Solutions for

Polyolefins

Great solutions with small Particles

Great Solutions with Small Particles

Polyolefins are among the most important of the standard

polymers. Their range of application extends from films
and foils, via extrusion-moulded products, up to and in-
cluding cable insulation systems. The demands made on
polyolefin-based compounds are correspondingly great
and diverse. This fact necessitates careful and informed
selection of pigments, additives and fillers, and it must be
ensured that the specific properties required are compre-
hensively fulfilled. Sachtleben‘s specialties meet even ma-
ximum demands. Get the benefits of our more than 125
years of know-how in the entire field of tiny particles!

1
Weathering stability
White + soft + cost-efficient
White + soft + cost-efficient
The following properties are essential in the selection of
the most suitable white pigment:

Dispersibility
Optical properties
Resistance to yellowing
Resistance to lacing
Cost-efficiency
Noise suppression
Sachtleben‘s HOMBITAN, SACHTLEBEN, LITHOPONE and
SACHTOLITH white pigments comprehensively fulfill the
needs of polyolefin processor and users.

Long-term stability

UV barrier

Productivity

2
White pigments -
Rutiles for outdoor applications

SACHTLEBEN R420
SACHTLEBEN R420 is an alumina-silica-zirconia surface-
treated hydrophobic rutile titanium dioxide pigment and
combines outstanding durability with excellent optical
properties. SACHTLEBEN R420‘s fine crystallite and parti-
cle sizes position it in the group of neutral/blue-undertone
plastics grades. SACHTLEBEN R420 is highly suited for use
in nearly all polymers Thanks to its high level of resistance
to outdoor exposure, it is particularly popular for use in
products for outdoor service, including window-profiles,
tubes, PVC and polyolefin films, etc.

SACHTLEBEN R620K
SACHTLEBEN R620K has been developed for applications
with maximum requirements for resistance to weathering.
Thanks to its hydrophobic coating, SACHTLEBEN R620K
is notable for its good dispersibility, also permitting high
filling levels.

SACHTLEBEN RD3
SACHTLEBEN RD3 is an alumina-zirconia surface treated
hydrophilic rutile titanium dioxide pigment and combines
outstanding outdoor durability with excellent optical pro-
perties, i.e., high brightness and lightening power, opacity,
excellent gloss and easy dispersibility. SACHTLEBEN RD3‘s
crystal and particle sizes position it in the group of neutral
undertone plastic grades. SACHTLEBEN RD3 is highly re-
commended for high-quality plastics, particularly those for
exterior applications.

sachtleben R420 sachtleben R620k sachtleben RD3

Titanium dioxide classification R2 R2 R2

Inorganic treatment
(compounds based on:) AI, Zr, Si AI, Si AI, Zr

Organic treatment Polysiloxane Polysiloxane Polyol

TiO2 content [%] approx. 95 approx. 90 approx. 93

Undertone neutral/bluish warm neutral

Weathering stability excellent excellent very good

3
 White pigments -
Rutiles for indoor applications

SACHTLEBEN R405
SACHTLEBEN R405 is an alumina surface-treated hydro-
phobic titanium dioxide pigment offering rapid and excel-
lent dispersibility in a large range of polymers.
SACHTLEBEN R405‘s fine crystal and particle sizes position
it in the group of blue undertone plastics grades.
SACHTLEBEN R405 is particularly recommended for use in
systems in which fineness of pigment dispersion in the po-
lymer is the top priority: polyolefins, styrenics, engineering
polymers, etc.. SACHTLEBEN R405 permits production of
highly pigmented concentrates, such as polyolefin master-
batches, for instance.

