Milliken & Company, a supplier of polymer bound colorants and additives for polyurethanes (PUs), has announced that it will feature its expanding portfolio of unique, fully reactive polymer additives at UTECH North America 2016 in booth #748. These industry-leading materials are designed to help customers increase performance, improve aesthetics and preserve the long-term quality of PU systems – all without contributing to chemical emissions.

“Milliken’s advanced additive technologies provide a comprehensive range of solutions to the leading challenges our customers face,” said Jesse Shoultz, global market manager for Performance Colorants & Ingredients at Milliken & Company. “Our customers are our top priority and whether they are looking to improve ultraviolet stability, reduce emissions or enhance aesthetics, our ever-broadening portfolio of additives can help them cost-effectively meet their most pressing needs.”

A primary focus of Milliken’s exhibit will be its award-winning Milliguard AOX-1 antioxidant for PU, which addresses increasingly stringent environmental, health and safety requirements while delivering outstanding thermal stabilization performance at low loadings. It offers a unique solution by contributing negligible volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and outgassing condensation (FOG); provides unparalleled efficiency in stabilizing free radicals that can degrade PU foam; and is highly synergistic with other antioxidant classes. This high-performance material also gives polyol producers and foam manufacturers a powerful tool for producing interior vehicle components such as seats, door trim, carpet, instrument panels, headliners and consoles.

Milliken’s Reactint® colorants, the most widely used polyurethane coloring system in the world, will also be highlighted at the Milliken booth. This unique technology is a 100 percent homogenous liquid that is soluble in polyol and will not settle over time. Reactint colorants are fully compatible with all types of PU systems and offer high color strength vs. pigment dispersions. They are also easy to use and have in-line blending capabilities that enable manufacturers to quickly respond to changing market demands.

Also on display are Milliken’s high-performance Milliguard® UVX reactive ultraviolet (UV) stabilizer and the company’s AlphaSan AF antimicrobial additives. Milliguard UVX improves UV performance and is VDA 278 compliant, making it well suited for highly demanding PU and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) applications, including elastomers, coatings and stay-white PU foam parts. AlphaSan AF antimicrobial additives are stable dispersions that utilize zinc pyrithione to provide cost-effective antimicrobial and antifungal performance in foam applications, such as sponges, furniture, mattresses and pillows.

Milliken representatives will be on hand in the company’s booth to discuss these products and their complete family of performance colorants and ingredients.

UTECH North America 2016 will be held at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C. from April 6-7.