WACKER presents two additives for biodegradable plastics at European Bioplastics Conference

Munich-based WACKER will present two products for the processing of biodegradable plastics at the 16th European Bioplastics Conference
– the VINNEX® additive system based on polyvinyl acetate technology and the GENIOPLAST® silicone processing aids for thermoplastics and engineering plastics
.
They can improve the processing and material properties of bioplastics, and new research shows that the combination of the two additives is even better
.
WACKER will present the measurements at this year's Bioplastics Congress in Berlin from November 30 to December 1
.

Two biodegradable plastics, polylactic acid and polybutylene succinate, were selected by WACKER for the screening
.
Biopolyester is often seen as a replacement for conventional thermoplastics, but it is difficult to process and only with the right additives can it deliver the overall properties that conventional thermoplastics typically have
.
WACKER tested VINNEX® 2504, VINNEX® 2525 and the additives GENIOPLAST® Pellet S and GENIOPLAST® Pellet P plus
.

Pictured here is a high-quality product portfolio for bioplastics processors: GENIOPLAST® silicone processing aids for thermoplastics and engineering plastics (left) and VINNEX® adjuvant systems based on polyvinyl acetate technology improve the processing properties and products of bioplastics Features (Image: Wacker)

Screening results show that VINNEX® and GENIOPLAST® are complementary in both filled and non-filled bioplastic systems: the simultaneous use of VINNEX® and GENIOPLAST® allows the processing and use properties of bioplastics to be fine-tuned as required, combined with The effect of use is better than the use of a single adjuvant
.
Depending on the type, the products of the VINNEX® range positively influence the polymer melt and mechanical properties and ensure that bioplastics are processed without problems
.
The addition of GENIOPLAST® to VINNEX®, especially in filled systems, improves the surface properties of plastic products
.

GENIOPLAST® is used in tested bioplastics as a "booster" for VINNEX® applications and in some cases improves properties that VINNEX® cannot
.
For example, with the addition of GENIOPLAST®, bioplastics have lower surface friction and enhanced scratch and scrub resistance
.
This was also confirmed by inspection of scratch depth and roughness with a confocal microscope
.

In addition, the combined use of VINNEX® and GENIOPLAST® additives can improve the mechanical properties of the final product, making bioplastics softer and more impact-resistant, while increasing the elongation at break of filled products without affecting their thermal stability
.
The improved synthetic material can be used in areas previously only accessible to conventional thermoplastics
.

Depending on the specific system, the use of VINNEX® and GENIOPLAST® additives in conventional amounts will not compromise the degradability of biopolyesters such as polybutylene succinate, polylactic acid, thermoplastic starch, or combinations of these biodegradable polymers
.

VINNEX® and GENIOPLAST® Pellet

VINNEX® is an additive developed by WACKER for the modification of biopolyesters and starches, including polyvinyl acetate-based homopolymers, copolymers or terpolymers
.

· VINNEX® 2504 is a powdered polyvinyl acetate-polyethylene copolymer.
As a soft synthetic material, it can improve the impact toughness of bioplastics.
The modified non-filled polylactic acid has an opaque feel
.

· VINNEX® 2525 is a granular resinous polyvinyl acetate homopolymer, which can be used as a processing aid, and its modified biopolyester is especially suitable for the production of packaging films by extrusion blow molding
.
This additive can make unfilled polylactic acid have high transparency
.

GENIOPLAST® Pellet S and GENIOPLAST® Pellet P plus are silicone plastic additives with spherical granules and can be used universally for the compounding of various thermoplastics
.
As the active ingredient, they contain a non-crosslinked ultra-high molecular weight silicone polymer attached to fumed silica
.
GENIOPLAST® Pellet P plus is approved for use in contact with food, while GENIOPLAST® Pellet S is mainly used in technical applications
.
Both products reduce friction and thus act as processing aids to improve the final properties of synthetic materials
.

Oliver Fuhrmann, application engineer and silicone expert at WACKER, will present at the conference, "Unleashing the Potential of Biodegradable Polymers", more about the combination of VINNEX® and GENIOPLAST® additives.
Details, time: 11:45 on December 1, 2021
.