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.

在塑料行业转型进入到以循环经济为目标、轻量化以及严格的安全法规为核心的新阶段，抗冲剂成为改性厂商的核心技术手段。再生塑料在汽车领域日益普及，兼具轻量化和高耐久性的结构性材料需求持续攀升，进一步推动了汽车市场的繁荣。耐用家居和工业制品也开始大量使用再生塑料，同时对材料的抗冲性能提出硬性要求。然而，消费后回收塑料在回收过程中经历的热历史会导致机械性能下降，必须加添加剂或抗冲改性剂来恢复或提升抗冲强度。除了PCR材料应用的技术难题，改性厂商们正在寻求改善生物基塑料、工程塑料和苯乙烯材料的抗冲性能。

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公司最近推出Nymax REC 6000高抗冲再生聚酰胺改性产品，共包含22个牌号。该系列助力企业践行循环经济目标，降低产品碳足迹，同时性能可媲美全新原生聚酰胺。产品添加工业再生料（PIR）比例可达42%-93%，在满足企业可持续发展目标的同时，兼顾优异的抗冲击性、耐用性与尺寸稳定性。

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款配方包括8款未填充牌号和14款玻纤增强（玻纤最高添加量30%），每款产品可定制不同温度和要求的抗冲性能。依托经 TÜV 认证、符合 ISO 14067 标准的Avient的碳足迹计算，该系列产品相比原生材料的碳足迹可降低83%，广泛应用包括汽车、建筑建材和消费行业。

“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公司欧洲、中东及非洲地区特种工程塑料高级市场和产品经理Hermann Fuechter说道：“Avient很荣幸能为客户提供兼顾可持续发展目标与高端使用性能的解决方案。Nymax REC 高抗冲击产品组合，彰显了我们持续创新、研发适配市场需求的可持续材料的决心。”

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表示，2025年行业的一大趋势是再生塑料和生物基材料的性能升级，企业已将抗冲产品线研发重心聚焦于可持续性、可回收性和性能提升等方向。旗下的Septon 和 Hybrar TPE专为改善再生PE/PP的老化降解而设计，可显著提升聚烯烃材料的抗冲性能和耐用性。同时，Septon 生物基系列专为改善PLA抗冲性能而设计，使其更适用于高耐久生物基挤出成型应用。

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.” 

在2025年德国K展上，Kuraray重点展出通过ISCC Plus认证的Parapet 聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯（PMMA）树脂。该高性能丙烯酸树脂可替代丙烯腈-丁二烯-苯乙烯共聚物（ABS）/ 丙烯腈-苯乙烯-丙烯酸酯共聚物（ASA）塑料，首次实现汽车尾灯的可回收利用。Kuraray欧洲 PMMA 业务开发专家Rammaru Funaoka表示：“以往这一工艺被认为难以落地。汽车尾灯由 PMMA 灯罩与 ASA/ABS 壳体热熔复合而成，材料难以分离。采用 Parapet 树脂生产全新尾灯，可完全替代 ASA 材料，省去材料分离工序；而废旧尾灯无需拆解，直接破碎后搭配 Parapet 系列抗冲击改性剂即可回收再造。”

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.

法国SK功能聚合物公司（2020 年由SK集团收购阿科玛功能性聚烯烃业务后成立）研发出Lotader AX8900T新型工程塑料抗冲剂。该产品含有高含量的环氧基团（含8%甲基丙烯酸缩水甘油酯），同时兼具控制流变和消光功能，Lotader AX8900T与非反应型Lotryl EMA/EBA 共聚物混合，在提供流动性的同时还可以维持优异抗冲性能。

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.

该企业表示，Lotader AX8900T应用于PBT聚合物时，可有效提升PBT的熔体强度， 与Lotryl 35BA40T复配，能在黏度增幅可控的前提下，显著改善PBT抗冲击性。Lotader AX8900T与Lotryl 40MA05T均可大幅提升再生高抗冲聚苯乙烯（HIPS）的抗冲击性能；Lotryl 28BA700T则可在增强 PC/ABS 等工程塑料抗冲击性的同时，提升熔体流动性。

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.

在2026年欧洲JEC复合材料展上，Xenia正式推出Xelamid全新抗冲改性复合材料，该系列材料基于PA11和PA12，兼具优异的力学性能、质轻和设计自由等特点，这意味着在Xelamid适用于体育设施、消费品及工业领域。Xenia表示，产品模块化配方可以满足各类高端定制需求，确保设计师和生产商按需选型。

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 主打轻量化于性能兼顾，无填充抗冲改性牌号可以实现刚性、抗冲性和吸能性的平衡。相较通用型聚酰胺，部分配方断裂伸长率最高提升30%，抗冲击性能最高可达十倍；精选牌号弯曲模量最高600Mpa、拉伸模量最高700Mpa，刚性与结构稳定性兼备。

“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大客户经理Alfio Agostini称：“相较于聚酰胺6等短链聚酰胺弹性体抗冲改性材料，Xelamid具有极低吸水率，更低密度和高抗冲性，即便在低温环境下也保持着稳定且可靠的性能。”

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集团推出的ELIX 158I 是一款ABS基的抗冲改性剂，专门研发用来提升工程塑料的韧性，产品特殊的微观结构和相态分布赋予其优异的低温抗冲性能，严苛工况与高标准材料规格下仍能保持高韧性。特别适用于含再生料配方，可弥补再生料性能衰减和组分不均的问题，恢复力学性能，使其可以加入更多含量的再生料。

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. 

