Visitors at K can expect additions by manufacturers of masterbatches, pigments and additives to enhance safety, efficiency, comfort, easier product recycling, anti counterfeiting, flame retardancy, clarity in packaging. These new developments will aid sustainability, safety and conductivity in end user industries of packaging, automotive, construction, electronics, among others.

Cabot Corporation has announced new solutions for plastics applications around the key topics of sustainability, safety and conductivity and will present them at K 2016 As part of Cabot's on-going commitment to consumer safety and product stewardship, Cabot has certified more than 20 specialty carbon blacks using International Carbon Black Association and internationally-recognized methods. This is, among others, in response to an update of the REACH regulation that is tightening limits regarding polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) for applications with prolonged or frequent skin contact. This new regulation (Commission Regulation (EU) No 1272/2013) makes the plastics goods manufacturers accountable for compliance. Cabot helps enable compliance for end-use products and gives customers the confidence that they can comply with REACH requirements. Cabot also continues to offer certification for food contact applications including certification for its highest purity specialty carbon blacks, MONARCH® 4750, BLACK PEARLS® 4350 and BLACK PEARLS® 4750 specialty carbon blacks, that comply with U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) requirements (21 CFR 178.3297).

Clariant will introduce highly-stable, non-halogenated flame retardants with an excellent environmental and health profile that pass the highest fire safety standards. They reduce the risk of ignition and fire spread and give people more time to escape in case of a fire. Each offers specific processing benefits in addition to outstanding fire protection. Few of the featured products include Exolit OP 1400 for polyamides used in electrical and electronic goods, AddWorks LXR 920 for polyolefin roofing sheets, also contributing to UV-protection, Licocene PE 3101 TP nucleating agent for expanded polystyrene (EPS) applications provides processors with a more economical solution compared to standard nucleating agents with similar solubility, viscosity and drop point, Colorant solutions based on unique pigment PV Fast Yellow H4G, to replace lead chromates. The solutions are safer for worker-handling and provide non-toxic, FDA approved alternatives for consumer goods. The new PV Fast Yellow H4G is being offered to replace lead chromates in PVC and polyolefins. This FDA-compliant organic benzimidazolone is said to have three times the color strength of lead-based pigments, so lower levels are needed, as well as excellent opacity and weather fastness. Polysynthren Black H is an IR-transparent dye that enables easy sorting of black articles made from engineering resins such as nylons, ABS, and PC during recycling. It has a very pure black tone and is said to eliminate the difficulty of sorting carbon-black colored articles by IR cameras, since they absorb IR light. Clariant will showcase new Licocene PE 3101 TP, a metallocene-catalyzed PE tweaked to serve as a nucleator for PS foams. It is said to be more economical than standard nucleating agents while offering similar solubility, viscosity, and drop point.

Visitors will be able to explore application examples and case studies featuring the benefits of Milliken's Millad® N^TM 8000 and Hyperform® HPN nucleators under the three core themes - Making PP Clearer; Making PP Better; Making PP Faster. On display will be the ability of Millad NX 8000 to make PP UltraClear allowing for material replacement in a wide range of processes, highlighting additional advantages of lower processing temperatures and therefore faster and more sustainable processing in injection molding. Milliken will also showcase examples of how to reinforce the faster, trouble-free production and improved end-product performance, which is made possible by Hyperform HPN nucleators' excellent balance of physical properties. Both Millad NX 8000 and Hyperform HPN perform effectively in high melt flow PP grades, responding to the increasing industry demands for developing high melt flow rate (MFR) PP grades for faster production.

BASF will feature a new generation of methylated HALS. Tinuvin 880 is said to be suited to auto interior parts made of PP, TPOs, and styrenic blends. This novel stabilizer has been shown to provide unmatched long-term UV resistance along with drastically improved thermal stability. It is also designed to improve secondary properties by eliminating defects such as mold deposit and surface stickiness, even in scratch-improved materials. Tinuvin XT 55 HALS for polyolefin films, fibers, and tapes. This new high-performance light stabilizer shows very low contribution to water carryover and is designed for geotextiles and other construction textiles, roofing insulation, barrier structures, and carpets that have to withstand harsh climate conditions such as prolonged UV exposure, fluctuating and elevated temperatures, and environmental pollutants. This HALS is said to provide excellent secondary properties like color stability, gas fading, and extraction resistance

Songwon's Songxtend 2124 stabilizer improves the long-term thermal stability (LTTS) of the short- and long-glass fiber re-inforced polypropylene (PP) used in interior applications for molded parts, and can match the LTTS performance of 1000 h and beyond at 150° C. The new stabilizer contributes to making it possible for molded parts to be thinner and lighter while still having similar mechanical properties as unfilled parts.

