At K 2016, UK-based Croda Europe Ltd (Hall 7, booth C22) will be offering live demonstrations of their new, tested and proven range of anti-scratch additives. Launched to meet the demand for improved quality of plastic parts in high-end automotive and packaging applications, these additives reduce scratch width, depth and visibility. These additives incorporate high stability products that work from within the formulation to enhance the surface properties of plastic parts produced using these additives, such as low visible bloom, low odor and maintained gloss.
The new additives are designed to withstand challenging processing conditions and give long term in-use performance in the finished products. Moreover, due to their low loading levels they have no detrimental effect on the mechanical properties of the plastic in question.

The range offers products for a variety of polymers and applications, from high gloss surfaces to transparent parts. Armed with portable scratch testing equipment, technical experts will be on hand at the company’s booth throughout the show to demonstrate how the range can reduce scratching.

The new product family comprises three products specifically designed for use with PP: Incroslip SL and IncroMold K for polypropylene impact copolymer and Incroslip G for polypropylene homopolymer applications.
Incroslip SL is one of the newest innovations from Croda and combines anti-scratch performance with excellent oxidative stability. Unlike some additives, which migrate and break down over time, causing visible blooming, color change or odor problems, Incroslip SL is a highly stable product that has been shown to reduce scratch visibility without any negative impact on the part, while the newest addition to the IncroMold range is IncroMold K, a product developed specifically as an anti-scratch additive to reduce scratch visibility and whitening in PP impact copolymer.  Incroslip G is a stable product which shows excellent anti-scratch properties in PP homopolymer. This product also has the added benefit of reducing mold release force, enabling molded parts to be removed more easily from the mold, eliminating the need for silicone sprays and allowing for continuous production.

The anti-scratch family of additives also includes products for transparent polymers, including polycarbonate and PMMA. Tough and rigid, these polymers are commonly used in automotive applications such as headlights and interior parts, although they are prone to scratching. Croda’s IncroMax range shows excellent anti-scratch performance in transparent polymers with no negative impact on clarity.
The new additives were developed by Croda in the course of a specific project in the area of anti-scratch, according to Applications Team Leader, Martin Read. “So we are able to advise our customers which product and addition level will give optimum performance in their formulations. We are pursuing this work and would like to engage further with our customers to continue this process and meet future needs in the area of anti-scratch for a wide range of plastics.”

At K 2016, Croda will co-exhibit with the Coatings & Polymers division who will be showcasing their range of bio-based building blocks and specialty additives. These sustainable and durable solutions bring benefits such as flexibility, water resistance, impact strength and color stability to high performance engineering plastics, elastomers and foams.

Images: cross-hatch scratch testing on automotive polymer with and without anti-scratch additive