New Compounds from Teknor Apex Will Meet the Broadest Array of 'Green' Requirements Addressed by Any PVC for Wire and Cable
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Innovative Bio-Based Plasticizers in BioVinyl(TM) Compounds Will Be Among Several Enhancements in Nearly 50 Completely Reformulated Grades for Multiple Applications
PAWTUCKET, RI, U.S.A. - In late stages of development at Teknor Apex Company are nearly 50 PVC compounds that incorporate new bio-based non-phthalate plasticizers and other formulation enhancements that address the "green" concerns of wire and cable users, it was announced today by Vinyl Division industry manager Mike Patel. Teknor Apex will present data on some of the new compounds at 2012 IWCS International Cable Connectivity Symposium.
The new RoHS- and REACH-compliant compounds will be available commercially in First Quarter 2013 under the brand name BioVinyl(TM). They will be the first wire and cable offerings from Teknor Apex that incorporate bio-based plasticizers, which are manufactured using plant byproducts. The use of these bio-based ingredients by Teknor Apex enables BioVinyl compounds to possess lower greenhouse gas emission potential than conventional vinyl and a carbon footprint that is even smaller in comparison with non-vinyl plastics used for wire and cable, according to Patel.
Target applications for the new BioVinyl compounds include power cord, appliance wire, data cable, and tray cable. Beyond reducing the carbon footprint of PVC, Teknor Apex has completely reformulated the compounds to achieve these additional enhancements:
· Phthalate-free plasticizer. The bio-based plasticizers in BioVinyl compounds are derived from naturally occurring vegetable substances. (Since these substances are not used for food, they are unaffected by supply/demand forces impacting other bio-derived plastics feed stocks such as corn starch.)
· Improved flame and smoke performance. "We have eliminated bromine and antimony additives while still achieving a level of flame and smoke performance comparable to or somewhat better than standard PVC," Patel said.
· Reduction in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) resulting from formulation changes.
· Options for reducing acid gas. Alternative compound formulations are available that reduce acid gas content substantially, from the 24 to 25% level typical with standard PVC to the 12 to 13% range.
"Recognizing that wire and cable manufacturers must consider many 'green' concerns in developing and marketing products, Teknor Apex set out to formulate compounds that address the broadest possible range of regulatory issues," Patel said. "Our tests of BioVinyl compounds indicate that customers can make substantial progress in dealing with these issues without sacrificing performance."
Bio-Based Plasticizers Reduce Carbon Footprint and Conserve Energy
Because half of the PVC polymer is derived from seawater and typical plasticizer loadings are 30%, the substitution of bio-based plasticizers for conventional phthalates enables significant reduction in energy demand for production of BioVinyl compounds compared to that of many plastics, according to Patel. He cited life cycle analysis tests reviewed by an independent third party which indicate that every ton of vinyl compound manufactured with the new plasticizers helps the industry reduce carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 0.7 ton.
Teknor Apex has compiled comparative data indicating that the cumulative energy demand of BioVinyl compounds, including feedstock and processing, is the lowest in comparison with a wide range of plastics, including other thermoplastics commonly used in wire and cable.
The VINYL DIVISION of Teknor Apex Company is a leading manufacturer of compounds based on PVC, including Apex flexible and rigid vinyl, Flexalloy vinyl elastomers, and Fireguard low-flame, low-smoke compounds for wire and cable. Headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, U.S.A., the Division is an international supplier to the appliance, automotive, construction, medical device, wire and cable, and other industries. Parent company Teknor Apex operates manufacturing facilities around the world and sells in 90 countries. Six of the eight Teknor Apex business units focus on plastics compounding, including bioplastics; color concentrates; nylon; thermoplastic elastomers; toll and specialty compounds; and vinyl. Visit www.teknorapex.com.
READER INQUIRY INFORMATION: Address all mail inquiries to Teknor Apex, 505 Central Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02861 U.S.A. Tel: 1-401-725-8000. Tel. from U.S. only: 1-800-554-9892. Fax: 1-401-729-0166. E-mail: vinyl@teknorapex.com.
