At the 2018 Chinaplas in Shanghai, US additive giant Addivant focused on the increasingly stringent health, safety and environmental regulations of the Chinese government.
Irfaan Foster, global business manager in Belgium, said in an interview at the company's booth: 'China's regulatory requirements are getting higher and higher. One of the enhanced regulations is the air quality in the car (ie VIAQ).
He said: 'China has actually become one of the leading countries to strengthen the regulation of air quality inside the car. 5 to 10 years ago, China did not really pay attention to the air quality inside the car. However, China has strict legislation at present.
He said: 'There are 10 kinds of VIAQ chemicals monitored in China --- more than Germany and South Korea. China is actually formulating the most stringent emission regulations.'
At Addivant's booth, the company highlighted an antioxidant used in polyurethane foams used in vehicle seats and roof linings. This antioxidant reduces VOC emissions, which is the concern of Chinese regulators. The main problem.
Foster estimates that 30% of Addivant's sales come from ingredient manufacturers and masterbatch producers who provide services to the automotive industry. He said: 'In food packaging, another key application of Addivant polymer additives is to reduce or avoid chemical The shift in food, this is the main goal of the regulator. China hopes to be at the forefront of innovation, and hopes to create products with added value, hoping to achieve real innovation.'
He said that the non-nonylphenol-based polyethylene stabilizer Weston 705, which is based in Danbury, Connecticut, is in line with China's new food contact law.
Nonylphenol is an estrogen mimetic that is also toxic to aquatic organisms. The EU has banned its use.
He expects that the plastic components needed in hybrid and electric vehicles will change dramatically in the future.
He said: 'When we look forward to the development of additives, these requirements will be very different.'
'Thermal stability' (or heat resistance) will be a major requirement for small engine compartments, and the batteries in them can operate at high temperatures under peak loads. 'He said: 'When talking to people in the automotive industry, you will find today's cars. 40% of the parts present will not appear on electric vehicles. 'Addivant has started to produce heat-resistant additives for wire harness and cable insulation.
Addivant has a facility in Yantai, Shandong Province. The plant is capable of formulating up to eight different additives in a dust-free manner. Foster said that the Saudi Arabian compounding plant is the world's largest compounding plant and plans to expand in China. He said: 'In the next 6 to 9 months, we will expand in China'. He did not give more details.