Research and development to produce conductive Masterbatches for polymer manufacturing industry

• Grant number: 14/22785-2
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: November 01, 2015
• End date: January 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Silmara das Neves
• Grantee: Silmara das Neves
• Company: IQX Inove Qualyx Tecnologia e Desenvolvimento em Resinas Ltda
• City: Valinhos

Abstract

This proposal aims to develop and manufacture pilot scale, conductive masterbatches to meet the market for thermoplastic resins for the manufacture of electrostatic charge dissipation (ESD products). The major challenge of this proposal is to obtain conductive masterbatch from the use of polyaniline, ie without the use of carbon black. Underscores the importance of generating products with equal or better performance and low cost compared to already marketed. Through studies and market analysis as well as query the databases of the National Intellectual Property Institute verified the need and opportunity for investment in research and development for transformation of masterbatches and compounds for new products with higher added value. Although the production processes of polymeric materials are known and dominated in industrial scale for a long time the desired innovation is the possibility of making them antistatic, conductive or dissipative from the addition of conductive masterbatch, providing ESD protection property of the product end permanently increasing the level of security provided during use. The conductive masterbatch IQX also offer the possibility of differential staining, which does not exist today in the market because the product contains ESD protection available conductive black smoke, thus presenting necessarily black. The sectors will be directly benefited, mainly: Electronic, Automotive, Textile, Chemical, Petrochemical, Pharmaceutical, among others. Two strategies are used to overcome the technical and scientific challenges of this proposal: one related to the field of process variables in thermoplastic extrusion from the introduction of different concentrations of polyaniline and other, more complex, consisting of the doping of polyaniline during the extrusion process, to improve the dispersion and, therefore, homogeneity of the obtained masterbatch. Both approaches provide for the investigation of the effect of varying the dopant of process variables, the polymer matrix, among other parameters. From the definition of the best strategy for production of conductive masterbatches, the team will focus on training for pilot scale production and placing on the market. In order to ensure the development of masters with high commercial value, both in terms of price as property, IQX seek to arouse the interest of companies already working in the industry for development work in partnership. The IQX was incorporated in 2011 and is incubated in the Development Company of High Technology Pole of Campinas - CIATEC. Was covered with a PIPE FAPESP Aid at the time of its foundation. Provides the necessary infrastructure for development and pilot scale production (up to 100 kg / day) of conductive resins and additives. The business model of the company envisages a significant increase in the revenue stream from the sale of conductive masterbatches for processors of thermoplastic and an important contribution to innovation in the industry. (AU)