new process for inorganic pigment production

MATERIALS

New process for inorganic pigment productionQuebec-based company Fermag has developeda patented hydrometallurgical process allowingthe conversion of hazardous waste dusts fromsteel mills into environmentally friendly, high-performance metal oxide-based industrial pig-ments. Following a lengthy research and devel-opment process dating back to 1991, the com-pany recently inaugurated a pigment productionplant in Sorel-Tracy, based on the technology.The produced pigments will be marketed underthe registered trademark Ferrinov™ and areintended for the international markets of paint,plastics and magnetic inks, Fermag says. A totalinvestment of C$7.5 million was required toachieve this technological breakthrough.

Ferrinov pigments are complex iron oxidesbelonging to the mineralogical family ofspinels. They are formed as components of sub-micronic dusts generated by the melting of steelat around 1600°C in electric arc furnaces.Fermag’s process involves decontamination ofthese dusts and separation into different frac-tions through a hydrometallurgical process thatisolates ferrites and magnetites from heavy met-als. The recovered ferrites and magnetites con-stitute the majority of the original mass of dust,the company says. All the operations in the pro-duction of Ferrinov pigments are carried out ina safe, aqueous environment and require lowenergy input – only 15% of the energy used byconventional processes, according to Fermag.

The ferrite and magnetite pigments producedwith the Fermag technology are reported to behighly resistant to corrosion and heat as a resultof the stable spinel atomic architecture. Theircharacteristics are also reproducible and uni-form. According to the company, the unusuallevels of performance of these pigments stemfrom the originality of the technology and theraw material, both of which are completely dif-ferent from those used by competitors. Extensivetests indicated that Ferrinov pigments are asgood as the best anti-corrosion and heat-resistantpigments available on the market, it says.

The supply of raw materials for the pigmentplant is assured through agreements with NorthAmerican steel mills. Fermag believes the newtechnology can avoid the disposal of significantvolumes of industrial wastes in hazardous wastelandfill sites. Moreover, heavy metals extractedfrom the treated dust, notably zinc and lead, arerecovered to be reintroduced in different com-mercial networks. The technology allows for thereuse of 85% of the initial mass of dust. Theresidual wastes are constituted of silica, carbonand mineral salts, which can be disposed ofwithout environmental risk.

Contact: Fermag, 1075, Côte du Beaver Hall,Rm 200, Montreal, Quebec, H2Z 1S5, Canada;tel: +1-514-866-0321; fax: +1-514-954-8818;e-mail: ferrinov@ferrinov.com; URL: www.fer-rinov.com

Techmer PM develops releaseagent for blown filmTechmer PM has introduced a new release agentformulated for use in all PE blown films.However, Techsperse™ PM1369E1 is particular-ly designed for use in films for release tapes, toavoid problems where the tape does not releaseeasily enough or does not release at all from thesubstrate it is covering, the company says.

Techsperse PM1369E1 is an FDA-grade additivethat contains no silicone-based ingredients.Avoiding the use of silicone also eliminates therisk of hazing in clear films, Techmer says. Therelease agent is suitable for pouches and packagescontaining foods, pharmaceuticals or medicalinstruments. Supplied in LDPE carrier-resin pel-lets, the new additive can be used in tapes andother blown-film products as well. Typical load-ing is 5%, according to Techmer, but this can varydepending on the applications’ specific needs.

Abe Mor, Techmer’s VP of Technology, says thatthe company has also recently developed releaseaid formulations for other resin systems on a cus-tom basis depending on each individual film sup-pliers’ needs.

Contact: Techmer PM Global Marketing, 18747Laurel Park Rd, Rancho Dominguez, CA 90220,USA; tel: +1-310-632-9211; fax: +1-310-886-3485; URL: www.techmerpm.com

Additives for Polymers May 2005

2