Functional fillers

UPM BioMotion™ are wood-based renewable functional fillers (RFF) from UPM Biochemicals for innovative and sustainable solutions in the chemical industry.

Given the urgent need to reduce CO₂ emissions from rubber products, they offer a sustainable alternative to replace the two dominant fossil-based fillers in rubber products - carbon black and precipitated silica.

The Portfolio is based on biochemicals produced from certified sustainable and regional hardwood and sawmill waste in a biorefinery in Leuna. 

The UPM BioMotion™ products can make a significant contribution to improving the sustainability of end-use applications in the rubber industry, in particular through weight reduction and significantly lower CO₂ emissions. The functional fillers are mainly used in elastomers, which are used in various applications including the automotive industry, floor coverings and shoe soles. 

The production process is patent-protected and unique worldwide.  

In addition to the improved carbon footprint, UPM BioMotion™ products also have greater purity. Furthermore, they enable a weight saving of up to 25 percent in rubber applications compared to fillers based on fossil raw materials. For the automotive industry in particular, weight savings mean higher mileage, lower costs and an additional reduction in CO₂ emissions.

Only recently, the European Rubber Journal ranked these products as number one in the top 10 projects for new, sustainable elastomers. Furthermore, UPM Biochemicals' investment in the biorefinery in Leuna has made it to the finalists in the competition for the German Corporate Sustainability Award 2022 and has been shortlisted for Chemical Week's Sustainability Awards.

Based on its specific surface area ranging from 10 m²/g – 40 m²/g, they fall into the category of semi-reinforcing functional fillers. Due to the polar nature of its surface, RFFs show a strong interaction and reinforcement in polar rubbers, like NBR, AEM, ACM, and FKM. In non-polar rubbers, like EPDM, SBR, or NR, typically lower levels of reinforcement are achieved in direct comparison to traditional functional fillers with similar specific surface areas

Currently, there are three grades to offer with a different specific surface area between 10m²/g and 40m²/g. There is ongoing development to expand the product range shortly

They are available in pellet (granulate) format. They should be stored in a clean, dry space away from exposure to high temperatures, open flames. Pelletized Grades are much easier to handle due to significantly better flow and conveying properties. They would be commercially available in big bags (2m³) and low melting PE bags (EVA) ranging from 5kg to 20kg.

MISTRON^© Talc Series products are functional minerals, not simple fillers.

MISTRON^© VAPOR products provide the rubber formulator with flexibility to balance the benefits of improved processability with higher product performance. MISTRON^© VAPOR products occupy a unique position in the rubber industry and have been used succesfully for more than 50 years.

MISTRON^© VAPOR is an ultra-fine, micro-lamellar, highly pure, hydreated magnesium silicate specifically developed for the rubber industry. Its platy morphology, organophilic nature, high aspect ratio and surface area result in superior reinforcement and rheology plus permeability resistance for thermoset rubbers.

MISTRON^© VAPOR is an extremly soft mineral with a Mohs hardness of one. This property reduces wear on processing equipment compared with other minerals. MISTRON^© VAPOR has less than 0.2% absorbed water, which eliminates pre-drying and allows it to be used in liquid-medium cure systems without encountering porosity problems. MISTRON^© VAPOR is an electrical insulator and chemically resistant mineral eliminating electrochemical degradation in window seals and hoses plus providing solutions in wire and cable.

•   Reduced Mixing Times
•   Lower Compound Viscosities
•   Reduced Heat Generation
•   Superior Compound Flow
•   Improved Extrusion Rate and Quality
•   Better Dispersion of Reinforcing Fillers
•   Reduced Elasticity / Nerve
•   Higher Green Strength

.. Reinforcement improving ...

•   Tensile Properties
•   Tear Properties
•   Fatigue Performance
•   Flaw Resistance
•   Improved Thermal Performance
•   Superior Weathering

... Improvement for wire and cable

• Chemical and Electrochemical Resistance
• Electrical Insulating Properties

New Innovative MISTRON© HYPERPLATE™ ULTRA for Superior Barrier Performance

MAGRIS TALC has recently developed a higher aspect ratio HYPERPLATE™ talc for superior barrier performance. In extensive studies multiple talc grades has been tested and  MISTRON^© HYPERPLATE™ ULTRA was found to be the best performer in Gas Permeability (ASTM D1434) and DeMattia Flex Crack (ASTM D813) against the most commonly used Carbon Black Control and Clay. MISTRON^© HYPERPLATE™ ULTRA's gas permeability is 3 times lowerand also sustained about twice the amount of DeMattia Flex Cycles when compared to the Carbon Black Control.

Our parnter and supplier BRISIL has developed a patented process for the resource-efficient production of "green" silicas from biomass (rice husks - rice-husk ash), which are used as functional fillers in tyres, shoe soles, conveyor belts and cables. The following types are available: