Clariant to Bring Focus on Efficiency and Performance

Shanghai (China), April 10, 2012 - Leading global specialty chemical company Clariant will take part in this year's ChinaPlas exhibition under the theme of "Power your performance". Key products and solutions dedicated to helping its customers achieve better efficiency and thus better performance will be featured by BU Masterbatches, BU Pigments and BU Additives at the show in Shanghai from April 18 – 21.

Key products to be highlighted at ChinaPlas include:

Masterbatches

HYDROCEROL® Chemical Foaming Agents (CFAs)

HYDROCEROL chemical foaming and nucleating agents (CFAs) are creating exciting new possibilities for plastics. Specified to reduce weight, improve performance and optimize costs, HYDROCEROL CFAs are found in products ranging from machine housings and material handling systems to automotive parts, food, personal care, and medical packaging.

Clariant offers standard and custom-formulated chemical foaming and nucleating agents in masterbatch and powder form that allow precise metering of active ingredients. Clariant HYDROCEROL CFAs decompose at processing temperatures and form various gases that expand thermoplastics, resulting in a fine cellular structure.

Foaming of thermoplastic resins offers the following advantages:

weight reduction
raw material savings
thermal and acoustic insulation
elimination of warpage and sink marks
increase in wall stiffness (sandwich effect)
excellent surface textures

Compostable Masterbatches

RENOL®-compostable color masterbatches and CESA®-compostable additive masterbatches are both eco-friendly and economical. They are made with conventional additives and pigments, which are pre-tested following EN 13432 and certified by Vinçotte (OK compost). This helps the manufacturer of the final products to maintain the compostability aspects of their products made with bio-based resins and the new masterbatches.

The introduction of these two new compostable product ranges underscores Clariant’s commitment to promote the use of sustainable resources while offering customers the broadest possible cost/performance options.

Pigments

Low halogen coloring solutions for plastics compounds

Electrical and electronic material manufacturers are increasingly applying restrictions on all uses of bromine and chlorinated compounds in their products to minimize impact on the environment and human health. Clariant’s introduction of the new portfolio marks the latest step in its on-going support for customers’ use of non-halogenated materials in E&E and Wire & Cable applications. The new selected Clariant colorants provide high performance with controlled halogen levels to allow compliance with electronics industry standards.

Colorants for consumer goods, toys, and indirect food contact

In addition to complying with major international regulations, such as CONEG, RoHS and EN71-3, the products have been tested for heavy metals, aromatic amines and PCBs. They are therefore suitable for consumer goods, toys and food packaging applications.

The active involvement in environmental, health and safety performance is part of Clariant’s commitment to sustainability. The quality of the company’s products is monitored permanently. Also, regular internal and external audits provide an independent control mechanism for the compliance with laws and regulations.

Lead-chromate replacement

Clariant provides a wide range of colorants for lead-chromate replacement to help customers win additional competitive advantage by being ahead of the 2012 Lead Chromate ban.

Additives

Clariant’s unique range of product provides added-value to plastic manufacturers in terms of performance, effects, environmental safety and contributes to smart cost saving.

Licocene®PP, Ceridust® and Licocare® Waxes

Licocene, metallocene-based waxes, with their broad range of physical properties, is designed to meet a variety of needs of the plastics industry, while providing excellent price performance in applications. Ceridust is a series of micronized waxes for improved pigment dispersion. Licocare, based on a renewable source, is a sustainable lubricant for PVC processing.

Exolit® OP Flame Retardants

The non-halogenated, phosphinate-based Exolit OP range combines high thermal stability and excellent property profiles at comparably low dosage. This product group was designed for the demanding and innovative applications in electronic and electrical markets worldwide.

All products are fully compliant with current WEEE and RoHS regulations (e.g. China and Europe). This range includes:

Exolit OP 1230 for high performance polyamides (HPPA)
Exolit OP 1240 for polyesters (PBT/ PET), (thermoplastic elastomers) TPE
Exolit OP 1312 / OP 1314 for polyamides (PA 6, PA 66)
Exolit OP 930/OP935 for epoxy based- laminates for printed circuit boards & TPE
New: Exolit EP 150 / EP 200 - reactive types for epoxy based- laminates for printed circuit boards. These new development products are currently only available in sample quantities.

Hostanox®, Hostavin®, Hostastat® and Nylostab® Stabilizers

This is a range of reliable and effective specialty polymer additives for polyolefines and engineering plastics. Most of them provide multiple effects, enabling the resin to match high requirements on special applications such as: greenhouse films, high pressure PE pipes, XLPE and PP pipes, geo membranes, under-the-hood GF PA66 articles, LED light reflector, LCD guiding board and polyarylamide fibers.

Highlighted products at ChinaPlas 2012 include:

Nylostab S-EED: Multifunctional stabilizer contributing to productivity, quality, light / heat protection and appearance of nylons.
Hostavin N845 PP Pills: non-blooming, no odor and flow control UV stabilizer for PP automotive parts.
Hostavin NOW: NEW technology and a NEW range of high performance UV stabilizer solutions for agricultural films.

The ChinaPlas exhibition, Asia’s largest plastics and rubber trade fair, will be held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, Shanghai from April 18 – 21. Clariant is exhibiting at Hall N1, Booth No. N1G31.