HECOPLAST Kunststoffadditive GmbH
About us
At HECOPLAST® we have been developing and producing plastic additives with special value since 1996 As experts for plastic additives, we are passionately dedicated to the individual issues of our customers in the plastics processing industry and inspire them with our products.
Internationally operating customers from the cosmetics, packaging, closure, pharmaceutical and household goods industries rely on our additives. We know their different industry requirements.
With expertise, experience, curiosity, ambition and fun in what we are allowed to do every day, we find the perfect solution for every application with even the most customer-specific problem. Always together with and for our customers. With our self-confident claim and promise “Anything goes. Always. One way or another”, we are happy to pull the chestnuts out of the fire.
If there is not yet a suitable additive in our extensive portfolio, our research and development department is happy about the new challenge. By listening, thinking and being open, we support our customers quickly and competently in their development and production goals.
With innovative addition, we influence the values and properties of plastics. However, there are values that are so important to us that we live them unchanged in our work: Honesty, flexibility, humanity and reliability. No additives are needed for this basis of a good and long-lasting cooperation.
Products & services
HECO®PRO Scratch resistance modifier
Even the smallest scratch can ruin the flawless appearance of the most beautiful plastic surface. To prevent unappealing scratches from occurring in the first place, plastic surfaces can be given special protection. The PRO in HECO®PRO stands for Protection, because our additives protect plastic surfaces from scratching by improving scratch resistance. Short-term and long-term solutions are available for ensuring the surface scratch resistance of polymers. We use different additives depending on the plastic used and the desired effect. For high-quality plastic products, such as interiors in the automotive industry, our polysiloxane-based HECO®PRO additives are used. HECO®PRO 010 P is our universally applicable additive, which improves the surface scratch resistance of plastics long term and ensures that the visually desired effect lasts for a long time. Our additive can be used for various polymers such as polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides and polycarbonates.
HECO®FOAM Foaming agent
Our HECO®FOAM additives foam plastics and are particularly suitable for applications in extrusion and injection moulding. Parallel to foaming, they level out possible sink marks so that unwanted cavities do not occur in the plastic and an even surface is achieved. The additives we have developed react as purely chemical, endothermic blowing and nucleating agents. Forming gas through heat supply which penetrates the plastic and literally inflates it. To give the selected HECO®FOAM blowing agent the required kick – and your plastic the desired foaming effect – we select the activation temperature to match your individual processing temperature. Our HECO®FOAM foaming and nucleating agents may foam big, but they are anything but “hot-air”. HECO®FOAM 900 C is our versatile blowing agent – in powder form. With this purely chemical, endothermic foaming and nucleating agent, our customers achieve an extremely fine and consistent cell structure at can be used for various polymers. HECO®FOAM 940 PE is supplied as a granule and is suitable not only for polyethylene but also for polypropylene. The activation temperature of the additive is 160°C. At a processing temperature of 220°C, the gas yield is at its optimum. Let us boost your plastic together.
HECO®CLEAN CLEANING AGENT
HECO®CLEAN cleaning agents are mixtures of plastics and additives that optimally clean plastics processing machines – whether screws, barrels or hot runners in injection moulding, extrusion or blow moulding. Our additives do not require any admixture or subsequent material for rinsing – hence cleaning require less time, cost money and does not impair the quality of the plastics. They can be used in a wide temperature range and have no abrasive effect, which prevents wear of the screw and barrel. For our cleaning agents, we rely exclusively on rheologically effective components that promote the sliding and flow of the polymer melt. In this way, deposits, ink residues and other fission products are broken down and reliably discharged from the machine with the help of the downstream pressure. With HECO®CLEAN cleaning agents such as HECO®CLEAN 4 PE and HECO®CLEAN 4 PP you get a plastic additive that is exactly right for your processing procedure – both products can also be used for PA, PVC and PET.
