Shanghai Daoqin Plastics Co., Ltd.

Bracing for impact: making tougher compounds

As the plastics industry navigates a transformative period defined by circular economy targets, lightweighting, and stringent safety regulations, impact modification has evolved into a critical tool for compounders. Growing adoption of recycled plastics in car applications and rising demand for lightweight yet durable construction materials are accelerating automotive market expansion. Durable household and industrial goods are also incorporating recycled plastics while needing to display impact resistance. However, post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic materials often suffer from degraded mechanical properties due to heat history in the recycling process and require additives to restore or improve impact strength. In addition to the challenge of PCR incorporation, compounders are looking to improve impact performance of bio-based plastics, engineering polymers and styrenic materials.

in plastics industry type to circular economy is target/goal, light amount and safety regulations is core new stage/phase, impact resistant agent formed is modified core technology 手段. recycled plastics in automotive field/area day and, tool light amount and high resistant property structure property material demand 持续攀 rise, 进一步推动 automotive market 繁荣. resistant use and industrial products 也开始 a large amount of use recycled plastics, meanwhile for material impact resistant property can hard property requirements. however, rear recycling plastics in recycling process in hot history 会导致 mechanical properties decline, must add additives or impact modifier or improves impact resistant strong/high degree. remove PCR材 material application technology difficult 题, modified 厂商们 positive in improvement bio-based plastics, engineering plastics and styrene material impact resistant property can.

Avient recently launched the Nymax REC 6000 High Impact series, an impact-modified, recycled polyamide line featuring 22 grades to help customers support circular economy goals and lower product carbon footprint (PCF) while maintaining performance on par with prime PA grades. The materials incorporate 42% to 93% post-industrial recycled (PIR) content, helping customers meet their sustainability targets without compromising on impact resistance, durability, or dimensional stability. 

Avient company most launch Nymax REC 6000 high impact resistance recycled polyamide (PA) modified product, 共包含22 grade. series force enterprise circular economy target/goal, reduce product carbon 足迹, meanwhile property can can full new polyamide (PA). product processing recycled material （PIR） ratio/proportion can 达42%-93%, in meet/satisfy enterprise sustainable development target/goal meanwhile, excellent impact resistant property, resistant use property and dimensional stability.

The 22 formulations include eight unfilled grades and 14 glass-fibre-reinforced grades containing up to 30% glass fibre, with each offering tailored impact performance for a wide range of temperatures and requirements. Supported by Avient’s PCF Calculator, which is TÜV-certified and aligned with ISO 14067, these materials deliver up to 83% reduction in carbon footprint versus prime versions. Target uses include applications across the automotive, building and construction, and consumer industries. 

22款 formulation 包括8款未 filling grade and 14款 glass fiber reinforced （ glass fiber (GF) most high add amount 30%）, product can made different temperature degree and requirements impact resistant property can. 依托经 TÜV  certification, combined  ISO 14067  standards Avient carbon 足迹计算, series product versus ratio 原生材 material carbon can reduce 83%, application automotive, construction building materials and industry.

“Avient is proud to deliver solutions that alignwith our customers sustainability objectives while maintaining the high performance they expect,” said Hermann Fuechter, Senior Marketing & Product Manager, Specialty Engineered Materials EMEA at Avient. “The Nymax REC High Impact portfolio demonstrates our commitment to innovating and advancing sustainable material options that meet market demands.” 

Avient company Europe, in and Africa specialty engineering plastics high grade market and product 经理Hermann Fuechter说道: “Avient very can is provide sustainable development target/goal and high use property can solutions. Nymax REC  high impact resistance product combined, 彰显 我们持续 innovation, R&D market demand sustainable material 决心. ”

Kuraray says a major theme in 2025 was the enhancement of recycled plastics and bio-based materials and began focusing its impact modifier portfolio on sustainability, recyclability, and performance enhancement. Its Septon and Hybrar TPEs are being promoted for improving impact resistance and durability in recycled PE/PP having been designed to address degradation in recycled plastics. Alongside them stands the Septon BIOseries, specifically formulated for improving the impact resistance of PLA, making it more suitable for high-durability, bio-based extrusion applications. 

Kuraray table/sheet 示, 2025 year industry large trend is recycled plastics and bio-based material property can rise grade, enterprise already will impact resistant product R&D heavy poly sustainable property, can recycling property and property can improves and other direction. lower Septon  and  Hybrar TPE专 is improvement recycled PE/PP aging degradation design, can significantly improves polyolefin material impact resistant property can and resistant use property. meanwhile, Septon  bio-based series is improvement PLA impact resistant property can design, make its more suitable for high resistant bio-based extrusion molding application.

At K2025, the company highlighted the ISCC Plus-certified PMMA-based resin Parapet which allows the replacement of ABS/ASA plastics with high-performance acrylic making it possible to recycle rear lamps for the first time. “This process was previously considered unfeasible,” said Rammaru Funaoka, Specialist, PMMA Business Development at Kuraray Europe. “The composite materials, PMMA for the lens cover and ASA/ABS for the housing, are usually thermally fused, which makes it difficult to separate them. When manufacturing new rear lamps, ASA can be completely replaced by Parapet, eliminating the need to separate materials. Existing rear lamps, on the other hand, can be crushed without disassembly and recycled using Parapet impact modifier grades.” 

in 2025 year Germany K展 upper, Kuraray focus/key point through ISCC Plus certification Parapet  polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) （PMMA） resin. high property can acrylic resin can substitute/replace acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymer （ABS）/  acrylonitrile - styrene - acrylic ester copolymer （ASA） plastics, achieve automotive can recycling utilizing. Kuraray Europe  PMMA  business development expert Rammaru Funaoka table/sheet 示: “以往 this process by is difficult 以落. automotive 尾灯由 PMMA  lamp covers and  ASA/ABS  housing/shell hot composite/compounding formed, material difficult separation 离. using/adopting  Parapet  resin production full new 尾灯, can full substitute/replace  ASA 材 material, 省 材 material separation 离工序; waste 旧尾灯无需拆 understanding, 直接破碎 rear 搭配 Parapet  series impact resistant modifier can recycling again 造. ”

Engineering plastics

SK Functional Polymer the France-based manufacturer established in 2020 after SK Group’s acquisition of Arkema’s functional polyolefins business – has developed Lotader AX8900T, a new impact modifying additive for engineering plastics with a high content of epoxide groups (8% of glycidyl methacrylate), and which can also be used for rheology control and as a matting agent. Lotader AX8900T maintains good impact performance when it is combined with a non-reactive Lotryl EMA/EBA copolymer and has the ability to increase viscosity.

France SK function polymer company （2020  year SK Group acquisition Arkema function property polyolefin business rear formed 立） R&D 出Lotader AX8900T new type engineering plastics impact resistant agent. product has high content ring oxygen 基团（含8% methacrylic acid sink marks ester ）, meanwhile tool control and light function, Lotader AX8900T and non reaction type Lotryl EMA/EBA  copolymer mixed combined, in provide flow property meanwhile also can excellent impact resistant property can.

In polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) compounds, the company says the additive is very efficient at increasing melt strength and, combined with Lotryl 35BA40T, can be used to improve the impact resistance of PBT with limited increase of viscosity. Lotader AX8900T and Lotryl 40MA05T both offer high impact resistance in recycled HIPS, while otryl 28BA700T also increases the fluidity of engineering plastics such as PC/ABS while boosting impact resistance.

该 enterprise table/sheet 示, Lotader AX8900T应 used for PBT polymer 时, can has improves PBT melt strong/high degree,   and Lotryl 35BA40T复配, can in degree increase can front lower, significantly improvement PBT impact resistant property. Lotader AX8900T and Lotryl 40MA05T均 can large improves recycled high impact resistance polystyrene (PS) （HIPS） impact resistant property can; Lotryl 28BA700T则 can in reinforcement  PC/ABS  and other engineering plastics impact resistant property meanwhile, improves melt flow property.

At JEC World 2026, Xenia officially launched Xelamid, a new family of impact-modified compounds based on polyamide 11 and PA 12. Its balanced combination of high mechanical properties, lightness, and design flexibility, means Xelamid is well suited for applications in sports equipment, consumer goods, and industrial sectors. The modular nature of the portfolio provides versatile options for a variety of advanced applications, enabling designers and manufacturers to select grades tailored to specific requirements, said Xenia.

in 2026 year Europe JEC composite/compounding material upper, Xenia positive launch Xelamid full new impact resistant modified composite/compounding material, series material 基于PA11 and PA12, tool excellent force property can, light and design and other features, this in Xelamid suitable for 体育设施, product and industrial field/area. Xenia table/sheet 示, product block formulation can meet/satisfy type high made demand, ensure design and production 商按需选 type.

Developed to combine mechanical performance with low density, Xelamid consists of unfilled,impact-modified grades offering an optimised balance of stiffness, impact resistance, and energy absorption. The portfolio covers a range of performance levels across key parameters, with different compounds reaching up to 30% higher elongation at break or up to ten timesgreater impact resistance compared to standard polyamides. Selected formulations also reach a flexural modulus of up to 600 MPa and a tensile modulus of up to 700 MPa, delivering a combination of rigidity and structural stability.

