Page 53 - Plastics News February 2018

PRODUCT NEWS

Teknor ’s Medical-grade Starlinger recycling lines

thermoplastic elastomers equipped with odor reduction

eknor has developed its Medical-grade thermoplastic ollowing the installation of the first of two recycling
Telastomers (TPEs) that has greater Low - temperature Flines type recoSTAR dynamic 165 C-VAC in Houston,
toughness superior to that of PVC and provides upto 30% Texas, Avangard Innovative LP is now ready to start
weight savings. Medical-grade thermoplastic elastomers processing of post-consumer film at its new recycling
(TPEs) developed for cold-storage bags and pouches plant. Huston based Avangard Innovative a worldwide
exhibit low-temperature toughness superior to that of premier sustainable solutions provider, headquartered in
PVC, weigh less at comparable film gauges, and open the Houston, Texas. The company aids clients in effectively
possibility of running thinner products without sacrificing identifying and efficiently collecting recyclable
performance. Teknor Apex Company will introduce the materials, as well as working with them to reduce or
compounds at MD&M West. reclaim spent resources in daily operations. As one
of the largest recyclers in North America and Latin
“Our new TPEs for cold-storage bags and pouches
combine the inherent low-temperature toughness of America, Avangard offers full-service recycling solutions
elastomers with the biocompatibility, processability, and at all levels of the process. Through its Natura Zero™
Program, clients are able to achieve their zero waste
initiatives. The line recoSTAR dynamic 165, depending
on filtration fineness, achieves an output of up to 3,300
lb/hr. To ensure that the regranulate not only performs
but smells like virgin material, both lines are equipped
with Starlinger’s odor reduction technology.
The initial goal of the test run at Starlinger’s technology
center was to remove as much paper contamination
as possible with minimal melt loss “Starlinger is
exceptionally flexible with regard to machine setup,”
explains Paul Niedl, Commercial Head of Starlinger
recycling technology. “In quite a few projects, this
cost-performance balance characteristic of all Medalist
medical compounds,” said Ross van Royen, senior
market manager of regulated products. “They enable
medical manufacturers to achieve weight savings and
other economies while still providing the same product
performance as standard PVC.”
Medalist® compounds for low-temperature film are 70%
as dense as PVC, with a typical specific gravity of 0.90.
At the same time they exhibit greater toughness in cold-
storage applications, with brittle points as low as -60
°C, as against -40 °C for PVC. This greater toughness has worked in our favor.” LDPE film was obviously
introduces the possibility of down-gauging from standard not a challenge, but the high paper content called for
thicknesses or replacing multi-layer structures with an extension of the line with an extra process step:
monolayer films. The new Medalist compounds exhibit odor reduction. Through optimal preparation of the
tensile and tear strength properties comparable to those material in the SMART feeder and excellent degassing
of PVC and better moisture barrier. Teknor Apex produces in the C-VAC module, this process already extracts a
Medalist compounds in ISO-13485 facilities in the USA and large part of the smell during extrusion, and the Smell
Singapore. The new materials are made with FDA listed Extraction Unit (SEU) further enhances the quality of
ingredients, are certified to ISO. the final pellet.

53 Feb ruar y 2018 Plastics News