HECO®NOX Antioxidant
It doesn’t always take high heat, even at normal room temperature polymers can already start corroding – not only during processing but also in the finished product. Thermal influences not only cause skin to age more quickly and wrinkles to appear, plastics are not spared either. The result: cracks and embrittlement. At first, the polymer chains are attacked on the inside, they break and react with oxygen. Later, the embrittlement is also noticeable and visible on the outside – the plastic façade crumbles and loses its colour brilliance. We counteract this ageing process of plastics through heat-related decomposition with two different types of our HECO®NOX antioxidants – preferably as a heat-resistant rejuvenating combination: Radical Action – Primary antioxidants act as radical scavengers and prevent the oxidation of the long polymer chains with oxygen. Smooth action – Secondary antioxidants act as peroxide decomposers to dissolve aggressive peroxides and stop the decomposition of the plastic smoothly. Whether as a primary antioxidant such as HECO®NOX 604 PS or as antioxidant mixtures such as HECO®NOX 625 PE and HECO®NOX 605 PA – with our HECO®NOX antioxidants, plastics become thermally stable, live longer and remain supple. By the way, our thermostabilising additives are often used with recycled material so that the second plastic life also remains “wrinkle-free” for as long as possible.
HECO®STAB UV/Light protection
Intensive UV and light irradiation can permanently damage plastics. Fading, embrittlement and unsightly cracks are the downside of extensive sun exposure. Excessive sunlight makes our skin glow cancer red. Plastic, on the other hand, turns yellow and loses its colour due to too much exposure to light. In both cases, the right sun protection prevents this. Our HECO®STAB UV/light protection additives have only a slight inherent colour themselves, but are a real bright spot. Our additives are based on a combination of UV absorbers and HALS (Hindered Amine Light Stabilizer) as an effective light stabiliser. UV absorbers convert absorbed UV radiation into heat. They do not protect the polymers themselves, but the products for which the plastic acts like a sunshade. HALS (Hindered Amine Light Stabilizer) are sterically hindered amines that interrupt and further prevent the degradation of polymers accelerated by light irradiation. So that your plastic will experience many more summers, we ensure its light resistance. Pretty bright, isn’t it? HECO®STAB UV/light stabilisers such as the UV absorber HECO®STAB 311 PE have a thermostable effect and protect against signs of ageing and UV radiation. HECO®STAB 318 PP shields the end product in the packaging from negative UV radiation as a pure UV absorber. With our additive HECO®STAB 372 PP, the plastic product itself is protected by a pure light stabiliser.
HECO®SLIP - Slip agents for the plastics industry
HECO®SLIP - Slip agents for the plastics industry. With our HECO®SLIP additives, we set the course for your plastics to move through any processing procedure as if by themselves, always staying on track. As internal and external slip and demoulding agents, they have precisely the desired properties required for your production processes. As internal slip agents, our HECO®SLIP additives, which are easily soluble in the plastic, influence the flow properties of the polymer melt by reducing its viscosity – with no influence on the processing temperature. The increased slip properties improve the demoulding of the polymers in production. At the same time, internal slip agents reduce shear forces and temperature peaks so that the plastic is not pre-damaged during processing. As external slip agents, our HECO®SLIP additives act on the surface of the plastic, where they migrate out of the polymer during and after processing. Migrating to the surface, they create an invisible, permanent slip film. The SLIP effect obtained – the special sliding properties of the plastic – either reduces friction or improves the separation of surfaces . HECO®SLIP 114 PP migrates slowly as an external slip agent and creates a permanent slip film on the polymer. Our customers in the packaging industry in particular stick to the anti-block properties. HECO®SLIP 103 PO is our sliding all-rounder for the closure industry. A universal slip and release agent that also has an antistatic effect. HECO®SLIP 150 PE convinces our customers in the medical products sector with outstanding anti-blocking properties for smooth production processes. We are just waiting for your signal to start with your plastics processing.
HECO®NUK nucleating agents bring order to the crystal structure of your plastics and improve their strength.
HECO®NUK nucleating agents for the plastics industry. A diamond is the ordered structure of carbon. It is only through high pressure that the ordered structure is achieved, bringing with it the purity and strength of the diamond. Our HECO®NUK nucleating agents also achieve an ordered crystalline structure in plastics – completely without pressure, but with equally high strength. With our HECO®NUK nucleating agents, we increase the nucleation number in the crystallisation of polymers. The reduced crystallite size improves the transparency and mechanical properties of the polymer. The plastic raw diamond is polished by our HECO®NUK additives in order to shine with its new strength. Our HECO®NUK additives act as organic and inorganic nucleating agents. They can be used pure or in combination with a demoulding agent. Depending on the polymer, we will work with you to select the right additive for your processing workflow. These three nucleating agents stand out in our portfolio: HECO®NUK 425 PE is an inorganic nucleating agent that is used in combination with a demoulding agent that also supports demoulding in the processing stage and increases the output in the injection moulding machine. HECO®NUK 484 PP shines as an organic nucleating agent in combination with a demoulding agent. HECO®NUK 487 PP iis our pure organic nucleating agent without the demoulding agent. Both additives ensure freedom from distortion and stabilisation of opening forces in the closure industry. We would also be pleased to provide the special finishing touch for your plastics. Let us boost your plastic together.