SACHTLEBEN R320
SACHTLEBEN R320 is an inorganically untreated but po-
lyol coated rutile titanium dioxide pigment. Its crystal and
particle sizes position SACHTLEBEN R320 in the group of
warm undertone plastics grades.

sachtleben R405 sachtleben R320

Titanium dioxide classification R2 R1

Inorganic treatment
(compounds based on:) AI -

Organic treatment Polysiloxane Polyol

TiO2 content [%] approx. 96 approx. 98

Undertone bluish warm

4
Titanium dioxide white pigments - Anatase

Anatase - a specialty in its own right Diffuse reflectance behaviour of TiO2 and anatase
Titanium dioxide crystallizes into three modifications, known
as rutile, anatase and brookite; only rutile and anatase are of 100

commercial significance. Anatase, with its slightly lower scat- 90

tering power, is not a true competitor for rutile in standard

Diffuse reflectance [%]

80

70
white pigment applications, and the selection of anatase as
60
a white pigment should be based on other specific proper- 50

ties which only it possesses; the difference between the crystal 40

hardnesses of rutile and anatase is of particular importance in 30

TiO2 Rutil
20
this context. Anatase, at 5.8 on the Mohs hardness scale, has TiO2 Anatas
10
a lower physical hardness than rutile, at 6.5; this is the reason 0
300 350 400 450 500 550
for the use of anatase pigments in a wide range of plastics
Wavelength [nm]
applications, since this product‘s lower abrasiveness reduces
wear on processing equipment. Anatase‘s blue-shifted ab-
sorption edge gives it a more bluish tint than rutile, and the-
refore makes it suitable for use in unique, slightly blue-tinted HOMBITAN LO-CR-K
white plastic products. In combination with optical brighten-
HOMBITAN LO-CR-K is a high-quality micronized white
ers, this same shift in the pigment‘s absorption edge produces
pigment based on an organically and inorganically coated
bright and glossy solutions.
anatase titanium dioxide. HOMBITAN LO-CR-K, being an
anatase white pigment, is less abrasive than its rutile cou-
sins, and therefore reduces wear on processing equipment
and cutting tools. HOMBITAN LO-CR-K offers advantages
wherever a bluish hue is required. The anatase modification
transmits light in the near-UV range, and HOMBITAN LO-CR-K
is therefore especially suitable for formulations that
also include optical brighteners and fluorescent pig-
ments. Particularly brilliant hues are achieved when
HOMBITAN LO-CR-K is used in combination with colored
pigments.

hOMbItan lO-cR-k hOMbItan Mct300

Titanium dioxide classification A2 A1

TiO2 content [%] > 98 > 98

Inorganic treatment
(compounds based on:) AI AI

Organic treatment Polysiloxane Polysiloxane

Undertone bluish bluish

Hardness (Mohs) 5.8 5.8

5
HOMBITAN MCT300
HOMBITAN MCT300
HOMBITAN MCT300 is a cutting-edge anatase pigment spe-
cially tailored for use in highly sophisticated applications. This
product assures important benefits for users, including good
HOMBITAN MCT300
rheological (flow) properties and low dust generation; it is
readily wettable in a large range of polymer systems, assu-
ring high throughput rates. HOMBITAN MCT300‘s excellent
dispersibility permits production of extremely thin films, and High-quality
anatase
of laminated films, with exceptionally low lacing, even at high pigments

loadings and temperatures, with minimized pressure increase

at melt filters. HOMBITAN MCT300 has no effects on product
Standard
odour or taste. With its anatase structure, HOMBITAN MCT300 anatase
pigments
imparts a high bluish tint to white products, while simulta-
neously reducing abrasive wear on processing equipment.
The recommended applications for HOMBITAN MCT300
include thin films, co-extruded laminated films, laminated
containers, coatings for masterbatches, credit and bank cards,
blister packaging, etc.

Test Parameter Pressure filter test

(HOMBITAN MCT 300 sample)
1. Masterbatch
Preparation of a 50 %wt. masterbatch of LDPE 100
1800 Sp using twin-screw extruder
Processing temperature: 150° C 80

2. Filter pressure test: 60

Pressure [bar]

Zone 1: 170° C, Zones 2 to 5: 200° C,

head: 230° C 40

Throughput: approx. 58 g/min.

