfolio of medical grade nylon 6,6 resins and engineered materials for the healthcare market under its
HiDura™ brand.
The Ascend medical product line launch consists of three products:
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Hi-Dura™ MED AG33 NT0862 (glass filled PA6,6)
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Hi-Dura™ MED AI1 NT0861 (impact modified PA6,6)
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Hi-Dura™ MED AP NT0860 (lubricated unfilled PA6,6)
HEXPOL TPE launched their medical TPEs with bio-attributed content according to the mass balance principle. HEXPOL TPE can replace the fossil polymers in their TPE compounds with the bio-attributed mass-balanced version to create a 1:1 replacement.
KRAIBURG’s product offerings:
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THERMOLAST® H HC/AD1/AP series of compounds that allow adhesion with a range of polar thermoplastics
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THERMOLAST® H TPE series compounds are free of animal ingredients, PVC, silicone, and latex. It conforms to numerous international standards, including ISO 10993-5, GB/T 16886.5, EU No. 10/2011, GB4806, FDA CFR 21, REACH, and RoHS, as well as biocompatibility testing such as ISO 10993-5 and GB/T 16886.5
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THERMOLAST® M range of TPE compounds are translucent, water-insoluble grades for menstrual cup applications
Solvay introduced a new medical grade of Ixef® PARA for single-use surgical instruments and biopharma processing components with rotating parts. Ixef® GS-5022 brings increased lubrication to the well-known combination of mechanical properties and ultra-smooth finish associated with Ixef® GS-1022, already widely used in healthcare applications.
Innovative Polymers for Automotive
Makrolon® Ai polycarbonate offers a special edge-lit composite color that can range from transparent to translucent, providing various options for ambient and dynamic automotive interior lighting.
Ascend Performance Materials materials for EVs:
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Starflam® X-Protect is an industry-leading flame-retardant nylon 66 that withstands exposure to 1,100°C direct flame for 15 minutes, surpassing standard flame-retardant materials and aluminum tested in accordance with SAE AS5127.
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Vydyne® AVS is a new engineered material effective at damping high-frequency vibrations from noise sources like motors and compressors, which translates into an 80% reduction in cabin sound pressure.
SABIC’s grades for automotive:
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LNP™ ELCRES™ FST copolymer resins comply with the European railway standard EN45545 R6-HL 2 for train seating.
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LNP™ THERMOCOMP™ compounds offer the potential to improve signal gain performance vs. ceramics in second-generation automotive global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antennas.
KRAIBURG TPE offers THERMOLAST® K GP/FG and AD1/AP series of TPE compounds suitable for automotive interior applications, such as speaker seals and covers.
Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. has developed a cellulose nanofiber (CNF)-reinforced plastic with the aim of reducing CO2 over the lifecycle of automotive components, from raw material procurement and production to recycling and disposal.
Other Key Product Launches
SABIC introduced LNP™ KONDUIT™ 8TF36E compound, a new specialty material that helps address the stringent demands of burn-in test sockets (BiTS) used to stress-test double-data-rate (DDR) memory integrated circuits (ICs).
ULTEM™ 3310TD resin by SABIC, which is well suited for optical transceiver collimator lenses used in single-mode fiber optic systems.
With the polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) Ultradur® B4335G3 HR HSP, BASF has developed a material that protects sensitive electronics extreme climatic conditions. The unique combination of various properties sets Ultradur® apart from alternative materials.
Asahi Kasei is currently introducing new grades of its modified polyphenylene ether (mPPE) XYRON™ to the European and North American markets. The combination of PPE with other polymers such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) or polystyrene (PS) allows this family of high-performance compounds to feature a broad range of properties, exceeding those of conventional materials used for telecommunication applications.
Covestro’s Makrofol® ID357 white PC film offers properties, quality and performance similar to the company’s renowned Makrofol® ID white PC film. ID document manufacturers can easily combine this new offering with Makrofol® ID clear and clear laser engravable films.
Exceed™ S 9243ML by ExxonMobil Chemical is a high performance, linear low density polyethylene 1-hexene (LLDPE) copolymer grade. It provides high stiffness & toughness and is easy to process on blown film lines. It contains thermal stabilizer. It does not contain antiblock and slip additives.
Toraypearl™ PA6 by Toray is a spherical polyamide 6 (PA6) grade with excellent fluidity and high thermal resistance. It is suitable for powder bed fusion 3D printers, hand tool, FA casing, office chair, automotive parts such as intake manifold, head cover, oil separator & oil strainer.
UBE developed ETERNALAST® polycarbonate-based TPU, along with ETERNATHANE® polycarbonate-based urethane prepolymers and ETERNACOLL® polycarbonate polyols. These are a large platform of solutions offering customizable mechanical performances to polyurethane elastomers as well as superior and long-term retention of performance (thermal & oxidation stability, oil & chemical resistance, hydrolytic stability, weatherability and abrasion resistance).
Borealis offers a broad portfolio of products for the compounding and polymer modification industries. These include polyethylene (PE) resins in the high-density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) families; polypropylene (PP) resins, including homopolymer, random, and heterophasic; and specialty products such as Queo™ as well as other plastomers and elastomers.
Evonik launched three new INFINAM® photopolymers for industrial 3D applications to expand the photo-resins product line launched last year for use in common UV-curing 3D printing processes such as SLA or DLP.
Avient announced the addition of new high-impact polypropylene (PP) based grades to its Gravi-Tech™ density modified portfolio. The innovative hybrid product technology is developed to replace die-cast or machined metals to deliver both the look and weighted feel of metal in premium brand high-impact applications.
Source: Curated by SpecialChem
