WACKER Presents Silicone- and Polymer-Based Solutions for Sustainable Applications at K 2022

Overview of Our Tradeshow Innovations:

ELASTOSIL^® eco – Resource-Efficient with Biomethanol

ELASTOSIL^® eco silicone rubber grades are among the product innovations that WACKER will be showcasing at K 2022. They are manufactured in a resource-efficient, certified process with the aid of methanol derived from plants rather than from fossil materials. Since plant-based methanol and its fossil counterpart are chemically inter-changeable, ELASTOSIL^® and ELASTOSIL^® eco products possess the same end properties, and the processing techniques involved are also identical.

In the future, WACKER will be offering its customers “eco” versions of eight of its silicone rubber grades – six hardness values of the non-postcure and tear-resistant liquid silicone rubber ELASTOSIL^® LR 5040 (ELASTOSIL^® eco LR 5040) and one hardness grade each of the peroxide-curing solid silicone rubber ELASTOSIL^® R 401 (ELASTOSIL^® eco R 401/40) and the addition-curing solid silicone ELASTOSIL^® R plus 4020 (ELASTOSIL^® eco R plus 4020/40). What is more, SILMIX^® ready-to-use rubber blends will also be available on the basis of biomethanol upon request. At its tradeshow booth, WACKER will give daily live demonstrations of how a SILMIX^® eco food-grade compound can be processed on an ENGEL injection molding machine (mold: NEXUS; design of part: LÉKUÉ).

VINNEX^® eco – Polymer Additives Based on Renewable Raw Materials

At K 2022, WACKER will be presenting another “eco” product line alongside ELASTOSIL^® eco: VINNEX^® eco. This line relates to homopolymers, copolymers and terpolymers based on polyvinyl acetate. Thanks to their polarity, they are compatible with biopoly¬ester and are thus ideal for the modification of biodegradable polymers and starches. VINNEX^® additives simplify processing, improve the material properties of biopolyesters and act as compatibilizers.

The VINNEX^® eco product line is manufactured from renewable resources based on the mass balance approach. Both fossil and renewable raw materials are introduced at the beginning of the production cycle. The mass balance approach is then used to mathematically determine the percentage of solid resins made from renewable raw materials. VINNEX^® eco products possess the same chemical and physical properties as the standard products, but they have a lower carbon footprint. All VINNEX^® eco grades are audited in accordance with the REDcert2 certification scheme.

ELASTOSIL^® LR 3078 – Self-Adhesive on Polycarbonate

The ELASTOSIL^® LR 3078 product line is making its debut at K 2022. These self-adhesive liquid silicone rubber grades cure extremely rapidly and establish a firm bond with the thermoplastic polycarbonate. 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 grades, injection molding cycle times are very short. In addi-tion, 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.

Silicone Resin for Molded Parts that Remain Stable at High Temperatures

Industry is increasingly facing the challenging task of manufacturing mechanically durable plastic components that can withstand tem-peratures of over 200 °C 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 POWERSIL^® Resin 710 silicone molding material based on these binders, manufacturers can create insulation class R molded parts via compression molding, pressure gelation or even injection molding. These kinds of components are extremely heat-resistant and can withstand temperatures of up to 220 °C 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 (polytetrafluoro-ethylene) 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^® PE50S08 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 poly-ethylene – 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.

Polymers: Additive Masterbatches for Modifying Biopolyesters

Likewise celebrating their premiere at K 2022 will be new additive masterbatches for modifying biodegradable polyesters. These products are pelletized polymer blends consisting of vinyl acetate-based polymer resins and polylactic acid. Available under the names VINNEX^® LA 2540, VINNEX^® LA 2640 and VINNEX^® LA 8040, these blends have the same effect as pure vinyl acetate-based resins, but are easier to handle and therefore particularly easy to process.

The masterbatch carrier is a polylactic acid produced from renewable raw materials. The actual active components are vinyl acetate-based polymer resins. The ready-to-process additive masterbatches have an active ingredient content of 40 percent, while the polylactic acid content is 60 percent. The grain size is around three millimeters. This allows the dry blend to be readily dosed.

The new additive masterbatches are compatible with all biodegradable polyesters. Unlike non-compounded vinyl acetate-based polymer resins, the new grades can generally be transported and stored without cooling, even in ambient temperatures typical in summer. Temperatures up to 30 degrees Celsius do not cause clumping.