Additives in plastics: exploring their role

Plastics are an integral part of our daily lives, from food and beverage packaging to components in electronics and automobiles, from agricultural films for food production to medical devices.

But did you know that the performance and versatility of plastics is largely dependent on the incorporation of plastic additives? Additives play a key role in ensuring that thermoplastics, thermosets and elastomers meet the service life expectations of end applications. Wherever you find plastics, additives make them, for example, more durable, weather-resistant, lightweight, and versatile. In this article, we will explore the importance of plastic additives in improving the properties of newly made plastics and their role in plastics recycling.

Understanding plastic additives and their functions

Plastic additives are substances that are incorporated into plastics either during the manufacturing or conversion process to improve their processing properties, performance or appearance. Based on their purpose and functionality, additives can be divided into three types: processing aids, functional additives, and performance modifiers.

• Processing aids are incorporated into plastics to improve their processability during manufacturing. Lubricants or anti-blocking agents are added to plastics to improve flow and enable energy-efficient conversion in equipment. Antioxidants protect plastics from degradation during conversion and throughout their service life.
   
• Functional additives, such as fillers, reinforcing agents, flame retardants and UV stabilizers, are used to improve the strength, toughness, and durability of plastics. Flame retardants, for example, reduce flammability and improve safety, while UV stabilizers protect plastics from the harmful effects of sunlight and extend their life.
   
• Performance modifiers enhance the appearance and functionality of plastics. These additives, such as pigments, dyes, and plasticizers, give plastics vibrant colors and improved aesthetics.

In essence, without plastic additives, the performance and functionality of plastics would be severely limited, and their applications would be far more restricted. Plastic additives are essential to meet customer demands for durability, safety, flexibility, and stability, to name a few. Especially in high-performance functions such as various automotive parts, these properties are essential and could not be achieved without additives.

The role of additives in plastics recycling

Mechanical recycling is a process that offers a solution for plastic waste recovery and processing. It involves breaking down plastic waste into smaller fragments, such as flakes or pellets, through mechanical or physical means. These fragments are then carefully cleaned, sorted, and processed to remove impurities like dirt and labels. Afterward, the purified plastic is melted and reformed into new plastic products like bottles, containers, and packaging materials. The heating process to melt and reform plastics can however lead to the degradation of the polymer. This poses a challenge, particularly in relation to the role of additives in plastics recycling. Some additives, including fillers, halogenated flame retardants, or pigments, can complicate the mechanical recycling process. They can accelerate degradation and alter the characteristics of the plastic, making effective recycling more difficult. As a result, the quality of the recycled plastic gradually diminishes with each recycling cycle, losing its original performance capabilities. To address this issue, one potential solution is the incorporation of formulated additive packages. These packages are designed to enhance the properties of recycled plastics, helping to mitigate the challenges associated with degradation and alterations caused by certain additives and allowing the safe incorporation of recycled plastics into virgin materials or making new products.

Plastic additives enhance the performance of plastics

In conclusion, plastic additives play a crucial role in improving the properties and functionality of plastics. They enhance the processability, strength, durability, and appearance of plastics, making them more versatile and suitable for a wide range of applications. Without additives, the performance of plastics would be severely limited, and their applications would be restricted. Additionally, the role of additives in plastics recycling is important. While certain additives can complicate the recycling process and degrade the quality of recycled plastics, the incorporation of formulated additive packages can help mitigate these challenges and allow for the safe incorporation of recycled plastics into new materials or products. In this way, plastic additives contribute to the sustainability and circularity of plastics.