Additives for Polymers April 1992

The selection of internal antistatics is determined mainly by the polarity and processing temperature of the target plastic material since an optimum effect requires a controlled incompatibility between the additive and the matrix.

Conductive fillers are used in the form of powder, flakes or fibres. Initially mainly graphite in the form of conductive carbon black with special surface properties or aluminium powder was used, but substantially more complex systems are used nowadays.

Particles made from different materials are metallized and optimally predispersed in special systems to produce continuous conductor paths through the plastics matrix. Such composites are growing at around 12.5% p.a. although current market size is small.

Kunststofle Europe, 1991, (Dee) 372-374

Plastics compounding market in the US

Tightening environmental standards and intensifying Japanese competition will be the key challenges facing suppliers as demand for compounded thermoplastic resins increases strongly through 1995, according to a new report from Frost & Sullivan. “THE US MARKET FOR PLASTIC COMPOUNDS” (#A2372) envisions 25% tonnage growth from 12.8 billion lbs. in 1991 to 16.0 billion lbs. in 1995. This will translate to a 34% jump in sales, from $7.9 billion to $10.6 billion, as new environmental requirements and high raw material prices drive up costs.

Compounded plastics have taken a major role in the US plastics industry, accounting for more than a third of total resin sales. Rather than create new polymer structures, the industry has produced more versatile and usable products through tilling, modifying, reinforcing or alloying and blending two or more existing polymers. Compounding is the most economical way to accomplish this.

However, American compounders are now under increasing pressure to improve customer service in order to blunt a rising challenge from Japanese firms who have built plants here. Meanwhile, US resin suppliers wishing to sell to Japanese auto companies are joining forces with Japanese companies already in this market.

Among the market segments, colour concentrates are expected to grow somewhat faster than precoloured resins, as they take market share from other technology.

8 cl992 Elsevier Science Publishers Ltd.

April 1992 Additives for Polymers

Reinforced and filled resins should enjoy bet~r-thy-ave~e increases due to rising demand for engineered-type applications in the automotive, appliance, electronic, electrical and building industries.

Blends and alloys sales will continue to benefit from performance improvements over their constituent resins. ~ermoplastic elastomers are expected to gain greater acceptance in the automotive market over the forecast period, while additive concentrate consumption responds to wider r~uirements for flame retardancy, UV s~bili~tion and longer shelf life.

Tougher environment standards promulgated by government agencies and industry groups will generate strong customer demand for new additive formulations over the next five years. Concerns about toxic dust, waste disposal, water pollution and recyclability will be important considerations for the compounding industry throughout the 1990s.

Recycling will also present new op~~unities to ~m~unders. Equipment is being designed now to restore and sustain physical properties of recycled resins. However, small compounders may be forced into mergers by inability to afford compliance with stricter waste disposal and other environmental regulations.

Frost & Sullivan has identified over 300 independent com~unding companies and about 25 resin producers which are involved in the merchant plastics compounding market. More resin suppliers may be forced into the compounding business to protect market shares in comm~ity polymers. Another possible structural trend for the decade is acquisition of independent compounders by large off-shore resin suppliers interested in strengthening their US m~keting capabilities.

The price of report #A2372 is $3,600 and it is available from: Frost & ~~il~~an, Inc., 106 F&ton Street, New York, ~~~3g~

(USA). Tel: +l-212-233-1080 or (London) +44-11-730-3438.

Masterbatch industry in SE Asia

A study report by Applied Market Information Ltd., in the UK says that, in common with all of the plastics industry in South East Asia, the demand for masterbatches is forecast to rapidly grow in the coming decade. Not only is the market increasing but there is a major change in the supply balance as the region is increasingly self sufficient.

The production of masterbatch within South East Asia reached approximately 79,500 tonnes during 1990 while consumption was 88,900 tonnes resulting in a net import of product approaching some 10,W tonnes.

“1992 Elsevier Science Publishers Ltd. 9