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Our additives for PVC applications - the plus for products and production
PVC plastisols are used in numerous applications, ranging from floorings to wall coverings, from printing inks to coated fabrics to tarps and other textile applications. Our corresponding additive portfolio supports the production processes of product manufacturers and helps optimize material properties.
Customers can choose from four major product groups. These include wetting and dispersing additives to incorporate fillers and pigments, as well as air release agents and defoamers, which facilitate optimal conditions during the manufacturing process. We also offer processing aids and viscosity depressants, many of which meet indoor emission levels thanks to low emissions.
Based on our longstanding experience in the industry, we come up with intelligent solutions for new market trends fast, as our most recent DISPERPLAST innovation shows. It enhances the production efficiency of in-demand luxury vinyl tiles.
In order to identify the formulation best suited for the application in question, our end use specialists assist customers with state-of-the-art testing in our laboratories. With our spread coating equipment, for example, we are able to replicate industrial processes used for floorings and vinyl under lab conditions. As a result, we gain precise data on the performance of our additives.
Our additives for PVC applications provide different functions. They optimize the rheology and flow behavior of PVC plastisols and control air release. Others help incorporate fillers and pigments. In printing inks and coatings, they can be employed to create product specific properties.
The choice of the suitable additive depends on many factors. The interaction of material and production conditions plays a major a role in this context. When desired, we support our customers with extensive tests to analyze our additive’s behavior under their production conditions. In doing so, we not only help to produce an optimal product, we support efficient and reliable production processes, too.
Our additives optimize the production of the following applications:
With our wetting and dispersing additives, viscosity reducers, and foam stabilizers, we meet a number of challenges arising during the production of roll materials as well as carpet and luxury vinyl tiles (LVT). The wetting and dispersing additive BYK-1165, for example, is designed to incorporate fillers into highly filled plastisols with low to medium shear rates. DISPERPLAST-1180, on the other hand, facilitates the incorporation of fillers into thermoplastic PVC compounds. Both products also optimize the material’s flow behavior. For anti-static applications, we recommend BYK-5128.
By reducing viscosity, our VISCOBYK additives support the plastisol’s processability. In particular, this applies to materials with few or no fillers. For indoor applications, VISCOBYK-5120 und VISCOBYK-5125 have proven extremely successful, as they show few emissions thanks to their low volatility. BYK-8020 and BYK-8070 help to stabilize mechanical foams, one is based on silicon, the other on soap.
Natural leather and coated fabrics are used in many consumer products. These range from car seats to furniture and include shoes, bags, clothing, and accessories. Our additives support production and finishing of natural leather and coated fabrics based on PVC or polyurethane (PU).
Depending on the applications, our customers can choose between solvent- and water-based additives. Our surface additives help optimize quality and feel of the materials. Our wax additives create its shine, smoothness, grip, and comfort. Our wetting and dispersing additives serve to incorporate pigments and fillers into its finishing.
To optimize different processing parameters during the production of the finishing, our defoamers, rheology and processing additives are first choice. Defoamers destroy unwanted foam bubbles, generating flawless surfaces. Rheology products better the flow behavior and processing additives improve release properties as well as cell structures of the PVC plastisols.
These days, wallpapers have to fulfill highest esthetic expectations with production remaining as efficient as possible. Given these factors, PVC plastisols used in wallpaper printing need to fulfill one decisive requirement: Their processing should not impair the product’s esthetic quality.
Consequently, the following viscosity reducers are suited for optimal processing: BYK-1166 fits PVC plastisols with high yield value. It is designed for products with low to medium shear rates. Moreover, it is characterised by its positive effects on surfaces and its degree of whiteness. The VISCOBYK-5000 additives are specifically designed for low emission formulations.
To incorporate pigments, we recommend our wetting and dispersing additives, e.g. DISPERPLAST-1150 oder DISPERBYK-2157.
Coated technical textiles need to fulfill a number of requirements regarding safety, comfort, and optical properties. Our wetting and dispersing additives help stabilize the pigments in the relevant PVC plastisols. RHEOBYK and GARAMITE additives serve to precisely control the flow behavior of the pastes during processing. Our defoamers, e.g. BYK-3155, prevent air pockets which could impair surface properties.
Intense colors plus excellent processability characterize the quality of printing inks and color master batches. Both properties can be achieved with our additives. To incorporate pigments, we recommend our solvent-free wetting and dispersing additives, e.g. DISPERPLAST-1150 or BYK-9076. The low emission additives moreover help to optimize the ink’s processability.
Given their diversity and their economic efficiency, PVC dry blends and compounds are becoming more and more popular. We designed DISPERPLAST-1180 specifically for those thermoplastic applications, in which standard dispersing additives find their limits.
Allowing a higher filler volume as well as a homogenous distribution of particles, DISPERPLAST-1180 can be employed in the production of luxury vinyl tiles (LVT). It has positive effects on the plastification process and on the material’s melting properties. Besides, the processing additive BYK-P 4100 supports release properties, improving production efficiency as a result.
Our portfolio for PVC applications comprises five brands and includes solvent- and water-based additives. Suited to individual applications, we also offer low emission, eco-friendly products.
