Experts discussed the present and future of compounds at a conference in Moscow

The conference “Present and future of compound materials. Manufacturing techniques of high-tech materials procession” took place in Moscow for the first time within the Russian Industrial Week and became one of the key professional events of the month. For two days on 20 and 21 October in online and offline formats experts discussed matters of current interest, priority areas of research and development of compounds, demand for which is rising 3 – 5% per year.

Mikhail Katsevman, Head of R&D of R&P POLYPLASTIC, the leading Russian compounder, participated in the event in an online format.

“The conference focused on polymer composite materials and that was absolutely legitimate. Demand for polymer compounds is constantly rising which underlines their top role in innovative industrial development. Unfortunately, lack of a number of raw components as well as near absence of Russian plastics procession equipment results in almost 20% of imported goods. However, there is high potential for import substitution. Taking into account the current international situation connected with the COVID-19 pandemic we have to transform our primary objective – moving from active import substitution to technological independence of this industry sector in Russia. This was also emphasized at the conference,” said Mikhail Katsevman.

It is worth mentioning that R&D products competitive to foreign counterparts already exist in Russia. In the previous years, R&P POLYPLASTIC mastered production of prospective compound materials based on super construction polyphenylene sulfide polymer under Termoran and Armoten brand names. These unique materials can substitute many other compounds based on thermoset composites taking into account their capability of being processed by injection moulding. In his report Pavel Dobretsov, representative of Techprom-NGS Ltd., emphasized successful development of utilizing PVC-compounds. However, this clearly demands further mastering of Russian raw materials base which may be sufficiently developed in the following years with governmental support.

Another achievement of Russian science is the creation of polymer compounds with the use of nanotechnologies: antistatic electro conductive materials compounds under the Armamid brand name based on polyamide-6 with insertion of graphene nanotubes TUBALL™. This innovative nano compound is aimed at simplifying and reducing the cost of technological process of auto manufacturing. Fenders and other exterior parts will be produced from thermoplastic polymers by injection molding instead of metal sheets. A separate line for painting polymer parts will not be necessary: electro dispersive compounds give the opportunity to paint the vehicle body online.

“The Russian plastics procession market has great prospectives: consumption of polymers per capita in 2019 did not exceed 50 kg whereas in Western countries this figure amounts to 100 kg. Localization as a measure of national protectionism shall be the main driver for development in the coming years,” noted Mikhail Katsevman, R&P POLYPLASTIC.

Expert added that in order to achieve these goals events like the Moscow conference are very important: they bring together representatives of government authorities as well as scientific institutions, suppliers of raw materials and producers of end goods creating a wide information field for all parties concerned.