作为长期可持续发展战略的一部分，Elix Polymers公司旗下的E Loop产品系列继续扩容，采用经认证的循环材料和生物基原料生产，性能与原生料完全一致，同时产生更低的环境碳足迹。所有的E Loop 产品经过ISCC-Plus认证，采用质量平衡核算方式，确保整个产业链的可追溯性和透明性。企业表示，将ELIX 158I等高端改性剂与可持续E Loop产品结合，可为客户打造创新、耐用且环保的材料解决方案。

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公司推出三款新型抗冲改性剂：Styroflex PG77, Styrolux VSA和Styrolux VSD，为改性厂商的现有配方提供精细化调控方案。三款产品的核心为Styroflex PG77，既能改善抗冲性和柔韧性，又可改善不相容聚合物间的相容性。在苯乙烯聚合物与聚乙烯共混体系中，可减少相分离、增强界面结合，力学性能更稳定，减少配方调试成本，同时具备出色弹性，适配高端薄膜与片材制品。

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在常规工况下材料冲击强度优异；但因其丁二烯含量低于传统SBS，零下20℃以下低温性能略有衰减。在高填料体系中，可与碳酸钙、炭黑、陶瓷粉体、碳纤维、玻纤及天然纤维等相容性佳，填料的分散性提升，在不牺牲抗冲击平衡的前提下提高填料添加量；同时改善挤出与注塑成型的熔体流动性、降低内应力，生产更顺畅、制品质量更稳定。

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 和Styrolux VSD是PG77的补充型号，具有更低的丁二烯含量、更高的刚性、尺寸稳定性和透度。两款牌号结构差异可精准调控熔体流变特性，尤其适用于薄膜挤出、薄板材成型及热成型工艺。三者复配可精准平衡材料刚性、透明度与表面性能，适用于GPPS、HIPS、SBC、SMMA等全系列苯乙烯材料，与 ABS、聚碳酸酯（PC）、聚乙烯、聚丙烯、SAN也具备部分相容性。Ineos Styrolution市场开发总监Frank Eisenträger表示：“这款三牌号组合体系的核心价值，在于为共混厂商提供更精细的性能调控能力，可精准平衡韧性、刚性与加工性能，开拓多领域全新应用场景。”

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公司开展热塑性弹性体（TPOs）协同改性研究，通过在同一配方体系同时使用SBC和POE。两类聚合物各具特色，复配后产生协同性能，在提升韧性、刚性和加工性能的同时，还可以降低材料的整体使用。传统的PP基TPO刚性偏高，在汽车内饰场景需提升柔韧性和抗冲性能。

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凭借其独特分子结构，常作为TPO的性能增效剂。相比传统型增韧剂，SBC在更低添加量实现高韧性，兼具韧性和刚性平衡。

“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比利时高级市场经理 Kristof Verschueren表示：“我们最新研究聚焦于SBC和POE的协同作用机理，以及改性剂对TPO性能的影响，同时解析该技术为行业带来的核心价值，氢化SBCs一直是热塑性弹性体的传统抗冲改性剂，Kraton G1657 和G1730 专门为PP改性而设计，尽管POE的应用日益增加，但SBCs作为辅助组分与POE复配，仍可进一步优化抗冲击与刚性平衡，提升熔体流动性。”

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.

该公司以高流动均聚聚丙烯（熔体流动速率 100）为基材，开展滑石粉填充热塑性聚烯烃配方研究：所有配方固定滑石粉添加量15%、抗冲击改性剂总添加量 25%，聚烯烃弹性体与苯乙烯嵌段共聚物复配，其中苯乙烯嵌段共聚物占比 0~5%。测试结果显示：室温及零下30℃环境下，添加5%科腾 G1657 或 G1730 的配方，简支梁缺口冲击强度较纯聚烯烃弹性体配方提升3~5倍，熔体流动性也同步改善。研究证实，G1657、G1730 均可与低密度聚烯烃弹性体形成良好协同，适配多行业热塑性聚烯烃定制化需求，实现性能与成本的最优平衡。

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为经典生物基材料，最初凭借工业堆肥可生物降解特性，应用于餐饮器具与包装领域。但PLA本身抗冲击强度低、耐热性差，难以满足高端严苛使用需求。目前市面已有多款专用聚乳酸抗冲击改性剂：含聚醚、聚酯软段的热塑性聚氨酯（TPU）弹性体与之相容性良好；聚丁二烯、乙丙橡胶、三元乙丙橡胶等烯烃弹性体经功能化改性后，也可与聚乳酸共混改性。

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表示，将旗下可堆肥弹性生物塑料Terratek Flex添加至聚乳酸中，可同步提升材料抗冲击性、柔韧性与生物降解性能。Terratek Flex是一种基于淀粉的可堆肥弹性体，目前正处于专利申请阶段，经 SGS Fresenius实验室认证，符合美国ASTM D6400及欧盟EN 13432-08 工业堆肥生物降解标准。

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. 

为量化改性效果， Green Dot按10%、20%、30% 比例将Terratek Flex与PLA共混制样，委托独立实验室依据 ASTM 标准注塑测试。悬臂梁缺口冲击测试表明：10%、20%添加比例下冲击强度呈线性增长，20%至30%区间的增幅大幅跃升；冲击强度从10%添加量的0.549英尺・磅/英寸升至20%的0.66英尺・磅/英寸，30%添加量更是飙升至1.82英尺・磅/英寸，无缺口冲击测试呈现与缺口冲击相近规律。

“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公司产品开发经理Mike Parker说道：“从0%到20%，冲击强度呈线性提升，超过20%后，缺口与无缺口试样的冲击强度均呈指数级增长。这一特性便于材料工程师定制树脂最终性能，同时精准调控成本与性能配比。”