WACKER Presents Silicone- and Polymer-Based Products for Sustainable Applications

Thinking Beyond – WACKER at K 2022

At K 2022, WACKER will be welcoming tradeshow visitors at its usual spot – Booth A10 in Hall 6. Under the motto “Thinking Beyond,” numerous product innovations will make their debut: biomethanol-based silicones, self-adhesive liquid silicone rubber grades for hard/soft hybrid parts made of polycarbonate, silicone resins for the manufacture of heat-stable molded parts and silicone-based additives for polyethylene molding compounds. Also celebrating their premiere will be polymer binders which WACKER produces using a climate-friendly method that conserves resources with the aid of renewable acetic acid.

This year, the company’s main tradeshow topics will be electromobility and sustainability. “Whether wind or solar power, building insulation or electric cars: silicones make innovative technologies and problemsolving approaches possible that contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in many sectors,” said Gnann, referring to electromobility as an example. Modern electric cars contain up to four times more silicone than conventional vehicles with combustion engines. “For example, thermally conductive silicone compounds ensure that the heat generated by the battery and power electronics can dissipate unhindered, which considerably increases the performance of such components and extends their service life,” he said, adding: “If we want to meet the climate targets agreed upon, we have to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years. This will only be possible if we consistently make use of the opportunities afforded by high-performance materials, such as silicones, for the development of sustainable technologies.”

ELASTOSIL® LR 3078 – Self-Adhesive on Polycarbonate

Another product line making its debut at K 2022 is ELASTOSIL® LR 3078. This self-adhesive liquid silicone rubber cures extremely rapidly and establishes a firm bond with the thermoplastic poly-carbonate. To this end, WACKER uses a newly developed and already patented self-adhesive technology that does not contain any bisphenol A structures. By eliminating this substance class, the company increases occupational safety and contributes to consumer protection.

All grades of the new product line can be easily processed by two-component injection molding. They do not contain any substances that could result in solid deposits forming in the mold during processing. This ensures that the injection molding machine runs without interruptions. Thanks to the fast curing of the new liquid silicone rubber, injection molding cycle times are very short. In addition, articles with complicated geometric shapes can be produced with high precision without the need for secondary finishing. ELASTOSIL® LR 3078 thus opens the way for further miniaturization of polycarbonate-silicone hybrid parts and for completely new product designs.

Novel Silicone Resin for Heat-Stable Molded Parts

Industry is increasingly facing the challenging task of manufacturing mechanically durable plastic components that can withstand tem-peratures of over 200 degrees Celsius for long periods. WACKER has developed a novel material solution to this problem, which it will present at K 2022. Thanks to the silicone resin binders SILRES® LR 700 and POWERSIL® Resin 700 and the silicone molding material POWERSIL® Resin 710 based on these binders, manufacturers can create insulation class R molded parts via compression molding, pressure gelation or even injection molding. These can withstand temperatures of up to 220 degrees Celsius for extended periods of time. The products are not subject to labeling requirements and thus present an advantageous alternative to high-temperature-resistant polymers like PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) and PEEK (polyether ether ketone).

SILRES® LR 700 and POWERSIL® Resin 700, both solvent-free phenyl methyl silicone resin binders, are clear, low-viscosity liquids. In order to produce molded parts with good mechanical properties, the binders require suitable combinations of fillers. That’s why WACKER has developed an initial, suitably optimized formulation as well: POWERSIL® Resin 710. The company thus offers two product solutions for the manufacture of molded parts that are stable at high temperatures. Customers who prefer to work with their own fillers or filler blends can use SILRES® LR 700 or POWERSIL® Resin 700 liquid binders, while the most suitable product for users who want to take advantage of ready-to-use solutions is POWERSIL® Resin 710, which contains a blend of powdered and fibrous fillers.

Silicone-Based Additive GENIOPLAST® for Polyethylene Molding Compounds

GENIOPLAST® PE50S08 is a new additive masterbatch for polyethylene compounding. This product makes it easier to manufacture ready-to-use polyethylene molding compounds and improves the surface properties of the resulting plastic products. The polyethylene masterbatch can be used for extruding films and for polyethylene recycling.

The product’s silicone active ingredient improves filler distribution in filled formulations and the flow properties of the polymer melt. This increases extruder throughput. It also reduces the energy needed for compounding. Where mixtures of different polyethylene grades are compounded – as is the case in the processing of recycled polyethy-lene – GENIOPLAST® PE50S08 ensures uniform mixing without any major torque or temperature fluctuations. Polyethylene recycling is consequently one of the new additive’s key application areas.

In blown film extrusion, manufacturers of polyethylene films can substantially boost productivity with GENIOPLAST® PE50S08. In the extrusion of cable sheathing, hoses or profiles made of filled poly-ethylene, there are fewer die deposits. The additive furthermore improves the surface structure of polyethylene products. It reduces the plastic formulation’s coefficient of dynamic friction. As a result, the products feature higher scratch and abrasion resistance. This makes it easier to unroll films. The new product can additionally improve the plastic’s impact strength.

Biopolymers – Highly Efficient VINNEX® and GENIOPLAST® Pellet Additive Combination

Additives can significantly enhance both the processing of biode-gradable polyesters and their material properties. A combination of two well-known additive systems promises even better results: VINNEX® and GENIOPLAST® Pellet produce stronger effects when blended into a polyester formulation together than when used as separate additives.

WACKER will present the benefits of this additive combination at the K 2022 plastics tradeshow. Both the processing and the material properties of biodegradable polyesters improve considerably when the two additives are used together. Such a combination proves especially advantageous in the production of blown film. Here, VINNEX® enhances melt flow and strength, while GENIOPLAST® Pellet increases the pull-off and winding speed by lowering surface friction.

Both additive systems can help unlock further applications for bio-polyesters. The combination greatly mitigates those processing and performance disadvantages – relative to conventional thermoplastics – which have limited the use of biopolyesters to date. When added in the usual amounts and depending on the individual system, VINNEX® and GENIOPLAST® additives do not hamper the de¬gradability of polybutylene succinate, polylactic acid or thermoplastic starch and combinations of these biodegradable polymers.

Visit WACKER at K 2022 in Hall 6, Booth A10.