additives
FOR
ISSN 0306-3747 January/February 2019
POLYMERS
FRX Polymers’ Nofia provides eco-friendly flame
retardance in high-temperature PUR foam
M assachusetts-based polymer-
ic, non-halogenated flame
retardants specialist FRX Polymers®
Inc reports that its Nofia®
polyphosphonates are capable of
providing excellent flame retard-
ance in flexible polyurethane (PUR)
foam products, enabling them to
meet the stringent UL 94 V-0 fire
standard requirement for use in
the transportation and electronics
industries. This represents a new
application area for the company’s
Nofia phosphonate oligomers.
According to FRX Polymers, its Nofia
products provide not only flame retard-
ance but also heat stabilization (improved
thermal stability) in PUR flexible foam
products, enabling them to retain strong
mechanical performance after severe ther-
mal aging tests at 150°C. Key targeted
applications include automotive under-
the-hood parts; cushioning and gaskets
for electric vehicle battery packs; noise,
vibration and harshness foams for various
transportation parts; and gaskets for elec-
trical and electronics components with
UL 94 V-0 requirements.
The company explains that, as part of
its development effort, it initially worked
with customers who were seeking to
replace expandable graphite used in a
one-shot PUR foam process for automo-
tive engine covers. Through close col-
laboration with its clients, FRX Polymers
has proved that Nofia polymeric flame
retardants are an ‘outstanding choice’,
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Contents
MATERIALS
FRX Polymers’ Nofia provides eco-friendly
flame retardance in high-temperature
allowing fire retardant PUR foam to han- PUR foam 1
dle higher temperatures, both in terms Songwon introduces liquid aminic
antioxidant for flexible foams and more 2
of peak temperature and continuous use
Colloids launches masterbatch range
temperature, it says. The polyphospho- compatible with laser marking 2
nate products also maintain good dimen- Ampacet extends clarifier and antistat
sional stability and the required mechani- ranges… 3
cal performance after exposure to long- …and presents lower-cost alternative
to metallization 4
term heat aging, the company reports. Grafe adds flop effect and anti-counterfeit
Nofia flame retardants can be added solutions to masterbatch range 4
into the PUR foam production pro- Evonik’s phosphate methacrylate finds
broader additive applications 5
cess in both powder form or as a liquid
GreenMantra’s WPC additives enhance
polyol solution, which ‘significantly sustainability 6
improves’ process efficiency and provides Clariant and Gabriel-Chemie present their
a more sustainable solution than the colour trend forecasts for plastics 7
current technologies, namely expanded
COMPANY STRATEGIES
graphite or halogenated flame retard- Lanxess plans E200 million investment
ants, the company claims. ‘Our unique in flame retardants; reports strong
income growth 8
non-halogenated flame retardants have
Songwon forms UV absorbers partnership
been proven to provide critical benefits with Disheng, expands capacity 9
beyond flame retardance across a range Kafrit purchases US masterbatch
of applications’, says Ina Jiang, VP of producer Polyfil 10
sales and marketing for FRX Polymers. Perstorp increases Di-Penta production
capacity for lead-free stabilizers 10
The new use in PUR foams is another
Lehmann&Voss acquires fillers
example where Nofia polyphosphonates manufacturer Osthoff Omega 11
‘enable ground-breaking performance’, Lifocolor invests in new French
she adds. masterbatches plant 11
FRX Polymers was founded in 2007 Chromaflo expands into Mexico and
Malaysia 12
and is headquartered in Chelmsford, MA,
USA. It is the developer and producer of FINANCIALS
the Nofia range of environmentally friend- Cabot reports mixed results for 2018
fiscal year 12
ly and inherently flame retardant plastics
Nabaltec posts continued sales growth;
and oligomers. The company reports that forms Chinese subsidiary 13
it is currently in a high-growth phase of
MARKETS
commercializing its ‘unique family’ of
Turning the spotlight on pigments for
phosphonate homopolymers, copolymers plastics applications 14
and oligomers. Nofia phosphonates are
Continued on page 2... EVENTS CALENDAR 16
 MATERIALS
...Contined from front page
capable of replacing halogenated flame retardants, which are
being phased out due to toxicity concerns; these halogen-
free flame retardants are tough and transparent, and possess
high melt flow for use in the consumer electronics, textiles,
building and construction, and transportation markets, FRX
Polymers says. Nofia products are sold as polymeric flame
retardant additives, flame retardant engineering plastics, and
as reactive flame retardant additives for thermosetting resins.
Nofia phosphonates are produced using sustainable
green chemistry principles, which include a solvent-free
production process, no waste by-products and near 100%
atom efficiency. FRX Polymers’ portfolio includes an
extensive and growing patent estate comprising nearly
200 patent applications to date, of which more than 100
applications have been granted.
More information: www.frxpolymers.com
MATERIALS
Songwon introduces liquid
aminic antioxidant for
flexible foams and more
S outh Korea’s Songwon International has
developed a new antioxidant to strengthen
and enhance the value of its range of stabiliz-
ers for polyols and polyurethane. Songnox®
5057 is a liquid, butylated, octylated aminic anti-
oxidant suitable for application in various sub-
strates, including polyols, the company reports.
Complementing its already broad range of aminic,
phenolic, phosphite and thioester antioxidants,
the latest product is designed particularly for use
in flexible polyurethane slabstock foams, elasto-
mers and hot melt adhesives, Songwon says.
When used in combination with hindered phenols such
as Songnox 1135 or Songnox 1076, new antioxidant
Songnox 5057 protects polyols against degradation dur-
ing storage and transportation, according to the company.
In addition, this combination prevents scorching (that is,
discoloration in the centre of the foam) during the manu-
facture of flexible polyurethane foams, Songwon reports.
Such foams are used in numerous different industries,
2
Additives for Polymers January/February 2019
ranging from furniture and bedding to automotive
components and sports applications.
Due to its low volatility and liquid form, Songnox
5057 is suitable for ‘numerous substrates and applica-
tions’, explains Thomas Schmutz, leader technical service
& application development at Songwon. In many indus-
tries, the quality standards required for foams are becom-
ing more rigorous; however, since Songnox 5057 contains
very little residual diphenylamine, it allows the company
to address ‘specific customer needs in demanding polyure-
thane applications’, Schmutz adds.
Songnox 5057 is manufactured at Songwon’s world-
class facility in Ulsan, South Korea. Since other industry-
standard aminic as well as phenolic (e.g. Songnox 1135)
antioxidants are already produced at the site, the new
product is helping ‘to add further economic value’ through
production efficiency and scale, the company says. ‘Our
state-of-the-art plant enables Songwon to supply products
cost-effectively all over the world and is ideally situated to
support customers everywhere, including in Asia, the mar-
ket with the highest growth’, comments Elena Scaltritti,
leader business unit polymer stabilizers.
Songwon’s focus on and continuous investment in key,
cutting-edge solutions that meet today’s high standards once
more underlines the company’s long-term commitment to the
plastic additives industry, Scaltritti continues. The additional,
in-house production capacity created has put Songwon in a
position to expand successfully by developing additives for
other products in addition to polyolefins, she concludes.
More information: www.songwon.com
Colloids launches masterbatch
range compatible with laser
marking
B ritish masterbatch manufacturer Colloids
Ltd has introduced the L-TEC laser-marking
masterbatch range, which has been developed
for plastic component producers seeking to use
a permanent laser-marking system to apply key
product information and branding instead of
printing or engraving. The new range is available
as a custom-formulated masterbatch or com-
pound in a wide range of polymers for injection
moulding and extrusion. The company says that