The development of plastic modifiers has been marked by constant innovation from a wide variety of applications. In recent years, in addition to classic areas of application such as the coupling of glass fibers in various polymers, the impact modification of PA, etc., BYK KOMETRA has developed modifiers for new applications such as wood plastic composites, polymer-phyllosilicate compounds, adhesive bonds and products in the recycling sector. Successful innovation in products and new technologies in a variety of applications (e.g. development of compatibilizers for different multiphase systems, grafting of high molecular styrene block copolymers) guarantees our customers appreciable advantages through the rapid supply of complex modifier solutions.

What can SCONA® modifiers do?

SCONA® modifiers are surface-active polymers which act in the interface between different components and exhibit an amphiphilic behavior, i.e. they unite both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties in one molecule.

The technology employed uses the principle of solid-phase grafting. It offers crucial advantages for the solution of various problems and, thus, for the development of a wide variety of new modifiers. These can be expressed in the following criteria:

• Variable and very high degrees of grafting are possible
• Controlled adjustment of material properties (e.g. flow characteristics) by appropriate adaptation of the technology
• Products with a much lower residual monomer content than those of the competition
• Possibility of functionalization of hard-to-melt plastics or those which cannot be modified in the melt
• Wide choice of the most varied types of graft monomers, combined with the possibility of the use of additives during and after completion of the process

SCONA® modifiers are manufactured by solid-phase grafting. In this process, the grafting of different monomers is possible (even on one polymer). The construction principle of such grafted polymers is shown on the right.

Principle of solid-phase grafting

The radical grafting of monomers containing function groups, e.g. acrylic or vinyl compounds is carried out on dry, free-flowing backbone polymers below their melting point while maintaining their morphology and shape.