Xelamid  featuring light amount property can 兼顾, filling impact resistant modified grade can achieve rigid property, impact resistant property and can property balanced. versus relatively general purpose type polyamide (PA), separation formulation fracture elongation most high improves 30%, impact resistant property can most high can 达十倍; selected grade flexural modulus most high 600Mpa, tensile modulus most high 700Mpa, rigid property and structure stability property 兼备.

“Compared to elastomer-modified materials based on short-chain polyamides such as PA 6, Xelamid ensures extremely low moisture absorption, reduced density, and high impact resistance, delivering stable and reliable performance even at low temperatures,” said Alfio Agostini, Key Account Manager at Xenia. 

Xenia large 客户经理Alfio Agostini称: “ versus relatively polyamide (PA) 6 and other short polyamide (PA) elastomer impact resistant modified material, Xelamid tool has low water absorption, more low density and high impact resistance property, in low temperature ring lower maintain stability can property can. ”

Styrenic focus

ELIX 158I from styrenics group Elix Polymers is an ABS-based impact modifier specifically developed to enhance the toughness of engineering plastics. Its morphology and phase distribution provides excellent performance at low temperatures, the company said, ensuring high impact resistance even under demanding conditions or stringent material specifications. A particularly valuable advantage is its effectiveness in formulations containing recycled content where it compensates for degradation or heterogeneity, restoring mechanical performance and enabling higher incorporation rates of recycled materials.

Elix Polymers group launch ELIX 158I  is 一款ABS基 impact modifier, R&D use improves engineering plastics tough property, product micro structure and versus distribution its excellent low temperature impact resistant property can, 严苛工况 and high standards material specifications lower still can maintain high toughness. especially suitable for recycled material formulation, can recycled material property can decrease and separation issues, force property can, make its can add more more content recycled material.

As part of its long term sustainability strategy, Elix Polymers also offers a growing range of compounds in the E Loop portfolio manufactured using certified circular and bio-based feedstocks, ensuring identical performance to virgin materials while contributing to a lower environmental footprint. All E Loop products are ISCC-Plus certified and follow the mass balance approach, guaranteeing traceability and transparency throughout the value chain. By combining advanced performance modifiers such as ELIX 158I with the sustainable E Loop product family, the company says it supports its customers in developing innovative, robust, and environmentally responsible material solutions. 

as is long sustainable development strategy separation, Elix Polymers company lower E Loop product series expand 容, using/adopting certification ring material and bio-based raw materials production, property can and material full 一致, meanwhile generate more low ring carbon 足迹. has E Loop  product ISCC-Plus certification, using/adopting quality balanced methods, ensure industry chain can property and transparent property. enterprise table/sheet 示, will ELIX 158I and other high modifier and sustainable E Loop product combined, can is 客户打造 innovation, resistant use environmental protection material solutions.

Ineos Styrolution has introduced three new modifier grades, Styroflex PG77, Styrolux VSA, and Styrolux VSD, providing compounders with a structured method of fine-tuning properties within existing formulations. At the centre of this threegrade system is Styroflex PG77 which improves impact strength and flexibility while enhancing compatibility between polymers that typically donot mix well. In blends of styrenic polymers and PE, it reduces phase separation and strengthens interfacial adhesion, resulting in more consistent mechanical performance and fewer formulation adjustments. It also delivers strong elastic behaviour, supporting demanding film and sheet applications. 

Ineos Styrolution company launch new type impact modifier: Styroflex PG77, Styrolux VSA and Styrolux VSD, is modified 厂商 现 has formulation provide fine 化调控 solution/scheme. product core is Styroflex PG77, can improvement impact resistant property and flexibility property, also can improvement versus polymer versus property. in styrene polymer and polyethylene (PE) blending system in, can decrease/reduce versus separation 离, reinforcement interface combined, force property can more stability, decrease/reduce formulation debugging cost, meanwhile tool color elastic property, high film and sheet/slice products.

Impact strength remains high under standard conditions, with performance decreasing below minus 20°C due to its lower butadiene content compared with conventional SBS materials. In filler-rich systems, the material interacts effectively with calcium carbonate, carbon black, ceramic particulates, carbon fibres, glass fibres, and natural fibres, while improved dispersion supports uniform mechanical properties and enables higher filler levels without compromising impact balance. It also improves melt flow and reduces internal stress during extrusion and injection moulding, supporting smoother production and consistent part quality. 

