Prospector has long been a destination for plastics industry professionals looking for the latest data on materials, as well as assistance with materials selection. The site offers design engineers from around the globe access to product listings from over 1,000 plastic suppliers worldwide. Now, the search engine has expanded its search capabilities to include plastic additives.
According to the British Plastics Federation, “processing plastics without additives is virtually impossible.” In fact, without additives, polymers would lack the characteristics and functionality they need to become useful, durable, safe and attractive plastic products. Prospector’s additives database has more than 15,200 listings for these important materials which are divided in to 17 different types:
Antiblock
Anti-fogging Agent
Antimicrobial Agent
Antioxidant / Heat Stabilizer
Antistatic Agent
Blowing Agent
Compatibilizer / Adhesion Promoter
Conductivity Enhancer
Flame Retardant
Fragrance
Impact Modifier
Nucleating / Clarifying Agent
Optical Brightener
Pigment
Plasticizer
Slip Agent / Lubricant / Mold Release / Processing Aid
UV Protector / Light Stabilizer
In a recent article for Prospector, plastics industry expert Andy Pye discussed the increasing sophistication of polymer additives and a demand for these materials that is creating an “industry valued at billions of dollars worldwide.” Pye noted key drivers for innovation within the industry, including providing “multifunctionality, the need for improved additives for recycled materials, processing of polymer blends, and an increasing interest in so-called “Green Composites.”
It’s clear that plastic additives are an essential group of materials for the creation of plastic products. With increasing innovation and sophistication in the additives marketplace, Prospector hopes to provide an equally essential service: helping engineers acquire the information they need to create the high-performance plastics the world needs now and in the future.
Search for plastic additives now…
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I’ve been looking for some plastic parts for a project that I am working on. I’m trying to design a light fixture using plastic water tanks, so I need some extra additives. I’m glad to see that there is such a wide variety of listing for important materials. Thanks for sharing this post.