Smart Molding International 3-2021

12 newsfeed smart_molding international 3/2021 Chemical, a major Korean chemical company, has pro - duced the polypropylene (PP) required for medical applica - tions using BASF’s Irgastab®, a non-discoloring processing stabilizer. With the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations world - wide, the need for syringes made from PP has increased exponentially. LOTTE Chemical’s medi - cal PP has been applied to the LDS (low dead space) sy - ringes developed by a medi - cal syringe manufacturer in South Korea. These special - ized products are designed to minimize the amount of a drug left in the device af - ter injection which leads to reduced vaccine wastage. As a result, LDS syringes are in huge demand globally as it is estimated to enable 20% more people to get the dose with the same amount of vac - cine. Plastics used for medical applications require steriliza - tion. This causes degrada - tion and discoloration of the polymer. “Irgastab serves to ensure that medical PP re - mains safe and suitable for use,” said Hermann Althoff, Senior Vice President, Perfor - mance Chemicals Asia Pacific, BASF. “It provides processing stability without discolor - ation to polypropylene dur - ing compounding and injec - tionmolding, which is vital for LDS syringes as the materials need to be certified for high- clarity.” As the need for syringes is expected to explode for the vaccination against COVID-19, LOTTE Chemical is expanding the development of special polypropylene materials to ensure strict production qual - ity control of medical materi - als, including high-clarity PP, and to accommodate the growing needs related to healthcare and safety. BASF www.basf.com Following the acquisition of Lambson – a global player specializing in the develop - ment and supply of pho - toinitiators – Arkema opens a Center of Excellence in Wetherby (UK) and provides its customers and partners with expertise and compre - hensive, high-performance solutions for UV technology. Integrated into the photo - curable specialties business of Sartomer – a pioneer in this market – this center is a key component of the growth and development strategy for photocuring, a solvent-free sustainable technology of the future. To serve its customers, Arkema is opening a Center of Excellence in Wetherby, UK. Equipped with first-rate equipment and led by an ex - perienced team with unique expertise in photoinitiator synthesis and formulation, this center will provide an exceptional collaborative space for developing and fine-tuning solutions that are tailored to the challenges of our customers and partners, particularly in the electronics, 3D printing, inks, adhesives, and high-performance coat - ings markets. Laurent Peyronneau , CEO of Sartomer and VP of Arkema’s Coating Solutions: “The center supports both experienced formulators and those new to energy curing technology who are seeking state-of-the-art UV resin and photoinitiator systems exper - tise. It also brings together technologies and know-how to address energy curing chal - lenges and develop innova - tive solutions to unlock new opportunities.” This cutting-edge laborato - ry will complement the exist - ing network of research and application centers dedicated to Arkema’s Coating Solutions so that to Arkema’s perfor - mance additives. These ad - ditives enhance the Group’s expertise in many areas and play an essential role in the design and development of innovative products, and new applications in the fields of Coatings, Adhesives, and Advanced Materials. Arkema www.arkema.com High-clarity medical polypropylene for syringes used in COVID-19 vaccinations Arkema opens a center of excellence for photocuring technology