Styroflex PG77 in 常规工况 lower material impact strong/high degree excellent; its butadiene content low 于传统SBS, lower 20℃ below/following low temperature property can has decrease. in high filler system in, can and carbon acid 钙, 炭黑, powder 体, carbon fiber, glass fiber (GF) and fiber and other versus property 佳, filler dispersion property improves, in 不牺牲 impact resistant balanced front lower improve/increase filler add amount; meanwhile improvement extrusion and injection molding melt flow property, reduce internal stress, production more 顺畅, products quality more stability.

Styrolux VSA and Styrolux VSD complement PG77 with lower butadiene content, higher stiffness, dimensional stability, and optical clarity. Structural differences between the two grades allow precise adjustment of melt behaviour, particularly in film extrusion, thin sheet production, and thermoforming. In combination with PG77, they enable accurate balancing of stiffness, transparency, and surface performance. This system is compatible with a broad range of styrenic polymers including GPPS, HIPS, SBC, and SMMA, and shows partial compatibility with ABS, PC, PE, PP, and SAN. 

“The real value of this three-grade system lies in the added control it gives compounders,” said Dr Frank Eisenträger, Director Market Development at Ineos Styrolution. “It allows them to balance toughness, stiffness, and processing with greater precision, opening the door to new applications across multiple markets.” 

Styrolux VSA  and Styrolux VSD is PG77 补充 Model/Grade, tool has more low butadiene content, more high rigid property, dimensional stability and degree. grade structure can 精准调控 melt features, especially suitable for film extrusion, thin sheet/plate molding and hot molding process. 三者复配 can balanced material rigid property, transparent degree and surface property can, suitable for GPPS, HIPS, SBC, SMMA and other full range styrene material, and  ABS, polycarbonate (PC) （PC）, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), SAN也 tool separation versus property. Ineos Styrolution market development 总监Frank Eisenträger table/sheet 示: “ this grade combined system core value, in is blending provide more fine property can can force, can balanced tough property, rigid property and processing properties, more field/area full new application 场景. ”

Synergistic study

Kraton Polymers has carried out R&D work in modifying thermoplastic polyolefins (TPOs) with styrenic block copolymers (SBCs) and polyolefin elastomers (POEs) used together in a single formulation. These two families of polymers each bring distinct advantages and can create synergies to improve toughness, stiffness, and processing behaviour, while helping reduce overall material usage. Standard PP-based TPOs can be stiff and require improved flexibility and impact resistance in automotive interior trim and other applications. 

Kraton Polymers company thermoplastic property elastomer （TPOs）协同 modified research, through in formulation system meanwhile use SBC and POE. type polymer tool color, rear generate property can, in improves tough property, rigid property and processing properties meanwhile, also can reduce material overall use. PP基TPO rigid property high, in automotive inner 饰场景需 improves flexibility property and impact resistant property can.

SBCs are often used because they have a unique molecular structure that helps them act as performance boosters for TPOs. They can enhance toughness at lower levels compared to traditional impact modifiers, resulting in favourable toughness/stiffness balance. 

SBC凭借 its separation structure, as is TPO property can increase agent. versus ratio type toughening agent, SBC in more low add amount achieve high toughness, tool tough property and rigid property balanced.

“In our most recent study, we investigated the synergistic use of SBCs in combination with POEs and how these modifiers influence TPO behaviour, while explaining the key benefits for the industry,” said Kristof Verschueren, senior Market Manager at Kraton Polymers, Belgium. “Hydrogenated SBCs have traditionally served as impact modifiers in TPO compounds. Kraton G1657 and G1730 are specifically designed for PP modification. Although POEs are increasingly used as alternative modifiers, SBCs remain valuable as secondary components in combination with POEs, enhancing the impact/stiffness balance and improving melt flow.” 

Kraton Polymers ratio high grade market 经理 Kristof Verschueren table/sheet 示: “我们 most new research poly 焦于SBC and POE function mechanism, and modifier for TPO property can effect/influence, meanwhile analysis technology is industry belt/tape core value, hydrogen 化SBCs一直 is thermoplastic property elastomer impact modifier, Kraton G1657  and G1730 专门 is PP modified design, tube/pipe POE application day increase, 但SBCs as is 辅助组 separation and POE复配, still can 进一步 optimization impact resistant and rigid property balanced, improves melt flow property. ”

The company carried out a study on talc-filled TPO compounds based on a high-flow PP homopolymer (100 MFR) matrix. Each formulation contained 15 wt.% talc and 25 wt.% impact modifiers, comprising a blend of POE and SBC, with SBC content varying from 0 to 5 wt.%. Results showed a three- to five-fold improvement in notched Charpy impact strength at both room temperature and -30° C when 5 wt.% SBC (G1657 or G1730) was incorporated, compared with formulations containing only POE. SBC addition also improved melt flow relative to POE-only formulations. The study also revealed that both G1657 and G1730 demonstrated synergy with low-density POEs, enabling optimised TPO performance for various industry applications and providing balanced performance/cost, said Kraton.

