Extrusion International USA 6-2019

63 Extrusion International 6/2019 HYTAC ® Syntactic Foam Plug-Assist Materials which was developed to offer an improved surface qual- ity after machining when compared to the company’s HY- TAC B1X. It is the industry’s first and only material to com- bine the machined surface quality of an epoxy syntactic with the durability and dust-free machining of thermo- plastic syntactic foam. This is particularly important when working with sticky or transparent plastics due to the challenge of polishing thermoplastic syntactic materials. A significant side benefit of the formulation is increased toughness, allowing for very fine plug details. HYTAC XTL’s excellent surface characteristics optimize material distribution with most plastics. The plug assist material also offers low thermal conductivity, low coeffi- cient of thermal expansion, and is highly effective where edge definition and detail are required. HYTAC XTL is recommended for use with PP, PET, PE, APET, CPET, HIPS, OPS, PETG, PLA, PS, PVC, and RPET. CMT Materials also featured HYTAC C1R, a copolymer plug assist formulated with a friction enhancer to carry plastic deep into a cavity or specialty detail. C1R is easily machined and polished to a mirror-like finish for scratch- free forming. This new copolymer plug assist has been optimized for both the maachine shop and the thermo- forming process. HYTAC C1R also provides three to four times the tough- ness of epoxy-based syntactic foam, superb machinabil- ity, superior edge definition and detail, low thermal con- ductivity, and excellent material distribution. HYTAC C1R is recommended for use with APET, CPET, HIPS, PETG, PLA, PP, PVC, and RPET. HYTAC syntactic foam is used by the majority of toolmak- ers and thermoforming processors around the world. Thin-gauge thermoformed parts such as drinking cups, coffee capsules, fruit trays, barrier trays, horticultural parts, and many more are formed with plug-assisted pre- stretching. HYTAC plugs are designed with specific mate- rial properties to optimize plastic parts and provide low thermal conductivity, low specific heat, and low coeffi- cient of thermal expansion (CTE). CMT offers a full range of materials allowing designers and operators to create high-quality plugs for a variety of polymers and their re- quired geometries. CMT Materials, the leading provider of plug-assist materi- als for the thermoforming industry, showcased its range of HYTAC ® syntactic foams at the K 2019 exhibition. CMT Materials highlighted the latest innovative plug-assist materials – HYTAC C1R and HYTAC XTL – which have re- cently enjoyed strong market acceptance. “We continue to see strong growth for copolymer and thermoplastic plug materials as the global plastics pack- aging market continues to evolve and grow throughout the world,” said Terry Woldorf, Managing Director for CMT Materials. Data-driven studies on the economic impact of plug ma- terial selection show that consistency and repeatability can be achieved in thermoforming, according to CMT. In particular, HYTAC plug assists play a key role by helping processors manage wall thickness variation, reduce start- ing gauge, and improve cycle times. Woldorf noted that the increased growth is largely fo- cused in food packaging applications in Europe and Asia, with material shifts away from PS to PP and new, multi- layer films. “These more complex polymers require more sophisticated plug assists beyond our traditional custom- er favorites,” said Woldorf. “In some cases, there is a re- quirement for higher friction, in others it’s easier release, and in still others it is for our new thermoplastic syntactic that offers two times the toughness of B1X and a new cel- lular structure that yields a smoother surface for an un- breakable plug that doesn’t scratch soft plastics.” The main driving trends are growing popularity in ready- to-eat meals, changing consumer habits, and growing disposable income in emerging Asian economies. North American processors also show continued growth in sec- tors such as large bakery items, tamper-evident clam- shells, andmedical device packages. “The pace of product and package design is speeding up, with custom formers mov- ing from prototype to production some- times in less than four weeks.” At the K show, the company featured HYTAC XTL plug assist CMT Materials www.cmtmaterials.com