Clariant Services & Products - Exactly Your Chemistry

English | Corporate Responsibility | Content | Sustainable Products | Green Packaging Solutions

Green Packaging Solutions

Natural, renewable additive masterbatches expand Clariant’s “Green” portfolio

Plastics product developers seeking additive masterbatches that are both biodegradable and renewable can now select several different functional ingredients in the new CESA^®-natur product line from Clariant Masterbatches. CESA-natur additive masterbatches, along with RENOL^®-natur color masterbatches introduced in 2007, are ideal for use with the environmentally friendly biopolymers - like polylactic acid (PLA) - which are becoming popular in “green” packaging and consumer goods applications. The natural masterbatches also can be formulated for use in conventional polymers as alternatives to non-renewable additives.

The new masterbatches - including slip/antiblock agents, UV/light stabilizers, antioxidants and antistatic agents - feature not only a biopolymer carrier resin, but also naturally occurring substances that are completely renewable, biodegradable and, in most cases, compostable. These products have successfully passed strict screening procedures and are available for immediate use. Clariant Masterbatches is continuing research to expand the range of CESA-natur additive masterbatches. Development and testing is currently under way on natural impact modifiers and metal deactivators for PLA.

“The companies we are working with today are looking at several different approaches to achieving environmental objectives,” explains Hendrik Kammler, Clariant Masterbatches Global Marketing Head of Additive Masterbatches. “Clariant can support them with the CESA-natur masterbatches, which can be used in both bio-based polymers like PLA or in conventional synthetic resins. Or, if they need something the natural additives cannot readily provide, we can formulate conventional ingredients in a biopolymer carrier. It is only a question of how ‘green’ you want to be.”

Download

Media Release (67 kB)

CESA-natur slip additive masterbatches perform well in PLA film applications. This newly developed system is based on pure, naturally occurring waxes that give very good slip properties. The coefficient of friction (CoF) in PLA films obtained by using CESA-natur slip additive is close to the values achieved with modern synthetic waxes, which are based on petrochemicals. The use of CESA-natur slip appears to have only a marginal influence on transparency.

CESA-natur light masterbatches provide light stabilization in both conventional and biopolymers. They can also function as a UV filter to protect the contents of packaging made of bioplastics such as PLA. Like synthetic additives, they are based on aromatic molecules, but the CESA-natur UV masterbatches use naturally occurring ingredients. Carrier resins can include any of the common biopolymers. Processing characteristics are similar to those associated with conventional masterbatches. Strict product safety regulations and screening apply, despite the natural origin of the materials.

Other CESA-natur masterbatches currently available include CESA-natur antioxidants, which use natural antioxidants like vitamin E, and CESA-natur antistatic masterbatches, which take advantage of some of the same additives that are commonly used in food products.