Among the biggest issues with recycled plastic can be the inconsistency and poor quality of the material streams. Due to degradation or mix of incompatible plastics the mechanical properties can be severely reduced compared to virgin quality. A plastic can, when degraded, become incompatible with itself as the polymer configuration and chemical composition changes with degradation. Adding a compatibilizer will increase the homogeneity and improve mechanical properties.

Compatibility in the recycled material is important whether it is composed of a mix of plastics or not. The Acti-Tech compatibilizer product range offers both compatibilization and toughening of recycled plastics. The elastomeric nature of Acti-Tech compatibilizer help compensate for loss of impact properties and increase tensile strength by compatibilization.

Acti-Tech compatibilizer have shown improved dispersion and decreased domain size of polyolefin particles in a polyester matrix. Moreover, it demonstrates increased impact strength even at low temperatures compared to non-compatibilized mixture.

Biobased materials from renewable resources, such as wood, play a growing role in the sustainable development of society. Wood-plastic composites (WPCs) have emerged in the polymers industry as a solution to use wood processing residues in combination with a thermoplastic matrix, usually a polyolefin, recycled or not. Main challenges of WPC are their inherent moisture sensitivity, dimensional instability and service life. 

Thanks to their polymer backbone, Acti Tech compatibilizer significantly enhances bonding of wood fibers with the polymer as well as mechanical properties of the resulting composite material, such as bending and impact strength.

The manufacturing of Acti-Tech compatibilizer uses a highly efficient melt grafting process, enabling high functionalization with maleic anhydride (MA) monomer and low volatile organic compound (VOC) content. MA groups react with the OH groups of wood fibers to produce a chemically stable compound.

Good coupling between filler and matrix ensured by Acti-Tech compatibilizer helps to considerably reduce water uptake, leading to improved dimensional stability and weather resistance. This feature is of particular value for outdoor applications, such as decking boards.

Available in a wide range of melt flow index (MFI) options, Acti-Tech compatibilizer display excellent processability. It facilitates optimal incorporation of fibers into the polymer matrix and process temperatures cause less damage to both base polymer and wood filler. This results in higher molecular weight, which is reflected in the improved mechanical properties of the alloy.

A variety of industries require higher performing compounds combining complementary features of engineering plastics and polyolefin (PO) materials. They ask for design flexibility, lighter weight and robust mechanical properties, while ensuring easy processing. Main challenges of such plastic compounds are optimal compatibility between their diverse components, robust mechanical properties as well as efficient conversion economics.

Thanks to their polymer backbone, Acti-Tech compatibilizer come in a broad offering of flexural modulus solutions, ranging from 10 to 400 MPa. The resulting material will be highly flexible, softer relative to traditional grafted PO alternatives and effective in delivering enhanced impact strength of PP/engineering plastics alloys.

The manufacturing of Acti-Tech compatibilizer uses a highly efficient melt grafting process. As a result, it is capable of high functionalization with maleic anhydride (MA) monomer and low volatile organic compound (VOC) content. This enables significantly improved compatibility between key components of the thermoplastic alloy. Conversion efficiency is realized thanks to the excellent adhesion promoter role of Acti-Tech compatibilizers as well as lower loading levels required to ensure effective coupling.

Available in a wide range of melt flow index (MFI) options, Acti-Tech compatibilizer also display improved filler wettability and dispersibility versus regular MA-grafted polyethylene, which greatly facilitates optimal compounding of the desired final product.