Rotomolding is a versatile manufacturing process that allows the production of large hollow plastic parts. It provides the advantage of design flexibility with low capital investment. However, rotomolding also requires long cycle times and is energy and labor intensive. With the increasing use of rotomolding products in outdoor applications, the ability to meet the ever-increasing demand for higher productivity, lower energy consumption and longer life expectancy can be a challenge.

Playground made by rotomolding

Almost all polymers are prone to oxidation under heat, shear stress and UV light during the production, storage and use. Oxidation degradation will change the molecular structure of the polymer, which will affect the appearance and mechanical properties of the final products (such as tensile strength and elongation, impact strength and toughness), and even lead to product failure. A proper stabilization system can protect the products during processing and use, reduce or delay the oxidation of polymers to maintain their original molecular weights and molecular weight distributions, slow down the decline of mechanical properties and appearance of products, and prolong the service life.

Compared to highly automatic processing methods like extrusion and injection molding, the major limitation of rotomolding is its long cycle time, which greatly restricts its productivity and application for large production runs. In the rotomolding process, bubbles are formed from the air trapped between powder particles, the trapped air will gradually diffuse out of the melt during the sintering and densification process until an optimum cure is achieved. The processing conditions of rotomolding are also much more severe due to the prolonged exposure of the polymer melt in the air. As a result, effective stabilization solutions are essential to protect the polymer and maintain good physical properties during processing and service life.

Water tank made by rotomolding

Irgastab^® IS 2515/IS 2580 are breakthrough stabilization systems designed specifically for polyethylene rotomolding resins to improve productivity during the molding process and extend the service life expectation of the end products.

The benefits at a glance: 

Greater productivity with significant energy savings through faster polymer densification

• Shortens cycle-times to reduce the energy consumption

• Broadens the processing window

• Faster bubble removal to enhance mechanical properties

Long-lasting protection against solar radiation

• Enable UV 8-12+ with Irgastab^® IS 2580

• Enable UV 16-20+ with Irgastab^® IS 2515

Significant sustainability benefits

• Reduced energy consumption from shorter cycles

• Extends the durability of the end product

• Saves time and material during production

Meets market and legislation requirements

• Broad food contact compliance

Irgastab^® IS 2580/IS 2515 can be used in many rotomolding applications, such as playground entertainment equipment, storage tanks, traffic barriers, etc. With the new stabilization solutions, the customer can produce a premium grade of rotomolding PE resins with broader processing window and better performance during processing and use. These two products have been successfully applied to the production of PE rotomolding grade in Asia, which greatly improve the quality of rotomolding parts and enhance the market competitiveness of the products. 

Success story in Asia: https://www.basf.com/hk/en/who-we-are/sustainability/innovating-for-sustainability/basf-plastic-additives-protect-scarce-water-in-drought-hit-regio.html

For more information, please contact BASF：jianping.yang@basf.com

Rotomolding is a versatile manufacturing process that allows the production of large hollow plastic parts. It provides the advantage of design flexibility with low capital investment. However, rotomolding also requires long cycle times and is energy and labor intensive. With the increasing use of rotomolding products in outdoor applications, the ability to meet the ever-increasing demand for higher productivity, lower energy consumption and longer life expectancy can be a challenge.

Playground made by rotomolding

Almost all polymers are prone to oxidation under heat, shear stress and UV light during the production, storage and use. Oxidation degradation will change the molecular structure of the polymer, which will affect the appearance and mechanical properties of the final products (such as tensile strength and elongation, impact strength and toughness), and even lead to product failure. A proper stabilization system can protect the products during processing and use, reduce or delay the oxidation of polymers to maintain their original molecular weights and molecular weight distributions, slow down the decline of mechanical properties and appearance of products, and prolong the service life.

Compared to highly automatic processing methods like extrusion and injection molding, the major limitation of rotomolding is its long cycle time, which greatly restricts its productivity and application for large production runs. In the rotomolding process, bubbles are formed from the air trapped between powder particles, the trapped air will gradually diffuse out of the melt during the sintering and densification process until an optimum cure is achieved. The processing conditions of rotomolding are also much more severe due to the prolonged exposure of the polymer melt in the air. As a result, effective stabilization solutions are essential to protect the polymer and maintain good physical properties during processing and service life.

Water tank made by rotomolding

Irgastab^® IS 2515/IS 2580 are breakthrough stabilization systems designed specifically for polyethylene rotomolding resins to improve productivity during the molding process and extend the service life expectation of the end products.

The benefits at a glance: 

Greater productivity with significant energy savings through faster polymer densification

• Shortens cycle-times to reduce the energy consumption

• Broadens the processing window

• Faster bubble removal to enhance mechanical properties

Long-lasting protection against solar radiation

• Enable UV 8-12+ with Irgastab^® IS 2580

• Enable UV 16-20+ with Irgastab^® IS 2515

Significant sustainability benefits

• Reduced energy consumption from shorter cycles

• Extends the durability of the end product

• Saves time and material during production

Meets market and legislation requirements

• Broad food contact compliance

Irgastab^® IS 2580/IS 2515 can be used in many rotomolding applications, such as playground entertainment equipment, storage tanks, traffic barriers, etc. With the new stabilization solutions, the customer can produce a premium grade of rotomolding PE resins with broader processing window and better performance during processing and use. These two products have been successfully applied to the production of PE rotomolding grade in Asia, which greatly improve the quality of rotomolding parts and enhance the market competitiveness of the products. 

Success story in Asia: https://www.basf.com/hk/en/who-we-are/sustainability/innovating-for-sustainability/basf-plastic-additives-protect-scarce-water-in-drought-hit-regio.html

For more information, please contact BASF：jianping.yang@basf.com