The Importance of Anti-Block Additives in plastic industry

Anti-block additives play a particularly important role in the production of plastic films, bags and packaging materials. Besides, using additives in plastic production brings convenience to users. Let’s learn about the role of anti-block additives in the plastic industry in the article below.

I. What is anti-block additive?

Anti-block additive is a type of additive used in the production of plastic materials. Its main function is to prevent adhesion of the surface of plastic film or plastic sheet, which may occur during production, storage or transportation and use.

II. The role of anti-block additives in the plastic industry

1. Prevent adhesion

Anti-block additives are used to prevent adhesion of plastic films or sheets to each other, especially during storage and transportation. These additives create a micro-rough surface on the plastic film, which reduces the blocking effect and allows for easy film separation. This is especially important in industries that use large amounts of plastic film, such as in packaging and agriculture.

2. Improve surface quality

In addition, anti-blocking additives also improve the transparency and transparency of plastic films, as well as reduce the coefficient of friction, making the films easier to handle and process. This is especially important in applications where the appearance and quality of the plastic film is critical, such as in food and consumer goods packaging.

3. Improve processing performance

On the processing side, anti-blocking additives also help reduce the force required to unwind or separate the plastic film, thereby improving efficiency and productivity in the manufacturing process. This is especially important in high-speed packaging lines where smooth and efficient plastic film handling is essential.

III. Types of anti-stick additives

1. Inorganic anti-block additive

The most common type of anti-block additive is inorganic particles, such as silica or talc. These particles are added to plastic during the manufacturing process, where they form a microscopic layer on the surface of the plastic, preventing it from sticking to other surfaces. Inorganic anti-block additives are highly effective and suitable for many plastic applications.

2. Organic anti-block additives

Another type of anti-block additive is organic particles, such as polyethylene wax or polypropylene wax. These particles work in a similar way to inorganic additives, forming a thin layer on the plastic surface to prevent adhesion. Organic anti-block additives are often preferred for applications where clarity and transparency are important because they have minimal impact on the appearance of the plastic.

3. Specialized additives

In addition to inorganic and organic, there are specialized antiblock additives for specific applications. For example, for food packaging, anti-blocking additives that comply with food contact regulations are used to ensure the safety of packaged foods.

IV. Application of anti-stick additives in production

1. Extrusion

In extrusion, anti-block additives play an important role in preventing adhesion of film layers during production. This helps maintain the quality and appearance of the film as well as facilitates the handling and packaging of the final product. By reducing the coefficient of friction between film layers, anti-block additives also contribute to improving the overall efficiency of the extrusion process.

2. Injection molding

In injection molding, anti-block additives are used to prevent adhesion of plastic parts to the mold surface. This not only improves mold release characteristics but also enhances the surface finish of molded parts. Additionally, the use of anti-blocking additives in injection molding reduces wear on the mold, resulting in longer mold life and lower maintenance costs.

3. Blow molding

Similarly, in the blow molding process, anti-blocking additives are used to prevent adhesion of the plastic material to the mold surface. This results in smoother and more uniform wall thicknesses in blow molded products as well as improved mold release characteristics. The use of anti-block additives in blow molding also helps reduce the occurrence of defects such as blemishes and surface roughness, leading to higher final product quality.

CPI Plastic Vietnam is the largest direct manufacturer of Masterbatch plastic additive products in Vietnam. Therefore, CPI Plastic is the top choice for factories that need stability in output and quality, to meet the production and export needs of customers.

(Refer to the product here: antibock masterbatch)