The manufacturing of plastics and polymer materials along the polymer value chain is facing steadily increasing technical requirements while fulfilling health, safety & environment standards as well as the challenges around the circular plastics economy.
Lohtragon® polymer additives are predominantly focusing on the polymer compounding step in order to achieve extra functionalities and improved performances such as:
Optimum durability against internal degradation (acid, other chemical substances)
Improved resistance against outside influences (light, heat, fire, …)
Appearance enhancement (clarity, …)
Specific other properties like light-weight (low density by foaming), odor control, …
Lohtragon® high performance metal salts, used as acid scavengers in polymers, limit or eliminate the acid-induced polymer chain degradation. Acid scavengers neutralize acidic traces in polymers (e.g. PVC, PBT) and support to maintain the initial properties of plastics.
Acidic components, gradually released by degrading polymer products, are potentially damaging to the process equipment. Acid scavenging additives in polymer compounds reduce the risk of corrosion. The Lohtragon® acid scavenger range supports the efficacy of antioxidant packages due to neutralizing catalytic traces of acids.
The fire resistance of polymers and related plastic materials is more and more a crucial factor within the extensive profile of requirements of plastics, rubbers, resins and similar compounds.
Most flame retardants represent systems with synergistic additives in order to enhance their efficiency, their safety during fire exposure and/or improve health, safety and environment (HSE) profiles. The range of Lohtragon® high performance metal salts can play a role in improving the safety of plastics and polymer compounds for the consumer in potentially heat-exposed applications while bringing regulatory advantages.
Common products and applications for flame retardants are for example furniture coatings, paint, fabrics, flooring or office materials.
The Lohtragon® team is ready to be your synergist in developing your next outstanding non toxic, non halogenated flame-retardant system. Our goal is to improve your product safety, protect consumer health and provide environmental compatibility.
Surfaces of polymer compounds and plastics that carry an electrical charge can significantly influence their frictionless application, the production processes, product properties and the end use of the referring products. For example:
Dust attraction of a statically charged surface can affect the appearance and performance of plastics and plastic materials. Antistatic agents and additives in polymer compounds can reduce these limitations.
Dirt accumulation on polymer materials may cause handling issues during transport, product storage and final use of a polymer product. Antistatic additives used in the referring materials can reduce the degree of pollution.
Antistatic agents may reduce static surface clinging effects between plastic sheets.
Impact on electronic components that are in contact with a charged polymer.
Electric sparks caused by a static discharge can potentially cause fire or explosions.
Anti-static additives and agents can significantly reduce disruptive static charge of plastic materials. In order to find the suitable agents for your anti-static surface and additives for your anti-static applications, the Lohtragon® team is ready to collaborate with you. Contact us!
Antioxidants / Light Stabilizers
For the durability of a plastic in its life cycle, the objective is to maintain the initial properties as long as possible. more
For the durability of a plastic in its life cycle, the objective is to maintain the initial properties as long as possible. For example, antioxidative or light absorbing additives can slow down the polymer chain degradation in polymers.
The effect of heat stabilizers and light absorbers in polymers against degradation by oxidation reactions is important to avoid light-induced yellowing, physical degradation of plastics and thus loss of gloss, chalking, cracking and dwindling mechanical properties of the referring polymer products. The Lohtragon® acid scavenger range supports the efficacy of Lohtragon® antioxidant stabilizers due to neutralizing catalytic traces of acids.
Do you have a specific need? We develop customer-specific solutions for stabilizers and antioxidant additives in polymer products. Contact us!
Nucleating and clarifying agents
Nucleating agents are additives used to improve the optical properties of semi-crystalline polymers such as polypropylene. more
Nucleating agents are additives used to improve the optical properties of semi-crystalline polymers such as polypropylene. These chemical agents support a clarifying effect in polymer products. The Lohtragon® nucleating agents improve the cycle time and type of a polymer crystallization during the chemical process for best possible clarity properties of the product.
Plastic foams are widely used because of weight reduction and cost efficiency. In addition, various other properties are improved like flexibility, dampening properties, thermal and sound insulation. The advantage of the endothermic Lohtragon® blowing agents is that the foam blowing process generates mainly CO2 and water vapor.
The endothermic reaction is temperature-induced and can be controlled by temperature supply. The outstanding purity of the Lohtragon® metal salt product range of blowing agents facilitates the fulfilment of various regulatory standards like food contact approval of the foams used in the referring applications.
Benefit from the safe use and a controllable foaming process and talk to the Lohtragon® team about your individual specification for blowing agents, foam polymers and foaming agents.
Polymer products like polyethylene with linear polymer chain structures typically show thermoplastic behavior. The transition into crosslinked, three-dimensional networks by applying a metal salt as cross-linking agent leads to improved characteristics, such as high temperature properties, mechanical properties, chemical and stress cracking resistance and newly introduced properties like shape memory. Lohtragon® high performance metal salts based on Zinc, Aluminium, Iron and also special anions like Peroxide ensure the crosslinking of various types of polymer products.
Plastic products based on PE, PET and other polymer types might need a defined water content level. This level of moisture can be necessary to control a moisture-induced reaction with other compound ingredients or in case of closed plastic packaging to ensure a certain level of humidity. Selected Lohtragon® products are attractive for moisture, namely the Lohtragon® anhydrous metal salts.
Do you have a requirement for a specific anhydrous metal salt? Let’s connect!
The information given in the document corresponds to our current knowledge. We warrant in the frame of our General Terms and Conditions of Sale that our products are manufactured in accordance with the specifications. However, we disclaim any liability with regard to the suitability of our products for a particular purpose or application or their compatibility with other substances. Tests have to be performed by the customer who also bears the risk in this respect. Nothing herein shall be construed as a recommendation to use our products in conflict with third parties' rights.