20
25 µm filter sieve (absolute: 34 to 38 µm)
20 % pigment
0
0 10 20 30 40 50
Time [min]
PF: 0.12 bar • cm2/g

The dispersion performance of a pigment can be calcula-

ted using the following formula:

PF = (Pmax-P0) x A x 100 [bar•cm² / g]

(t x C x G)
in which:
Pmax = Final pressure (bar)
P0 = Initial pressure (bar)
A = Filter surface area (cm²)
t = Measuring time (min)
C = Concentration (% pigment)
G = Throughput rate (g/min)

6
Zinc sulfide white pigments

SACHTOLITH HD-S
The Mohs hardness scale
SACHTOLITH HD-S is the only white pigment which makes
it possible, thanks to its low Mohs hardness, of 3, to retain
the mechanical properties of white glass-fiber reinforced
plastics (GRPs) at a high level. SACHTOLITH HDS is a white
Diamond 10
pigment based on synthetic zinc sulfide produced from Corundum 9
highly purified solutions. SACHTOLITH HDS is therefore
Topaz 8
free of disruptive impurities such as iron and quartz, for Quartz 7
example, which act as catalysts for polymer degradation Barytes 6
Rutile

and/or can result in elevated levels of abrasion in proces- Apatite 5

Anatase

sing equipment. Fluorspar 4

Calcite 3

Gypsum 2

Talcum 1

Thermal color variation

5
SACHTOLITH HD-S

4 HOMBITAN LW

HOMBITAN R 610 K
3
delta E

0
0 100 200 300 400 500
Exposure at 105° C [h]

When used in polyolefins, SACHTOLITH HD-S Formulation:

protects the polymer against thermal degra- Polymer: HD-PE
dation. SACHTOLITH HD-S thus combines two Pigment:
important functions in a single product, that of SACHTOLITH HD-S [2.0 %wt.]
a white pigment and that of a stabilizer. HOMBITAN LW [2.0 %wt.]
SACHTLEBEN R610K [2.0 %wt.]

7
 Lithopone
By permitting partial replacement of TiO2, fillers and po-
lymers, LITHOPONE 30%DS enables masterbatch produ-
cers to achieve both improved products and optimized
cost-structures. It has, for instance, been demonstrated
that the use of LITHOPONE 30%DS in PE films increases
the product‘s ultimate elongation; the impact strength of
many thermoplastics (including PP and ABS, for examp-
le) was also improved. Proneness to lacing is also reduced
when the TiO2 content is lower, since LITHOPONE 30%DS
does not cause lacing.
Masterbatches containing 50% TiO2 and 25% LITHOPO-
NE 30%DS achieve the same or better hiding power than
batches containing 60% TiO2 (rutile), with a significantly
higher extruder output. Processing costs are thus reduced,
thanks to the modified fixed-costs structure. The lower
Mohs hardness of LITHOPONE 30%DS reduces abrasion
in extruders compared to the use of TiO2, with significant
benefits for maintenance costs and intervals.

New masterbatch formulation Resin demand 50% lower than with TiO2
reduced friction
Lower abrasive wear on the extruder
100%
Titandioxid compared to TiO2
80%
Polyethylen Higher extruder output for masterbatch and
Lithopone
film production
60%
delta E

40% Approximately

20% replacement of
titanium dioxide
20%
35% replacement of
polyethylene
0%

8
Inorganic UV-Absorbers

UV radiation Chemistry
In addition to visible light, sunlight also contains electroma- This high level of effectiveness is achieved by means of syste-
gnetic wavelengths which are not perceptible to the human matic adjustment of so-called microrutile to accord with the
eye. High-energy UV-A and UV-B radiation, in particular, special technical requirements of this particular field. The
constitute a significant potential danger to organisms, orga- scattering behaviour and photoactivity of the titanium dio-
nic substances and pigmented systems. The crystal size of xide particle can be controlled by manipulating primary cry-
pigmentary titanium dioxide is around 200-300 nm, that of stal size. The smallest possible particle diameter is selected,
ultra-fine titanium dioxide around 10-15 nm. Pigmentary ti- in order to ensure a high level of film transparency. An inor
inor-
tanium dioxide scatters visible light most efficiently and im- ganic protective coating around the TiO2 core reduces pho-
parts good hiding power, whereas ultra-fine titanium dioxide toactivity and thus prolongs the useful life of the plastic.
effectively absorbs UV light and transmits visible wavelengths
through the crystal. Ultra-fine TiO2 thus no longer exhibits
pigmentary properties but is, instead, transparent, and can
therefore be used as an efficient inorganic UV absorber in
pigmented systems and in clear systems. UV absorbers ba-
sed on ultra fine-particled titanium dioxide long ago proved
their efficiency in such applications. These systems are nota-
ble for their high transparency, lack of migration hazards and
their extremely good absorption performance. This property
profile is also indispensable for UV protection in packaging
applications.

Finely dispersed HOMBITEC RM

Organic coating

Inorganic coating

TiO2

Scale: 100nm

9
HOMBITEC RM - ultra-fine transparent
titanium dioxide UV absorbers
HOMBITEC RM130F is a highly efficient transparent UV
absorber based on Sachtleben‘s microrutile technology.
Its organic coating and small primary particle size assure
good dispersibility and high performance. This grade is
recommended for packaging films and for all applications
requiring medium- to long-term UV protection.

HOMBITEC RM230L is a highly efficient transparent UV

absorber based on Sachtleben‘s microrutile technology.
Its organic coating and small primary particle size assure
good dispersibility and high performance in polyolefins
and PVC. Thanks to its reduced photoactivity, this product
is particularly suitable for long-term UV protection of
commercial packaging systems and agricultural films.

Long-term UV protection
HOMBITEC RM assures better long-term UV protection
and higher efficiency than organic UV absorbers. Like
pigmentary TiO2, HOMBITEC RM is insoluble in all widely
used polymer systems and is therefore not subject to mi-
gration - unlike most organic UV absorbers.

Artificial weathering of organic (left) and inorganic (right) UV absorbers

prior to weathering after 400h
Transmission (%)

Transmission (%)

0.5% UV absorber (org.) 0,5% HOMBITEC

0.5% HALS 0,5% HALS

Wavelength (nm)

10
Inorganic UV-Absorbers

Applications
HOMBITEC RM130F
The properties discussed on the previous page make
HOMBITEC RM130F suitable for all packaging systems
requiring high transparency, color neutrality and effective
UV protection of the packaged goods.
Performance
Impact of organic coating
Both the effectiveness and the transparency of the system
as a whole are highly dependent on the dispersion of the
micro-rutile in the polymer. The production of HOMBITEC
RM therefore features an adjusted organic after-treatment
(coating) which guarantees easy incorporation and excel-
lent dispersion of the product in polyolefins.

HOMBITEC RM230L
HOMBITEC RM230L is an excellent choice for long-term
applications such as industrial wrapping films and agricu-
ltural foils. Photo-stabilization is significantly improved by
special doping of the micro-rutile crystallite base and addi-
tional inorganic surface treatment.

The effectiveness of HOMBITEC RM can be illustrated

using UV/visible spectra. In the visible range, the transpar-
ency of an LDPE film extended with 0.5% HOMBITEC RM
is similar to that of the non-protected specimen. In the
ultraviolet wavelength range (250-400 mm), on the other
hand, transmission is reduced as a function of absorber
concentration. High energy UV-A and UV-B radiation is
effectively absorbed.
Good dispersion Poor dispersion

hOMbItec RM130F hOMbItec RM230l

Appearance odourless white powder odourless yellowish powder

TiO2 [%] ~ 76 >70

Modification Rutile Rutile

Organic modification Stearic Acid Stearic Acid

Volatiles (105° C/1h) [%] ≤5 ≤3

Bulk density [kg/m3] ~ 230 ~ 150

Crystal size [nm] ~15 ~ 20

11
Inorganic metal deactivators

All polymers intended for long-term service, and those

exposed to elevated temperatures, in particular, are mo-
dified by the addition of organic metal deactivators. As
is well known, metal ions of various oxidation levels (e.g.
manganese, copper, iron, etc.) are capable of acting as ca-
talysts and causing oxidation of the polymer via a cyclical Migrating metals reduce
the thermal stability of
catalytic process. The origins of these metals are diverse, cable insulation
and can be traced back to abrasion of metal equipment
components and impurities contained in natural fillers
such as calcium carbonate, talc and barytes. In the case of
electrical cables and wires, contact is inevitable, since it is
necessary to insulate the conductive core. Phosphites and Metal deactivators
(MDs) neutralize metals
hindered phenols have proven to be effective organic me- and enhance service-life
tal deactivators, while inorganic deactivators remain more
or less unknown.

