Additives for plastic

What are additives for plastics?

Additives for plastics are substances that are incorporated in plastic materials and grant them certain properties regarding the degree of endurance, adaptability to external factors or in its internal structure and physical characteristics. Plastics for commercial use normally include additives and are necessary to obtain a material that may be processed accordingly. Nonetheless, this might not be enough if the final product requires a certain set of special characteristics. In that case, the application of additive masterbatch may change the material properties and grant the finished piece with the desired properties by the customer. There is a high number of available additives for plastics and in Colortec we take this into consideration in order to manufacture the right product, according to its final function.

Customised additives for plastics according to each final product

In order to ensure its correct functioning, it is necessary to know the requirements of the final material and its main purpose, as we need to know the intended application for the product. For instance, a plastic that is intended for indoors applications don’t usually require a UV-resistant additive for plastics or a UV filter. However, if it is conceived for food packaging, it might require an antimicrobial additive for plastic in order to prevent the spread of microorganisms or bacteria, as in food packaging solutions. An important aspect for the customisation of additives is the combination of the additive and the colour that can be performed in the design of the masterbatch. It simplifies the dosing process of the additive and colour and implies lower production costs. With this simple combination, we are able to achieve the desired aesthetical appearance and physical properties of the additive in just one concentrate.

What requirements must additives for plastics meet?

• An easy dispersion though plastic.
• Compliance with the safety standards of the sector.
• Avoidance of non-desired chemical interactions with other substances of the plastic resins from the customer’s design.
• They should be properly formulated in order to ensure its optimal concentration.
• They must not hinder the processing.
• They should improve the properties of the natural resin.

Most frequent types of additives

Additives for UV stabilizer or anti-UV plastics:

This kind of additive is used in products, whose parts’ endurance is needs to be improved when exposed to UV radiation. In general, all plastics are deteriorated by the exposure to sunlight, and its appearance and physical properties may also be affected. This degradation tends to appear when yellow spots may be found in the final product. When used jointly with antioxidant additives for plastics, it prevents the early degradation and prolongs its working life.

Antioxidant additive for plastics (stabilisers)

This type of additive lubricates the polymer and cuts the degradation reactions that appear in the material when exposed to outdoors abrupt temperature changes on an ongoing basis. As indicated by its own name, they prevent materials from rusting. In plastics, this rusting consists in a degradation of plastic’s chemical bonds, which may cause the appearance of cracks, spots with changes of colour and the loss of physical properties. Choosing a good antioxidant stabilizer guarantees the optimum procedures, quality, safety and durability in plastic products.

Antimicrobial additives for plastic / Antibacterial additives for plastic

This type of additive can frequently be found in the packaging, household, healthcare and cosmetics sectors. These additives prevent microorganisms, fungi or bacteria from spreading or they may reduce the number of microorganisms over a plastic surface, where the antimicrobial additives have been applied. According to their type, they directly reduce the number of microorganisms and provide a healthy application of the additive.

Flame retardant additives for plastics

It is especially applied in the construction, furniture, electronic and automotive sectors. Its main feature is to reduce the flammability and prevent the flame from spreading through the material.

Foaming agents.

Foaming additives or extenders are aimed at changing the polymer density. They act over its structure by filling a part of the plastic mass with gas and result in swollen surfaces in the plastic piece. This effect has several applications in the design of pieces, providing different effects, especially when combined with certain colour concentrates in masterbatch.

Lubricant additives for plastic / Slip agents for plastic

A part of this type of additives is made of erucamides, which are very effective as slipping agents in coatings of polyolefins and other polymers

The erucamide is also considered a lubricant, non-slipping and anti-condensation agent.

It minimizes the friction between the polymer and the processing equipment and between polymer – polymer interfaces.

Due to a low migration, a fine coating is formed in the surface of the finished product, which provides the slipping effect.

When applied in PP coatings, it withstands higher processing temperatures, thinner walls and longer distances, favouring the mould filling.

Thinner walls and longer distances facilitate the mould’s filling.