Formulators of coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers (CASE), as well as makers of foams and elastic fiber applications, utilize a diverse family of polyols to meet specifications for product performance. These polyols include polytetramethylene ether glycols (PTMEG), polypropylene glycols (PPG), adipate- and phthalate-based polyesters, polycaprolactone polyols, and polycarbonate polyols.
Polytetramethylene Ether Glycol (PTMEG) is the premier polyether polyol used worldwide in the manufacture of high-performance polyurethane elastomers. Known for its many performance attributes and processing advantages, PTMEG is used in a variety of applications across multiple industries. These applications include polyurethane resins, prepolymers, coatings, adhesives, cast polyurethane resins, spandex fibers, and more.
Gantrade Corporation is a leading supplier of PTMEG, with strategic supply for global distribution to Europe, Asia, and North America. For decades, Gantrade has been the supplier of choice to the world’s most technically demanding manufacturers, consistently meeting their needs for high performance polyurethane products.
Water-based acrylic binders meet environmental requirements for the absence of VOCs, in addition to low toxicity and odor. The diversity of acrylic systems available can be designed to meet binder applications across the spectrum of substrates and printing technologies. Binders should form films smoothly and easily at ambient temperatures. Binders can be readily designed that have a range of Tgs and surface hardness, from low Tgs for flexible surfaces to high Tgs for rigid substrates. The diversity of acrylic monomers and vinyl monomers allow this to be accomplished while meeting other requirements for fast-drying properties, adhesion, water and abrasion resistance, and gloss. The addition of low levels of isopropanol in ink formulations reduces the surface energy of the system, improving ink leveling, thickness, and density control on plastics.
The market size for polymeric and resin binders in the global printing ink market was estimated to be over 1,200,000 MT in 2020, with a CAGR of about five percent. A major driver of this growth comes from the packaging industry, due to increases in consumer spending and online shopping, as well as demand for processed and packaged foods and beverages.
MPO Glycol Modified Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
Substituting low levels of 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol (MPO) for mono ethylene glycol (MEG) in the PET polymerization process lowers the melting temperature and reduces the degree of crystallinity of PET.
3D printing is one of the fastest-growing and most transformative fabrication technologies in the modern era, due to the benefits of manufacturing parts with complex geometries, reducing cost and weight, and achieving dimensional accuracy. It’s often the only feasible technology for producing specific, complex parts with intricate details that are simply not possible using conventional manufacturing.
More and more, manufacturers are demanding bio-sourced raw materials to help their customers achieve their sustainability goals. In the service of these goals, manufacturers must focus on raw materials that are safer and derived from renewable resources. Sustainability helps manufacturers and their customers achieve a triple bottom line based on profitability, greater social responsibility, and improved environmental conditions via a reduced CO2 footprint.
Originally published on PR Web
Gantrade is pleased to announce its new European entity, Gantrade Europe BVBA. The office is now fully operational and is based at the group’s Mechelen offices in Belgium.
Polyurethanes are a special class of segmented block copolymers, consisting of alternating sequences of soft and hard segments. The soft segment is generally based on polyether or polyester polyols with glass transitions (Tg) well below room temperature, while the hard segment is composed of a diisocyanate and chain extender. The hard segment is often crystalline.
All polyol classes used in polyurethanes have a set of unique attributes that make them useful as the soft-segment in specific polyurethane elastomer applications. Selecting the best polyol for a specific formula can be the difference between making a high-quality product or one that’s low-performing. The key for proper material selection is a good understanding of the inherent characteristics of each polyol chemistry.
