Augsburg/Germany, October 2026. -- Plastics distributor Ultrapolymers will be showcasing high-performance additions to its portfolio of plastic modifiers at Fakuma, which takes place in Friedrichshafen from 12 to 16 October 2026, at stand A5-5211. SK Functional Polymer, an international manufacturer of speciality plastics and polymer additives headquartered in France, is contributing three new products to this range. Lotader^® AX8900T improves impact strength and compatibility in blends. Orevac^® 18343 is a high-performance adhesion promoter for highly filled HFFR (halogen-free flame retardants) compounds. Evasin^® 2951F acts as a barrier layer in monomaterial films, helping to meet future PPWR requirements. Samples of all three products are available for in-house testing.

Impact resistance meets supply reliability
The reactive ethylene terpolymer Lotader AX8900T, only recently launched by SK Functional Polymer, is – like its tried-and-tested counterpart, Lotader AX8900 – suitable, amongst other things, as an impact modifier and viscosity modifier, as well as for providing hydrolysis protection for engineering plastics. Whilst the AX8900 grade is produced in an autoclave reactor in Carling, France, the new AX8900T grade will in future be produced in a tubular reactor in Balan, also in France. Its altered morphology has a positive effect on temperature resistance, as it raises the melting point. The achievable impact strength is also slightly higher. Due to the identical comonomer ratios, similar melt viscosity and mechanical properties, both grades are interchangeable in many applications. This offers the advantage of two supply sources and thus further enhanced supply reliability.

Possible applications include impact modification of polyesters (PBT, PET), PC/PBT and PC/ABS blends, as well as PPS, for both virgin and recycled material. Both grades are also suitable as compatibilisers for polyester/polyolefin blends. They are compatible with LDPE in all mixing ratios, as well as with almost all other ethylene copolymers, and adhere well to PET, PBT, PPS, metal, paper and glass fibres.

Flame retardancy benefits from adhesion
Orevac 18343 is a newly developed, maleic anhydride-grafted coupling agent from SK Functional Polymer. It is intended for use in highly filled HFFR compounds that meet the most stringent flame resistance requirements. As a reactive polyolefin with a high proportion of MAH groups, it binds polar, inorganic flame retardants such as magnesium hydroxide and aluminium hydroxide very effectively to the plastic matrix. This, combined with its good dispersion within the compound, results in a significant improvement in mechanical properties, even after water storage.

Typical applications include cables as well as aluminium sandwich panels, for example for façade cladding. This enables both to meet the requirements of the EU Construction Products Regulation (CPR) regarding flame resistance, smoke emission and halogen-free properties.

Gas barrier meets PPWR standards
Evasin 2951F is a new type of EVOH (ethylene vinyl alcohol) from SK Functional Polymer, which is used as an oxygen or gas barrier in film composites. It enables single-material solutions to meet the requirements of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). This regulation stipulates that, from 2030 onwards, packaging must be at least 70 per cent recyclable. However, as the use of a barrier layer is mandatory for certain applications, such as food packaging, the presence of foreign materials in such films is permitted up to a maximum of 5 per cent. Thanks to its enhanced effectiveness, Evasin 2951F makes it possible to comply with this limit.

To achieve this objective, SK Functional Polymer has reduced the ethylene content in the new EVOH whilst simultaneously increasing the vinyl alcohol content. Compared with previously available EVOH grades, this allows the required thickness of the barrier layer to be reduced whilst maintaining the same performance. When used in food-grade films in combination with the coupling agent Orevac and top layers made of PP or PE, Evasin 2951F thus ensures both compliance with the PPWR and the preservation of the freshness of the packaged goods – whilst allowing for thinner films overall. Furthermore, with Lotader 4210, SK Functional Polymer offers a suitable product for enhancing the properties of recycled materials derived from such film composites.

Evasin^®, Lotader^® and Orevac^® are trademarks of SK Functional Polymer.

Ultrapolymers offers a wide range of standard and specialised polymers. Through partnerships with industry-leading manufacturers, it has built up a diverse product portfolio that provides customers with the best solutions for their projects and applications. Ultrapolymers was founded in Belgium in October 2002 and, as part of Ravago, has rapidly established itself as a market leader in plastics distribution. For further information, please visit www.ultrapolymers.com

Further information: 
Magdalena Marten, Ultrapolymers Deutschland GmbH 
Unterer Talweg 46, 86179 Augsburg
Tel.: +49 (0) 821 27233-0, magdalena.marten@ultrapolymers.com 

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