Heat stabilizer market ready for product changes-3
Date：2021-12-07 10:50:10 Browse：0
At the moment, the PVC pipes and fittings sector is seeing the development of lead-free stabilizers based on calcium compounds. The core stabilizer comprises an inorganic acid scavenger, a calcium soap, and additional lubricants to achieve basic stabilization of compact pipes. To improve early color, color hold, and weatherability of the final product, either zinc compounds or organic costabilizers are added to yield calcium/zinc or calcium-organic systems, respectively. Fine adjustments in composition can be made to serve a variety of applications. Up to now, calcium/zinc stabilizers offer price advantages over their calcium-organic counterparts.
Plasticized PVC has been used to produce cable and wire insulation and sheathing for more than 50 years. It is still enjoying a healthy market share.
For technical reasons, lead was traditionally used worldwide as the main stabilizer in the cable sector. CaZn systems for PVC cables and wires have gained importance during the last few years and their demand is still growing. Today the different heat stabilizers for cables and wires compete with each other in terms of cost, performance, and processing properties.
In addition, ecological considerations and statutory requirements have become increasingly important. The EU ELV (end-of-life vehicle) directive makes it difficult and expensive to recycle or dump lead-containing materials. Therefore, the automotive industry has moved toward CaZn. Meanwhile the majority of cables, especially for high-temperature applications, are stabilized with CaZn.
In Europe, CaZn stabilizers already hold a larger market share than lead. They provide excellent electrical properties, very good color, outstanding heat stability, good heat aging properties, and are in some cases superior to lead.
Lead and calcium/zinc PVC stabilizers are usually delivered as so-called one-packs, not only containing the heat stabilizers but also lubricants and acrylic processing aids. With such packaging they can be tailor-made to meet any specific customer need, regardless of processing performance or final product properties. Moreover, these one-packs are usually offered in various low- or non-dusting formulations, such as pressed granules and melt pastilles, in addition to classic powder mixtures.
Plasticized PVC has been used to produce cable and wire insulation and sheathing for more than 50 years. It is still enjoying a healthy market share.
For technical reasons, lead was traditionally used worldwide as the main stabilizer in the cable sector. CaZn systems for PVC cables and wires have gained importance during the last few years and their demand is still growing. Today the different heat stabilizers for cables and wires compete with each other in terms of cost, performance, and processing properties.
In addition, ecological considerations and statutory requirements have become increasingly important. The EU ELV (end-of-life vehicle) directive makes it difficult and expensive to recycle or dump lead-containing materials. Therefore, the automotive industry has moved toward CaZn. Meanwhile the majority of cables, especially for high-temperature applications, are stabilized with CaZn.
In Europe, CaZn stabilizers already hold a larger market share than lead. They provide excellent electrical properties, very good color, outstanding heat stability, good heat aging properties, and are in some cases superior to lead.
Lead and calcium/zinc PVC stabilizers are usually delivered as so-called one-packs, not only containing the heat stabilizers but also lubricants and acrylic processing aids. With such packaging they can be tailor-made to meet any specific customer need, regardless of processing performance or final product properties. Moreover, these one-packs are usually offered in various low- or non-dusting formulations, such as pressed granules and melt pastilles, in addition to classic powder mixtures.
The use of lead stabilizers faces restrictions from various sides. Calcium-based stabilizers offer an alternative. In addition to their technical performance, calcium-based stabilizers have also become more cost-effective, which will help continue the migration away from lead. To meet future challenges more effectively, a closer collaboration between stabilizer producers and processors is necessary.