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Plastics Additives
Additives are materials that are added to the primary resin during either compounding or processing to improve the polymer’s processability, performance or appearance. Additives include colorants; heat stabilizers; process aids; fillers; compatibilizers; blowing agents; lubricants; slip agents.

ESSENTIAL READING
VIEW ALLUnderstanding the ‘Science’ of Color
And as with all sciences, there are fundamentals that must be considered to do color right. Here’s a helpful start.
Read MoreWhat’s With All the Static?
Static buildup on polymers can cause a variety of problems, some rather unpleasant. Yet there’s an inexpensive way to eliminate it, and we have data as proof.
Read MorePart 11: A Processor's Most Important Job
It’s the processors job to ensure molded parts contain enough stabilizer to perform to the expectations of the end use.
Read MoreHow to Prevent Stress Whitening in PP Copolymers
A look at causes, detection, and prevention.
Read MoreExtruding with Fillers
You can use the reference point from processing unfilled polymer to determine whether you can run filled resin on your current system.
Read MoreMaterials: Analyzing Filler Content
The process is considered simple. But things aren’t always as they seem.
Read MoreLatest Additives News And Updates
UL Solutions Launches Non PFAS Certification
Program will help plastics suppliers demonstrate that their materials do not contain polyflouroalkyl substances, in compliance with sustainability requirements.
Read MoreChroma Color Expands Footprint With Acquisition of Spectra Color
Specialty color and additives supplier acquires manufacturer of colorants and precolored resin compounds.
Read MoreLight-Blocking Additive for PET Dairy Packaging
Avient’s Lactra LX additive enables blocking of 100% visible light in monolayer PET.
Read MoreOCSiAl Opens First Large-Scale Graphene Nanotube Plant
The new facility in Serbia will serve Europe, North America and Asia to drive advances in plastics and rubbers.
Read MoreSGS Expands Testing Capability of PFAS in North America
The testing is expected to enhance throughput and ensure better targeted remediation analysis.
Read MoreInsight Polymers & Compounding Unveils New Conductive Products Line
The new conductive products line will also be produced for injection molding and extrusion.
Read MoreFeatured Posts
Additives Boast Sustainability Without Sacrificing Performance
Sustainability continues to dominate new additives technology, but upping performance is also evident. Most of the new additives have been targeted to commodity resins and particularly polyolefins.
Read MoreStruktol Showcasing a Range of Specialty Additives
NPE2024: Focus is on additives for plastics including PVC and WPC industries.
Read MoreBASF Highlighting How They 'Make, Use and Recycle Future Solutions'
NPE2024: BASF is using its proprietary computer-aided engineering tool Ultrasim when designing for sustainability in a broad range of industries.
Read MoreRiverdale Global Showing Latest Innovations and New Satellite Location in Wisconsin
NPE2024: Live demos of updated RGS controller are among the highlights at its Wisconsin facility that will house the ‘new’ color R&D lab.
Read MoreAt NPE2024, Follow These Megatrends in Materials and Additives
Offerings range from recycled, biobased, biodegradable and monomaterial structures that enhance recyclability to additives that are more efficient, sustainable and safer to use.
Read MoreGerdau Graphene Launches “First” Graphene-Enhanced PE Additive Masterbatch for Extruded Packaging and More
The company has also partnered with conglomerate Sumitomo Corp. for distribution of its graphene-enhanced masterbatches in Japan.
Read MoreFAQ: Additives
What to consider when adding color?
There are several key items that are essential in developing a colorant package for any polymer. The first of these is the avoidance of any chemical incompatibility between the chemistry of the polymer and the chemistry of the colorant system. Chemical reactions proceed more rapidly at higher temperatures, and melt processing involves significantly elevated temperatures and large inputs of mechanical energy. Therefore, any chemical interactions that may occur between a polymer and a colorant system will happen very rapidly during the injection molding process.
The material supplier will incorporate a certain amount of the stabilization package in the material, making this the starting point for that material. It is now the processor’s job to handle the material during processing so that the molded part contains enough stabilizer to perform to the expectations of the end user. The molding process will always consume some amount of the antioxidant in the material. This is expected. But the amount of stabilizer that is consumed will depend upon the process conditions, most notably the melt temperature and the time the material spends in the molten state. Lower melt temperatures and shorter residence times will produce parts that retain a higher level of stabilization, and these parts will be more capable of handling the application environment. If melt temperatures become elevated or residence times become extended, the molded part will be less capable of managing the application demands.
Additives Supplier Categories
- Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing/Prototyping Materials)
- Antiblocking Agents & Concentrates
- Antioxidants & Concentrates
- Fillers - Mineral or Other Inorganic Type
- Compatibilizers
- Thixotropic Agents
- Biocides
- Color Concentrates
- Plasticizers
- Processing Aids (Organic & Inorganic)
- Release Agents (External & Internal/Additive)
- Odor Neutralizers
- Impact Modifiers
- Surface Treatment Chemicals, Dispersion Aids (for Fillers, Pigments, Reinforcements)
- Degradation Promoters
- Ceramic Fibers
- Metal Deactivators
- Continuous Fiber Rovings, Tows, Yarns
- Core Materials
- Carbon or Graphite Fiber
- Fillers -Organic Type
- Cooling-Water Treatment Chemicals
- Mineral Fiber
- Heat-Distortion Modifiers
- Fabric, Mat, Veil, Felt
- Stock Shapes - Film, Rod, Tube, Sheet
- Blowing Agents (Chemical, Physical, Concentrates)
- Resin Clean-up Solutions
- Viscocity Depressants
- Aramid Fiber
- Lubricants & Lubricant Concentrates
- Stripping Agents, Resin Removers
- Nylon, PET or PP Fiber
- Surfactants
- Color Dyes, Pigments
- Purging Compounds
- Air Release Agents
- Antistats & Concentrates
- Flame Retardants & Smoke Suppressants
- Fillers -Microspheres (Hollow or Solid)
- Nucleating/Clarifying Agents
- Conductive Additives
- Crosslinking Agents for Thermoplastics
- Slip Agents & Concentrates
- Antifogging Agents
- Heat Stabilizers for PVC
- UV Stabilizers & Concentrates
- Dessicant Additives
- Fragrance Additives
- Biodegradable, Photodegradable Resins & Compounds
- UHMW-PE Fiber
- Glass Fiber
- Natural Fibers
- Discontinuous Fibers (Chopped, Milled, Staple)