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A full line of chemical foaming agents for thermoplastics production and applications has been launched by Reedy Chemical Foam, a subsidiary of Metals and Additives, in Brazil, Indiana. The Safoam RAZ line of CO₂ chemical foaming agents available in both masterbatch and powder blends can also be customized to match a customer’s specific targeted goal. The energy-absorbing technology (endothermic) of these chemical foaming agents has been shown to create fine-cell structure in all typical commodity and engineering thermoplastics due to their compatible carrier systems, thereby reducing weight, increasing output and reducing machine energy.

Moreover, these foaming agents can be used in various resin manufacturing applications, including extrusion, injection molding, rotomolding and compounding. Each agent offers targeted gas yields that result in lower addition levels and pronounced density reduction and plastic usage. For example, Safoam RAZ-70 has been shown to reduce the density of PVC foam sheet and profiles by up to 30% in many applications. This reduction also reduces plastic usage, providing significant cost savings compared to unfoamed plastic parts. In some formulas, the pellet size is optimized for accurate, precise feeding at lower percentages while minimizing pellet segregation. Composite sampling is performed throughout the lot to ensure consistency, accuracy and quality control of testing parameters.

“We are finding many applications such as extruded board and sheet, pipe, footwear, gaskets, and profiles are being foamed using Safoam RAZ products to reduce density, while providing a uniform closed cell structure,” says Theresa Healy, Reedy Chemical Foam ´óÏó´«Ã½ director.