When it comes to material additives, Radical Materials have made it their mission to be as reactive as possible. In an ever-evolving world, technologies and processes have to adapt to changing legislation, practices and trends within the industry in order to stay relevant.
In response, Radical Materials has created a diverse portfolio of services to suit many different business sectors.
The company began life as SteriTouch in 1993, quickly making a name for itself as the go-to brand for antimicrobial additives. An antimicrobial product will restrict the growth of bacteria, biofilm, fungi and mould. By harnessing the antimicrobial properties of numerous biocidal components, additives can be created for use in almost any material. From plastics and rubber to paints and fabrics, antimicrobial additives are introduced where hygiene, performance or aesthetics are important.
When deciding on whether or not to incorporate antimicrobial additives into a product, it all boils down to need vs demand. Companies delivering antimicrobial solutions deal with customers who either need antimicrobial protection due to stringent regulations or want it to enable them to stand out from the competition. To say an already functional and aesthetically pleasing product now has added antimicrobial protection can be a fantastic marketing tool.
Scopic is another material additive brand that now sits underneath the Radical Materials umbrella. Scopic provides detectable masterbatches and compounds that are suitable for use in most plastic & rubber materials. They can be any combination of X-ray opaque, metal detectable, laser detectable and antimicrobial, with the use of the aforementioned SteriTouch technology. We are seeing more and more cases of product recalls due to a foreign body making its way into the food chain. Aside from the costs and reputation damage involved in such incidents, there are also health and wellbeing considerations to be made. Scopic detectable additives don’t just enhance the performance of products – when used in conjunction with standard Inline detection equipment; they also eliminate health risks associated with foreign body contamination.
Scopic have recently seen a greater demand for their in-house testing services. In cases becoming more frequent, developers of detectable products are looking for extra validation when it comes to detectability. These validation tests typically take place at the sites of the machine manufacturers themselves. However, Scopic has taken advantage of the gap in the market. By offering bespoke testing services as well as producing masterbatches and compounds, Scopic is able to utilise their knowledge base to improve upon detectability within food processing environments.
The third material additive brand underneath the Radical Materials banner is Konduct – a range of thermally conductive compounds and masterbatches to solve all thermal management challenges. Unlike antimicrobial technology that has to be tested in order to confirm its effectiveness, making a polymer thermally conductive has an immediate impact on the product. It couldn’t be a better time for thermally conductive products, based on the rise of more intricate electronic systems and electric vehicles. By dispersing the heat away from battery packs known to reach high temperatures, Konduct thermal additives are the solution to a growing issue.
Damian Harvey, Business Development Manager for Radical Materials, commented: “The plastic industry has changed dramatically in the last few years as public awareness has focused on plastic waste and single-use products. There needs to be some balance and clarity from every sector involved in plastic production as to the best way forward and for us to remember that not all plastics are bad. The cars we drive and the planes that transport us have all benefited from the use of plastics in their construction and will continue to do so as we strive for zero emissions and cleaner fuel supplies.”
If you are interested in any of Radical Materials’ innovative additive technologies, please visit www.radicalmaterials.com or feel free to contact us via info@radicalmaterials.com.