HECO®STAT antistatic agents reduce the electrostatic charge of plastic products and thus their attraction to dust.
HECO®STAT Antistatic agents for the plastics industry. When plastics discharge, it can really crackle. In film production, our antistatic additives ensure that the finished films do not stick together when they are unrolled and do not even start to crackle. Any electrostatic charge is prevented by our antistatic antistatic agents. In the case of plastic bottles, the antistatic effect is reflected in the fact that no dust is attracted. HECO®STAT antistatic agents reduce the electrical surface resistance of polymers. Available as long-term antistatic agents and as short-term antistatic agents – and in combination-, they have exactly the antistatic properties you need for your plastics. Lightning fast – short term antistatic agents act immediately by gradually migrating to the plastics surface. In contact with atmospheric moisture, a dissipative hydrophilic film is formed. The electrostatic charge can thus be dissipated more quickly, but does not last forever. Whip smart – long-term antistatic agents have an antistatic effect that remains on the plastic’s surface for a very long time. Due to the dissipative structure of the additives the static charge of the plastics is discharged. Our HECO®STAT antistatic agents strike like lightning. HECO®STAT 210 PE is used everywhere as a short-term antistatic agent for packaging, even for food. HECO®STAT 290 can be sprayed on as a long-term antistatic agent in the form of a self-prepared aqueous solution during film production. If you want to rely on the highly effective combination of short-term and long-term antistatic agents, choose between HECO®STAT 223 PE oder HECO®STAT 224 PP. We won’t let you and your plastics down!
HECO®FLAM flame retardants, your plastics can withstand fire and flame.
HECO®FLAM flame retardant for the plastics industry. When customers burn for our product, which is very positive. What must not burn, however, is the customers’ product itself. To ensure that the finished plastic products only catch fire with difficulty or not at all, our flame retardants have a flame-retardant effect. Our HECO®FLAM 575 PE and HECO®FLAM 581 PE flame retardants contain halogens that form radicals. Since halogens are very reactive, they bind to the hydrogen in the air and act as hydrogen halides like a diluting agent. The result: a flame-retardant effect for the polymer. Halogen-containing flame retardants work very efficiently and effectively. They contain chlorine, bromine and fluorine, but can be used in a very targeted way and in small dosages. Our new HECO®FLAM 590 PP is the first in a series of halogen-free flame retardants. Due to better environmental compatibility and the fulfillment of common fire protection standards, it can be used in applications that prohibit the use of halogen-containing flame retardants Our flame retardants can be used for both polyethylene and polypropylene. As flame-retardant additives, they don’t let anything burn and protect your polymers from fire and flames.
Grow your green mind with our HECO®GREEN
Sustainability and recycling are the major topics of our time. We are also rising to the challenge. Come to our stand and get to know the HECO®GREEN product world.
HECO®ELAST effect modifier
With our HECO®ELAST additives, plastics can be upgraded both visually and haptically. Because what looks good should also feel good. With our effect modifiers in granulate form for polyethylene and polypropylene, we can achieve various desired effects. The individual effects can be combined. The popular soft-touch effect ensures that the plastic looks more matt and feels pleasantly soft at the same time. With our HECO®ELAST 708 PO, our customers from the toy industry can achieve the desired soft plastic surface. With the frost effect, we can make transparent plastics look like a frozen water surface. Our HECO®ELAST 706 PO is used for plastic products that optically go for the frosty look. Our additives not only optimise the look, HECO®ELAST additives also influence the elasticity properties of the plastic. If a polymer is desired to be more elastic, but the strength of the plastic itself should still be given, this can be achieved with our effect modifiers. The hose industry, for example, relies on elastic and at the same time stable plastics. We will be happy to advise you so that you too can enhance your plastics with the desired effect.