Blog

Filler masterbatch (also known as calcium carbonate masterbatch or taical) is the most common plastic filler in the plastic industry. It is hard to deny that the importance of filler masterbatch has not decreased over the years. They go with the development of manufacturing and processing technologies for plastic products. So, what properties do plastic fillers have that are so widely used? Let’s learn about the fillers that have contributed to the success of EuP.

1. What makes filler masterbatch's current position in the plastics industry?

The essential ingredient of filler masterbatch is CaCO3 - which is very popular and widely used in many manufacturing industries. Not only in the plastic industry, but CaCO3 is also a commonly used material in other industries and production around the world. The 4 reasons why calcium carbonate (CaCO3) makes up the "position" of filler masterbatch will be listed below:

• Firstly, the source of this material is abundant and spread in many regions around the world. The abundance of reserves allows the exploitation of CaCO3 to be unrestricted, leading to low cost and stable supply over a long period of time.
•  Secondly, calcium carbonate has a moderate hardness, not too soft but still not too hard, making it easy to process, and can be finely ground into powder or into larger sizes.
•  Thirdly, CaCO3 is also effective in reducing the pressure of plastic melting when shaping. In addition, when used in production, CaCO3 is a relatively good stabilizer, which will help improve the bubble in the production of plastic beads. This helps the product achieve a smoother and more beautiful flat surface. 
•  Finally, CaCO3 is chemically compatible with many other substances, so manufacturers can combine it with a various types of plastic. In short, thanks to CaCO3, filler masterbatch brings a lot of economic value to the manufacturer, both in terms of quantity, production capacity, and product quality.

1.1. What efficiency does Filler masterbatch bring to the plastic industry?

KWhen used as a plastic additive, in addition to replacing a part of raw materials so that manufacturers can reduce production costs to the maximum, filler masterbatch also helps plastic products increase hardness and durability, adhesion as well as impact resistance. In addition, the aesthetics of the end product is also significantly increased because the CaCO3 in the taical can improve and correct the gloss and opacity of the surface. At the same time, adding CaCO3 to plastic products also increases their surface printability.

2. What are the outstanding properties of Filler masterbatch produced by EuP?

2.1. Filler masterbatch has natural CaCO3 ingredients

Filler masterbatch has the main ingredient CaCO3 - a compound available in nature. They are found both in geological deposits and in the biology of living organisms. Calcium carbonate is an indispensable ingredient in eggshells and shells of marine organisms (oyster shells, sea shells, snail shells, and even corals). However, the main resource supplying CaCO3 comes from limestone quarries. In nature, CaCO3 exists in three main crystalline allotropes: calcite, aragonite, and vaterite. However, due to the suitability of calcite's crystalline structure, it is the most commonly used type because it has the most commercial applications.

2.2. The physical properties of filler masterbatch come from the properties of CaCO3

As a high-content ingredient in filler masterbatch, pure calcium carbonate is solid (usually in the form of a fine powder), white and odorless with a melting point ranging from 800 to 1400oC. Their molecular mass is 100.087 g/mol.

2.3. Chemical properties of filler masterbatch affected by CaCO3

The reason that manufacturers can widely use filler masterbatch in plastic production is that the chemical properties of both CaCO3 and plastic are not changed when mixed with many different types of resins and additives. In addition, calcium carbonate is also insoluble in water, stable at room temperature, and reacts only with some strong acids (such as HCl), moderate (such as sulfamic), or weak acids (acetic, citric, phosphoric, etc.). lactic, sorbic). Thanks to these properties, plastic products made from taical beads will be applied in a variety of fields, including those that focus on user safety such as the food and beverage industry.

3. Filler masterbatch is made from which common types of CaCO3?

In the filler masterbatch industry, people classify CaCO3 into two forms: coated CaCO3 and uncoated CaCO3. Coated CaCO3 is mainly mined from limestone or white marble quarries with high purity, only the uncoated CaCO3 differs in that they are coated with a fatty acid (stearic acid) and a binder (Titanate Coupling Agent) onto the surface. In general, the physical and chemical properties of these two types of CaCO3 are not significantly different. Most of the physical properties like whiteness, brightness, moisture content, weight, pH, etc. no change at all. Only with oil absorption, the uncoated CaCO3 is much better (30.08g/100g compared to the coated CaCO3 which is only 18.71g/100g). Below are the indicators indicating the physical properties of CaCO3: 

• Whiteness: as low as 98%
• Brightness: as low as 96%
• Humidity: the highest is 0.2%
• Gravity: 2.7g/cm3
• Specific surface area: 4.23 – 4.72m2/g

In addition to their chemical composition, apart from the presence of stearic acid, there is no difference:

• Calcium carbonate (CaCO3): 98.5%
• Silicon Oxide (SiO2): 03%
• Magnesium Oxide (MgO): 0.02%
• Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3): 0.02%
• Iron Oxide (Fe2O3): 0.02%

4. Application of filler masterbatch in the plastic industry

In production, filler masterbatch is mixed with a variety of plastic types, from hard plastic, flexible plastic to thermoplastic. The applications of taical beads are numerous. Application of injection molding with this masterbatch are food wrap used in supermarkets, shopping bags, garbage bags, agricultural wrappers, etc.