Evonik (Essen / Germany; www.evonik.com) has introduced “Spherilex” 60 AB and “Spherilex” 30 AB – two new grades of precipitated silica for use as anti-blocking agents in manufacturing plastic films. Anti-blocking agents help facilitate film winding operations and improve their handling properties during subsequent processing. Both grades are produced by a new and patented process that makes it possible to achieve spherical particle shape, controlled particle size and narrow particle size distribution.

Spherilex 60 AB is for standard films based on Polyethylene and polypropylene. Spherilex 30 AB is for very thin films such as biaxially oriented films. Both can be used in blown and cast films including PE, PP, PET and PA. Evonik, one of the leading silica manufacturers, has around 1m t/y production capacity for all silica-based products.