Page 58 - Plastics News November 2017

PRODUCT NEWS

Dow Performance Silicones launches new additive

ow Performance Silicones, part of DowDuPont Inc.'s where a majority of films are produced. According to
Dmaterials sciences division, has launched a new Paulo, Dow Performance Silicones has been introducing
plastics additive at Fakuma that delivers long-term slip new additives into the market every four to six months
performance without migration for processing of biaxially for the past four years, showing an 18 percent compound
oriented polypropylene films. According to Christophe annual growth over the period. The company is also
increasing its R&D efforts in the additives segment."Our
R&D people were usually split between additives and
ready-to-use types of materials such as TPEs. The split,
up until a recent past, was 40 percent to 60 percent,
respectively. With the growth in the additives business,
the split has now reversed, with work on additives covering
more than 65 percent of activities," he said.

Whirlpool tub made of Plastic
bags Audience Award

plastics-centric project won the Audience Award
A and finished in second place overall in a student
Paulo, global segment leader, plastic additives, the
HMB-6301 Masterbatch, which is currently patent- design competition hosted by Saint-Gobain SA at Case
pending, is aimed at high-end packaging solutions that Western Reserve University in Cleveland. A student
use lamination, metalization and paper effect. "When team named Whyrlpol — made up of sophomores
you take a BOPP film, you stretch in two directions. Sarah Mortier, Aaron Weinberg and Alex Monier and
Usually, you add a processing additive to reduce friction junior Paul Advincula — designed a whirlpool tub with
and slip agents. These additives migrate by default. You an affordable, disposable film liner insert made of
add them to the core of the material, and they come to high density polyethylene. The design also includes
the surface within 24 to 36 hours to play the role of slip a drain mechanism made of polypropylene. The
agents. But they migrate in both directions through the film liner insert would benefit patients undergoing
layers of materials," Paulo said. hydrotherapy for infection or burns by helping to
remove damaged tissue and circulate water or saline
But when you need a slip property, you need it on one side solution, which allows the wound to heal more quickly.
of the film. "That is because you want to print or metallize Typically, when whirlpool tubs are prescribed for
the other side of the film and you do not want the agents patients, doctors worry about cross-contamination.
to migrate there," he said.With a standard agent, usually They’re also concerned about the extensive amount
a barrier is added to avoid migration. But the new Dow of time it takes to sterilize the tubs so they can be
additive doesn't require that. "With our additive, you don't used by the next patient. By developing a disposable
put it into the core of the material. You put it on the layer, tub lining, the student team hopes to overcome these
where you need the slip property. And that's it; you use issues and provide a solution that will aid patients as
it at a far lower concentration," Paulo added. While the well as medical staff.Whyrlpol came in second in the
material itself is more expensive than the standard slip nine-team competition. Another team — called 3Tape
agents on the market, Paulo insists it will be cost-efficient used several polyurethane products to design a new
as it will increase productivity. In fact, a major European type of bandage that could be used in emergency or
packaging company has been trialing the product and has military situations. 3Tape’s team members were Fiona
reported a 30 percent increase in efficiency, according to Liu, Lauren Walters and Marc Salani.The competition
Paulo.Currently producing the additives at its production is a partnership between CWRU and Saint-Gobain, one
facility in Saint-Luarent-du-Pont, near the French Alps, of the world’s largest building materials companies.
Dow Performance Silicones sees ASEAN as a key market

Plastics News N ovember 2017 58 23 43 April 2015 Plastics News
March 2017 | Plastics News
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