Materials News

Additive for TPOs
Axel Plastics Research Laboratories has commercialised its MoldWiz INT-35CPD, a new additive designed to improve the scratch and mar performance in automotive-grade TPO resins.

Besides reduced scratching at addition levels of 1-2%, no scratching was evident at 10 newtons of force and significantly less depth of scratching occurred at forces up to 20 newtons, thereby reducing light scattering and improving the visual appearance. This testing method demonstrated improvement values consistent with those observed in the Ford Five Finger tests.

The new additive was also evaluated for modulus, peak stress and thermal properties and was shown to have no impact on these values. SAE fog testing (SAE J1756) was also conducted on test plaques containing a 1% loading of INT-35CPD. These yielded a reflectance value of 98.5%, which exceeds the automotive industry requirement.

It can also reduce resin viscosity in extrusion and ejection force (up to 3%) in injection moulding.  SEM (scanning electron microscopy) studies of TPO resin indicate a better dispersion of PP, rubber and filler matrix in the resin that contained the new MoldWiz additive, says the company. A proprietary blend of modified polymers and organic fatty amides, the additive is available in a pellet form or powder and is recommended for use in TPO, PP and other polyolefins.