该 company high flow homopolymer polypropylene (PP) （ melt flow rate  100） is 基材, slip powder filling thermoplastic property polyolefin formulation research: has formulation solid slip powder add amount 15%, impact resistant modifier add amount  25%, polyolefin elastomer and styrene copolymer 复配, its in styrene copolymer ratio  0~5%. testing 结果显示: room temperature and lower 30℃ ring lower, add 5%科腾 G1657  or  G1730  formulation, 简支梁 notched impact strength relatively pure polyolefin elastomer formulation improves 3~5倍, melt flow property 也同步 improvement. research 证实, G1657, G1730 均 can and low density polyolefin elastomer formed good 协同, more industry thermoplastic property polyolefin made demand, achieve property can and cost most excellent balanced.

PLA modification

PLA bio-based polymer was first introduced to consumers in food service ware and packaging because it was biodegradable in industrial composting facilities. However, the impact strength and heat tolerance of the material is quite low, making it inadequate for more demanding applications. There are many commercially available materials used as impact modifiers for PLA. TPU elastomers with both polyether and polyester soft segments are compatible, while olefin elastomers like polybutadiene, ethylene-propylene, and EPDM, can also be functionalised and blended with PLA.

PLA is bio-based material, most 初凭借 industrial can material degradation features, used for device tool and packaging field/area. 但PLA本身 impact resistant strong/high degree low, heat resistant property 差, difficult meet/satisfy high 端严苛 use demand. currently already has more specialized poly acid impact resistant modifier: polyether, polyester soft thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) （TPU） elastomer and versus property good; poly butadiene, 乙丙橡胶, ternary 乙丙橡胶 and other elastomer function modified rear, can and poly acid blending modified.

Using Green Dot’s Terratek Flex compostable elastomeric bioplastic in PLA has been shown to increase impact strength and flexibility while enhancing compostability, according to the company. Terratek Flex is a proprietary patent pending starch-based compostable elastomer verified by SGS Fresenius Laboratories to meet US (ASTM D6400) and EU (EN 13432-08) standards for biodegradability in industrial composting facilities. 

Green Dot table/sheet 示, will lower can elastic property material plastics Terratek Flex添 add poly acid in, can improves material impact resistant property, flexibility property and material degradation property can. Terratek Flex is types 基于淀 powder can elastomer, currently positive patent stage/phase, 经 SGS Fresenius实验室 certification, combined USA ASTM D6400 and 欧盟EN 13432-08  industrial 堆肥生 material degradation standards.

To study its use in detail, Green Dot compounded PLA with Terratek Flex at 10%, 20%, and 30%, and sent the samples to an independent laboratory where they were moulded and tested using ASTM standards. Notched Izod Pendulum Impact tests showed an incremental increase in impact strength at the 10% and 20% levels with greater increases in impact strength achieved between the 20% and 30% levels. Impact strength increased from 0.549 ftlb/in in the 10% sample to 0.66 ftlb/in in the 20% sample, then jumped to 1.82 ftlb/in for the 30% loading level. Un-notched Izod tests showed comparable results. 

is amount modified 效果,  Green Dot按10%, 20%, 30%  ratio/proportion will Terratek Flex and PLA blending made 样, 委托独立实验室 based on  ASTM  standards injection molding testing. 悬臂梁缺口 impact testing table/sheet 明: 10%, 20%添 add ratio/proportion lower impact strong/high degree property growth, 20%至30%区间 increase large rise; impact strong/high degree from 10%添 add amount 0.549英尺・磅/英寸 rise 至20% 0.66英尺・磅/英寸, 30%添 add amount more is rise 至1.82英尺・磅/英寸, 无缺口 impact testing and impact versus 近规律.

“From 0% to 20%, the increase is very linear,” noted Green Dot’s Product Development Manager, Mike Parker. “After 20%, however, we see a much more exponential increase in the impact strength of both the notched and un-notched test results. This feature allows the engineer to customise the properties of the final resin and provides a certain degree of control to their cost to performance ratio.

Green Dot company product development 经理Mike Parker说道: “ from 0% to 20%, impact strong/high degree property improves, ultra- 20% rear, and 无缺口 Sample impact strong/high degree 均呈指数 grade growth. this features 便于材 material engineering made resin most property can, meanwhile 精准调控 cost and property can ratio. ”