μ-Sq beads act as micro-sponges and can absorb every metal of the periodic table as well as other small organics, such as fragrances and organic anti-bacterials. They are the right size and shape, and are robust enough, to be compounded into polymers. They can be used as a delivery vehicle to carry chemical actives into polymer, or rubber, matrices.

Please refer to Extended Applications for an example of the containment and slow release of ammonium phosphate from polymer fibres with the aid of μ-Sq beads.

μ-Sq beads can be added to thermoplastics up to and equalling 4% w/w without any detrimental effect on the physical properties of the plastic. They can be added up to and equalling 15% w/w in rubbers without effect on the rubber.

Loaded μ-Sq beads do not require any special processing or change to the plastic moulding procedure. They can be dispersed with the desired thermoplastic and added directly into the compounding chamber before being moulded.

The following image shows a 3 mm x 1 mm compounded pellet of polypropylene containing 0.5% w/w μ-Sq beads.

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Being black in colour, the beads do have a colouring effect on any white / colourless thermoplastic.

This can be masked through the addition of a few percent of another strong colour, as indicated in the following images. Injection moulded flow lines can be used to create a patterned effect if using a combination of white and coloured additives.

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Fragranced thermoplastics

μ-Sq beads can absorb at least their own weight in fragrance formulation and can be used as an additive to incorporate fragrances into thermoplastics. Thus far, fragranced disks of HDPE, PP, POM, ABS, PA-6, PVC, PMMA, TPE and PBT have been prepared by injection moulding techniques.

Please contact us if you would like to enquire more about the use of μ-Sq beads as fragrance carriers in thermoplastics and / or you wish to receive a fragranced plastic disk sample.

Exilica exclusively uses fine fragrances from Seven Scent.

Anti-bacterial additives

μ-Sq beads can absorb both silver and non-silver (organic) based anti-bacterial agents and can be used to incorporate anti-bacterial agents into thermoplastics. The following graph shows the surface bacterial count for Staphylococcus aureus treated polypropylene disks (Control) with (Test) and without (Blank) benzylalkonium chloride loaded beads.

Hollow silica shells can also be used in similar situations. The following graph shows the surface bacterial count for Staphylococcus aureus treated polypropylene disks (Control) with (Test) and without (Blank) Vantocil AG (Arch Chemicals) loaded shells.

Please contact us if you would like to enquire more about the use of either μ-Sq beads or Hollow silica shells as anti-bacterial carriers in thermoplastics.