SACHTOTEC MD300
SACHTOTEC MD300 is a preparation consisting of ultra-
fine zinc sulfide and an organic dispersion agent. As a
co-stabilizer, it combines excellent metal-deactivation
properties with outstanding migration stability and ease
of use. Thanks to its fine crystallite and particle sizes,
SACHTOTEC MD300 can be used in a large range of sys-
tems without affecting color.
Since SACHTOTEC MD300 is an inorganic product, it is
immune to fogging.

12
Inorganic metal deactivators

SACHTOTEC MD300 is highly suitable for use as a

thermal co-stabilizer in combination with organic metal
deactivators. SACHTOTEC MD300 offers significant
benefits in terms of:
Stabilization
- Long polymer service-life
- High-temperature stability
- Low loading
Optical properties
- Can be used in colored, gray and black systems
with no lightening effect
Permits reduction of organic metal deactivator input
- Cost-efficiency
- Reduction of secondary effects, such as migration and
fogging

SACHTOTEC MD300 is extremely suitable for use in all po-

lyolefins, such as PE and PP. In combination with establis- Applications
hed organic metal deactivators, it permits achievement of Electrical cables and wire; tube and pipe products
significant increases in thermal stability. Best performance Domestic appliances
is observed when SACHTOTEC MD300 is used in combi- Vehicle interiors
nation with hindered phenol compounds. A SACHTOTEC Air-conditioning and heating systems
MD 300 content, with 0.2 to 0.3% organic metal deacti-
vator, is recommended as an optimized formulation.

The beneficial effects of SACHTOTEC MD300 have

No MD
been demonstrated across a large range of tempe- 0.5% MD
0.5 MD/0.5% SACHTOTEC MD 300
ratures; it must be assumed that the performance of MD: organic metal deactivator: hindered phenol
CU source: 50 ppm Cu stearate • Filler: 60 % Mg (OH)2
this product will be poorer at very high temperatures,
8000
(decomposition temperature of polymer), however.
7000
Exposure time [hours]

6000

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0
120 130 140 150

Temperature °C

13
Higher doses of the organic component, in particular, will
not increase the thermal stability of the polymer, whether SACHTOTEC MD300 Additional effect of SACHTOTEC MD300
MD: organic metal deactivator: hindered phenol
used in combination with SACHTOTEC MD300 or alone. Cu source: copper plate

3000

Storage time [hours at 140˚ C]

The benefits of SACHTOTEC MD300 can be exploit- 2500

ed in two ways - it is possible, on the one hand, to Additional effect of

SACHTOTEC MD300

reduce input of an organic metal deactivator if, for 2000

example, problems with fogging are encountered;

it is also possible, on the other hand, to increase 1500

service-life to a previously unknown level, and thus

meet the challenges to which future systems will be 1000
0.2 % MD 0.5 % MD 0.2 % MD 0.5 % MD
exposed. 0.5 SACHTOTEC MD300 0.5 % SACHTOTEC MD300

Typical Properties sachtOtec MD300

Appearance white, colorless powder

Surface treatment organic dispersant

Zinc sulfide content [%] approx. 90

Density [g/ml] approx. 3.7

Volatiles (105º) [%] approx. 0.5

Specific surface area [m2/g] > 30

Primary crystallite size (Scherrer) [nm] approx. 10

14
Fillers

BLANC FIXE micro

BLANC FIXE micro is a precipitated barium sulfate. Thanks
to its production process of synthesis from high-purity so-
lutions, BLANC FIXE micro is free of disruptive impurities,
such as quartz, for example. BLANC FIXE micro also has
an extremely narrow particle-size range, permitting ma-
ximum gloss standards. BLANC FIXE micro‘s low specific
surface area and organic treatment (coating) give this
product extremely good wettability and permit high filling
levels.

