Venator, a UK-based chemical firm, has created a new liquid pigment masterbatch technology. The new Hombitan LQ range is based on the company's established titanium dioxide (TiO2) platform and is optimized for delustering PET fibers from plastic bottles that will be re-spun into polyester and used to make items such as footwear and clothing.

This novel process can be used to quickly, cleanly, and efficiently whiten recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers.

Venator is introducing two new products: Hombitan LQ White 100, which is designed for semi-dull recycled PET fibers, and Hombitan LQ White 130, which is designed for full-dull fibers. Both products are straightforward to use and provide various benefits over solid (pelletized) masterbatch pigment solutions for small-scale recycled PET projects undertaken on a single extrusion line.

Hombitan LQ products can be simply implemented into an extrusion line when dosed using a precision pump. Hombitan LQ products offer a larger solid pigment content than pelletized solutions because they are seamlessly homogenized into a recycled polymer melt, allowing fiber makers to utilize a far smaller amount to obtain equivalent whiteness and opacity outcomes.

In a press statement, the company stated that Hombitan LQ products are designed to endure temperature changes and pressure variations during processing, delivering great consistent whiteness – minimizing the shine of recycled fibers that may be deemed ugly in some garments.

The company added in addition, Hombitan LQ products don't need to be pre-processed, which saves time and money for fiber manufacturers. Unlike pelletized masterbatches, which must be dried and crystallized before use, Hombitan LQ products are delivered in easy-to-store barrels and are ready to use right away. Because of their liquid nature, Hombitan LQ products may also be utilized near spinning operations.

Global business director, specialty pigmentary TiO2 - fibers & films at Venator, Xandra Blaser, said it is currently usual to utilize recycled PET to make fibers for footwear, textiles, and garments. This trend has been gaining traction in recent years, and it mirrors manufacturers' larger corporate sustainability goals of reducing their reliance on virgin materials, lowering their carbon footprint, and repurposing items that would otherwise wind up in landfills. Our Hombitan LQ product line is designed to help these clients increase their environmental efforts. Their Hombitan LQ product range is designed to help these clients increase their environmental efforts.

Blaser added by combining their deep understanding of the fiber spinning process with liquid TiO2 technology, they've developed a liquid TiO2 technology that can assist fiber makers in achieving the high-quality end results they desire from the PET they've recovered. Hombitan LQ is the first in a series of new liquid-based solutions aimed at making the use of TiO2 and other additives in a variety of applications and industries easier.

Venator manufactures a variety of pigments and additives for the fibers and textiles industry in addition to Hombitan LQ. TiO2 was used to deluster a variety of fiber polymers, including polyester, polyamide, viscose, and polyacrylonitrile, while Hombright S-ID (BaSO4) was used to make bright yarns that were more stable in manufacturing and spun quicker.