Masterbatches restore key material properties to recycled condensation polymers for high-value packaging

12-Apr-17

Clariant is offering improved formulations of Cesa-extend masterbatches for restoring key material properties to recycled condensation polymers such as PET, PLA, and polycarbonate for high-value packaging requirements. The enhanced masterbatches allows to incorporate high percentages of regrind with virgin resin without significantly reducing physical properties needed in food-contact and other high-performance packaging applications

These masterbatches offer a low-cost solution to increase molecular weight and restore physical properties, as well as melt strength and processability that are lost when PET and PLA polymer chains break down during processing and recycling. They react and re-link broken polymer chains, when added to these recycled materials during processing. Long polymer chains are needed in both PET and PLA extrusion, as they provide tensile strength for extruded material for better performance when formed into packaging materials.

Clariant North America marketing head Peter Prusak said: "CESA-extend masterbatches give processors an affordable, sustainable way to meet growing market demands for higher levels of recycled content in food packaging applications. Pelletized Cesa-extend masterbatches are available in standard and custom formulations, and can be used to control or enhance a range of material parameters, including melt-flow index (MFI), intrinsic viscosity, hydrolytic stability, mechanical properties and clarity.”