Extrusion International 6-2019

25 Extrusion International 6/2019 Recyclabilityof PlasticsWastewhileSustainingValuableProperties Through a “Symphony of Collaboration”with partners along the full plastics value chain, Clariant is taking proactive steps in address- ing the problem of plastic pollution with new solutions for diverse industry sectors, from packaging – the main use of plastics – to textile floorings and consumer electronics. Complementing its “fit for reuse” solutions announced August 21 where Clariant demon- strated how its additives are recyclable, it now showcases the next level, turning the spotlight on how its additives can make it easier to recycle post-production and post-consumer plastic waste while keeping the material’s performance properties. Newly-developed AddWorks PKG 906 Circle for polyolefin films is a prime example of enabling plastic packaging producers to achieve some of their critical sustainability and business goals: waste reduc- tion, less consumption of virgin resin, lower costs and increased production efficiency. The addition of this polymer stabilizer allows producers to significantly increase the reuse of waste materials in their polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) films, recycling their own reground scrap, without any loss of performanceor processing efficiency. It is particularlywell-suited for biaxially-orientedpolypro- pylene (BOPP) manufacturing but also applicable to cast and blown film processes. With Clariant’s additive, the reuse content of the post-production waste in the final film can be increased by up to 30%. At the same time, the additive is proven to protect the resin so that film quality remains excellent with significant reduction of gel formation and prevention of additional yellowing at same high line speeds. AddWorks PKG 906 Circle contributes to a more sus- tainable and circular economy by making plastic waste reusable, without compromising the packaging film quality and while also increasing the efficiency of the manufacturing process. This poly- mer stabilizer is the first Clariant product to carry the ‘Circle’ des- ignator, introduced to highlight new products and solutions which have been specifically designed todeliver significant benefits to the re-use or recycle process. Although the vast majority of carpets today are made of recyclable woven or tuftedmaterials, most textileflooring still ends up in land- fill or end-of-life incineration. This is largely due to the traditional use of a latex, water-based backing which cannot be removed from the pile fibres and creates a difficult-to-recycle material mix. Pioneering collaboration between Clariant and the Fraunhofer Institute – which developed the CreaSolv ® Process – removes this obstacle and is a huge step forward for the industry in terms of achieving zero waste targets. Recyclable, EcoTain ® certified Lico- cene Performance Polymers (LPP) deliver the benefits of a hot melt carpet backing. By replacing latex with Clariant’s 100% solid con- tent backing solution, water and the associated drying process can be fully avoided, adding up to extensive energy savings of up to 80%, as shown in production trials with carpet manufacturers. As a result, no contaminated waste water occurs. The propylene based LPP canbe recoveredwith at least 90%of its virginquality for re-use via the CreaSolv ® Recycling technology, ensuring a cradle-to-cradle approach. Now, flooring textiles can be recovered and integrated back into production or downcycled into other applications. The whole process provides the missing link for the industry to design fully recyclable carpets from the outset for multi-material, and now also mono-material – a significant contribution to a circular econo- my for flooring starting frompost-consumer waste. Clariant also offers more additives allowing recyclate-use to be in- creased. On the processing side, high performing lubricants can be added to recycled polymers to improve the flow and mold release properties of recyclates. A recycler of post-consumer electronic waste for example is cooperating with Clariant, using its Licolub ® H 12 to modify the recyclate’s rheology at low dosages to achieve melt flow improvement during processing and ultimately help transformcomponents that have reached their endof life intohigh- quality new products. Clariant is also at an advanced stage in being able to market its compatibilizer range for use in recycling to help overcome the problemof utilizing post-consumer or post-industrial mixed plastic waste streams, so that plastics from plastic-rich waste streams can be efficiently reintroduced into the primary cycle. Teknor Apex Company www.teknorapex.com Teknor Apex Company has appointed Suresh Swaminathan as its newpresident. He succeeds William J. Murray, who is retir- ing after 41 years with the company. Swaminathan will be responsible for the company’s worldwide custom compounding business. Teknor Apex operates thirteen manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Europe, and Asia and pro- New President Suresh Swaminathan AddWorks PKG 906 Circle supports packaging filmproducers in recycling their polyolefinmanufacturing waste without compromising the packaging filmquality and while also increasing the efficiency of the manufacturing process. (Photographs: Clariant) duces flexible and rigid vinyl, TPEs, nylons and other engineering thermo- plastics (ETPs), color masterbatches, and specialty chemicals. Clariant www.clariant.com