The Formulated Polymers Blog

Dried films of the ML range of prevulcanised natural rubber latex grades exhibit a range of high-performance physical properties.

Prevulcanised latex can be used to produce rubber moulds for products such as plaster ornaments, cast polyester resin figures, concrete garden ornaments, theatrical props, facial special effects and ornamental wax candles. ML grades produce strong, flexible, hard wearing, long lasting moulds with good reproduction of model detail.

Prevulcanised natural rubber latex is manufactured by a special process which produces concentrates particularly suitable for dipping applications. Vulcanisation is not required, and hence there is normally no need to consider vulcanising recipes or the time and temperature of cure. Other important qualities are:

Potential users are often put off using water-based sprayable contact adhesives in their manufacturing and fabrication work because solvent-based solutions have a reputation for drying/bonding more rapidly. Although this is true in some cases, high-quality, 2 part sprayable water-based adhesives are certainly not slow to dry/bond. In addition, solvent-based adhesives contain high levels of VOCs, or volatile organic compounds. These VOC’s are released during the manufacturing process and present a hazard to process workers. Water based systems contain very low levels of VOC’s.

Flame-retardant additives are used in a wide variety of plastic products these days. You will find them in anything from consumer products to oil pipelines. Flame-retardant additives are important in the use and manufacturing of plastics because they help prevent the material from becoming a fuel which could worsen any possible outbreak of fire.

In the closing weeks of 2018, few people can comfortably predict how – in exact terms – Brexit will impact on the normal working regulations of any industry in years to come. The first thing to say is that should the UK secure the implementation period that has been much-vaunted by the government from March 2019, nothing will immediately change. So, this means that anyone who purchases textiles that meet the current EU regulations will be able to do so with full confidence until 2021 at minimum.

On Wednesday 14th June 2017, London's worst fire for at least a generation began. The Grenfell Tower fire disaster went on to be not just a tragedy for those residents of the block who lost loved ones but for the wider community. Indeed, the public inquiry that followed the events looked into many controversial matters that surrounded the blaze. Not least amongst its considerations was the external cladding that had been fitted to the tower, as well as the much-documented complaints that residents had made to their landlord about safety issues.

Bromine based flame retardants (FR’s) are very efficient and are widely used in coatings for textiles for upholstery manufacture. Combined with other materials (e.g. antimony trioxide) brominated compounds are used on a vast range of textiles to meet the stringent requirements of the UK Fire and Furnishing Regulations. Brominated FR’s make up a significant proportion of textile coating compounds and as a result any fluctuation in the price or availability has a major effect on compound prices.

On the 16th of October 2018, Synthomer announced the closure of Revertex Malaysia. Manufacturing at the Kluang plant will cease at the end of December 2018.

Non-slip pallet liners were developed to improve the safety and stability of pallets by reducing the slippage risk of cargo during transportation. Pallet liners are coated by a water-based acrylic adhesive to provide the non-slip properties required by the product.