Huntsman will exhibit novel pigments for applications like packaging, construction profiles, automotive and electronic components. Huntsman will also feature its new Tioxide TR48 TiO2, which is said to process well, even at high temperatures, offers easy dispersion and excellent tint-reduction capabilities, and it was designed for low-VOC formulations. It is geared to premium and general packaging, consumer electronics, and automotive components,

Wacker introduces Genioplast WPC thermoplastic silicone additives designed for more efficient manufacture of PE, PP, and PVC wood-plastic composites. They act primarily as lubricants, reducing internal and external friction during extrusion. Tests show that addition of 1% (vs. 2-6% for typical lubricants) results in 15-25% higher throughput. Initial grades are PP 20A08 and HDPE 10A03, which reportedly give WPC parts higher impact and flexural strength than with standard additives, and also reduce water absorption.

Kraiburg TPE will launch it's FR/AD1 series of flame retardant compounds. The new series of TPEs were developed specially for applications in the construction industry, where they are used to ensure flexible cable installation in flush-mounting boxes. The material is flame retardant in accordance with UL94 and is included in flammability class V0. In addition, it features excellent adhesion with ABS and PC in 2-component injection moulding. The flame retardant compounds are highly elastic and are free of latex, PVC and halogen. Other product highlights will include materials for drinking water applications as well as under-the-hood automotive applications. Thermoplastic elastomers for use with drinking water have all important European certifications to ensure compliance with high safety and hygiene standards. They are therefore also ideal for hoses in sanitary systems or beverage dispensers. Its Thermolast V products for use in under-the-hood automotive applications: with temperature resistance up to 130°C and adhesion to polyamide, these TPEs open up new areas of application.

For the wire and cable industry, Addivant will highlight three "Solutions to Breakthrough": LOWINOX® FAST XL which improves productivity and reliability for cross-linked polyethylene power cables and two new POLYBOND® coupling agents enabling HFFR (Zero Halogen) cable producers to achieve excellent mechanical properties sustainably. Addivant will showcase new stabilization solutions for PUR foam which enable compliance with new car interior emission standards, and new ROYALTUF® nylon impact modifiers which provide super toughness for automotive interior and under the hood applications. ULTRANOX® 800 series, which enhance polypropylene converters production efficiency and recycling capability driving immediate profitability gains. WESTON® 705 is rapidly becoming the industry phosphite antioxidant standard for polyolefins and rubber. Backed with food contact approvalsin over 50 countries and thoroughly tested, it enables greater sustainability and performance for the entire packaging industry. Will include new solutions from our advantaged platforms which are the industry's broadest portfolio of specialty antioxidant solutions: ANOX® and LOWINOX® phenolic antioxidants; ALKANOX®, WESTON® and ULTRANOX® phosphite antioxidants; OCTAMINE® and NAUGARD® amines; NAUGARD® thioesters; ANOX® and NDB® blends; LOWILITE® light stabilizers; but also POLYBOND® and ROYALTUF® polymer modifiers; NAUGARD® polymerization inhibitors; and NAUGARD® rubber chemicals and intermediates.

Spain's Tolsa Group is launching a new range of high-performance flame retardant synergists at K 2016. The ADINS Clay extended range are flame retardant clay synergists that deliver reduced smoke production in PVC and rubber polymer systems, in addition to the existing flame retardant additives used in other polymers. New ADINS grades are still based on a breakthrough technology using natural silicates, offering tailored performance benefits, improved processability and reduced cost in polymer systems. These new materials help meet the new stringent demands for smoke performance (CPR and others) due to the use of more stable coatings than competitive clays. Tolsa has shown that the combination with halogen and non-halogen flame retardant and ADINS additives in PVC and rubber systems significantly reduces heat release and smoke generation in transportation, electrical/electronics, building and construction, and structural applications. Tolsa's flexible technology facilitates modification of the sepiolite clay to meet the OEM's strict requirements in terms of heat and smoke performance. In PVC applications, for example, the clay can be modified to attain good dispersion and interaction with the polymer, according to Dr Esteban. Tolsa's wide range of high-performance flame retardant synergists are also used in other polymer matrices including PP, PE, PA, and EVA/PE.