Further properties
An inert product, lightfast and
weathering-resistant
Neutral hue, thanks to low refractive index
High brilliance in colored systems
Low specific surface area
Low abrasiveness, thanks to low Mohs hardness
BLANC FIXE micro Pulver

That expensive feeling

Quality plays a special role in the fields of cosmetics,
domestic products and consumer goods, in particular.
BLANC FIXE micro is suitable for use in applications subject
to maximum demands for appearance and utility. BLANC
FIXE micro imparts an impression of heaviness wherever
it is used, creating, in combination with the good mecha-
nical and optical properties of the relevant compounds,
such as ABS, for example, an impression of quality and
an „expensive“ feeling. Thanks to this product‘s excellent
dispersibility, masterbatches containing 60% BLANC FIXE
micro can be produced without difficulty.

15
Pigment stabilization / replacement
Synthetic barium sulfates and, in particular, BLANC FIXE
micro, are used as functional extenders in plastics. They
make it possible to reduce plastic-formulation costs and
also enhance the efficiency of the pigments used. Barium
sulfate particles act as ideal spacers for pigment particles.
BLANC FIXE micro is, for example, widely used for partial
replacement of both white and colored pigments without
any loss of optical performance properties, such as gloss
and color strength. This modification alone can achieve
significant cost-savings for white and colored pigments.
The pigment-stabilizing action of BLANC FIXE micro per-
mits replacement of 5 to 10% of titanium dioxide, carbon
black and colored pigments content. An example of a mo-
dified formulation is shown below.

Gloss
Impact strength
20° 60°
100 6
Gloss

Notched impact strength (Charpy) [kJ/m2]

90
5
80
70 4
60
50 3

40
2
30
20 1

10
0
0 no filler + 10% + 20% + 30%
2% Black MB + 10% + 20% + 60% BLANC FIXE BLANC FIXE BLANC FIXE
in ABS BLANC FIXE micro BLANC FIXE micro BLANC FIXE micro micro micro micro

Formulation and colorimetric

black Masterbatch 2% black Masterbatch 2% black Masterbatch 2% black Masterbatch 2%
abs 98% abs 88% abs 78% abs 38%
blanc FIXe micro 0% blanc FIXe micro 10% blanc FIXe micro 20% blanc FIXe micro 60%

CIE L* 11.5 12.6 14.4 27.9

CIE a* 0.0 0.0 -0.1 -0.3
CIE b* -1.8 -1.6 -1.6 -3.2

16
Noise suppression in water and drain pipes

Drainage pipes can cause significant noise nuisance, par- The lower density of polypropylene results in the reoc-
ticularly at night. Such problems naturally occur most fre- currence of the „old“ problems of noise, however. A filler
quently in multi-occupant residential buildings, in which with a significantly higher density than calcium carbonate
a large number of tenants are connected to a common is now used to compensate for the lower density of poly-
drainage system. The source of the noise can generally propylene. The filler of choice for this function is synthe-
be found in the waste-water flowing from the WC, from tic (= BLANC Fixe) or high-quality natural barium sulfate
roof-mounted gutters, from kitchens and from other (Barytes).
drains. It is generated by the water impacting at a high
energy level on pipe walls, bends and other elements in
the drainage system. This initially results in noise which
propagates through the system at a characteristic velocity
dependent on the materials encountered:

Typical properties of these two grades

Steel: 5100 m/sec
Resistant to acids and alkalis
Concrete: 3800 m/sec
Insoluble in water and organic solvents
Tiles: 3000 m/sec
An inert product, lightfast and weather-resistant
Water: 1500 m/sec
Neutral undertone, thanks to low refractive index
Polymers: ~ 200 m/sec
Extremely good wettability, thanks to low specific
surface area

