Functional additives are an essential and often expensive part of many polymer formulations - used both to ensure the efficient processing of materials and to enhance the properties of the finished product in some way. Protection against light, heat and other degredants can be provided as well as the means to produce lighter, foamed products or tough flexible ones. Colourants, coatings and fillers are also aspects of a finished artefacts which come in a variety of guises to provide the best solutions of a particular customers requirements.

This volume is a revised and expanded second edition of the popular Functional Additives for Plastics published by Rapra in 1994, and it examines both the technological and commercial aspects of the current and future uses of functional additives. It provides a technological review of the competitive situation - taking into account new materials and applications, identifies technical and legislative factors which could affect the use of functional additives in the future, estimates the demand in Europe for such materials and applications and reviews the current supply situation and the key players in the market.

Calculations relating to the market cover the Member states of the European Community and other countries in Western Europe. Details of the European suppliers of the materials are covered.


Introduction
Summary and conclusions
Technology

Antimicrobial agents

Antioxidants

Antistatic agents

Blowing agents

Curing agents

Compatibilisers and coupling agents

Heat stabilisers

Lubricants

UV stabilisers

Plasticisers

Fillers

Colourants

Flame retardants

Modifiers

Products and markets(as above)
Supply and demand(as above)

Plastics view

Polyethylene

Polypropylene

Polystyrene and other styrenics

PVC

Other polymers

Environmental issues - legislation and regulations
Appendix

List of additive supplier details