The second stage is that the impact-generated noise is Specific gravity of filled polymers
transmitted into the air, enabling it to reach people‘s ears,
4,5
disturbing and, not infrequently, annoying them. The -
4,0
also not infrequent - addition of resonance phenomena
3,5
can raise acoustic levels and make the noise problem even 3,0
worse. So-called „noise“ normally includes a broad spec- 2,5
trum of the most varied acoustic frequencies. The major 2,0

part of water-flow noise can be found in the low-frequen- 1,5

cy range, however; such frequencies can be suppressed 1,0

only by ensuring that the materials used in the system 0,5

have the highest possible density. There were no noise 0,0

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
problems - but numerous other drawbacks - in bygone
days, when domestic piping was made of cast iron or lead. PP/BaSO4 PVC/CaCO3

More modern PVC pipes are filled using (for instance) cal-
cium carbonate (CaCO3) and achieve, in combination with
the higher density of the PVC, a (just about) acceptable
level of noise suppression. It is not possible to use filler
loadings of above 75% or 80%, for technical reasons. For
a number of years now, the pipe-producing industry has
increasingly been replacing PVC with polypropylene (PP)
as the pipe material. The driving force behind this trend
appears, on the one hand, to be consumers‘ subliminal
anxieties concerning chlorine and, on the other hand, the
possible generation of dioxins if a fire should occur.
This diagram compares the density of PVC/CaCO3 (calcium
carbonate) and PP (polypropylene)/BaSO4 (barium sulfate)
systems as filler loadings increase.
It is readily apparent that the higher density of PVC initially
gives this material the advantage over polypropylene. For
every density of the PVC/CaCO3 system (up to 75%
CaCO3), there is a corresponding PP/BaSO4 system of the
same density, however. At filler loadings of above 80%,
the PP/BaSO4 system possesses significant benefits in terms
of the density of the plastic material.

17
Sachtleben recommends two products for this application:

BLANC Fixe N, a synthetic barium sulfate obtained from

highly purified solutions in a precisely defined process; this
product has an extremely narrow particle-size distribution,
and therefore contains only a minute percentage of ultra-
fine and coarse particles.

ALBAWHITE 70, a high-whiteness fine-particled filler pro-

duced from carefully selected natural barium sulfate in
special facilities at Deutsche Barytindustrie‘s plant at Bad
Lauterberg, in Germany‘s mountainous Harz region.

Thermal stability
Lightness (L*) Silicon content (%)

3000
100 0.25

2500
99 0.2

2000
98 0.15
Hours

1500

97 0
1000

96 0.05
500

95 0
0
BLANC FIXE ALBAWHITE BLANC FIXE ALBAWHITE Plain PP 30% BLANC FIXE N 30% ALBAWHITE 70
N 70 N 70

Barium sulfate of 3 to 4 µm mean particle size have been
shown to be beneficial for noise dampening application.
Widely used are ALBAWHITE 70, a natural white barite
and BLANC FIXE N, a synthetic product of similar particle
size.
Whereas ALBAWHITE 70 is a good value product, BLANC
FIXE N is the better choice from a technical point of view.
Being more pure, brightness, low abrasion and other im-
purity related characteristics are superior with the synthetic
product. Potentially degrading impurities of barytes red-
uce the basic high brightness of barium sulfate and are
the most visible difference between both product families.
Less visible silicate and quartz content is responsible for
the higher abrasion of natural barium sulfate compared to
its synthetic counterpart.

18
 Sachtleben does not guarantee the accuracy, topicality, correctness, completeness, quality or usefulness of any information provided.
Any liability claims in connection with such information are excluded.
04.025.04.11. e

Great solutions with small Particles

Sachtleben Chemie GmbH sales Office Plastics:

A company of Holdings, Inc. Phone +49 2066 22 - 2671
P.O. Box 17 04 54 • D-47184 Duisburg / Germany E-Mail: plastics@sachtleben.com
E-Mail: info@sachtleben.de • www.sachtleben.com