The formulation and processing of thermoplastics, usually called compounding, has been the basis for making a broad assortment of thermoplastic compositions.  These specific formulations are geared to providing specific properties or functions which are not inherent in the base polymer.  Contributions from compounding are made in every type of base polymer from making the base polymer easy to extrude, to just making it extrudable, to giving it better properties, to giving it distinct properties and to making it something which fulfills a unique application.  Compounding expands the possibilities with any base resin.

The value added to a thermoplastic resin through compounding is what drives those in the compounding business to create and improve base polymers to provide more and better uses for the base resin.  While it takes a great deal of time and resources to introduce a new polymer that has value, the time is considerably shorter to give our customers a base resin with desired properties for their particular need.  Compounding companies fine tune and tailor specific resins for desired end use needs.  For example, the commodity resins benefit from the multiple uses they serve through the additives, processing and specific packages they contain through compounding.  Polyethylene without slip and antiblock would never allow a film to be used at high speeds in  packaging lines.

Custom compounds are the life blood of compounding companies where making materials for new uses or demanding regimens, gives birth to new technology.  When a company is seeking to sell or use a thermoplastic in high volume and they may not have the expertise or the proper equipment, compounding companies provide toll compounding services where the company requesting services owns the material and the compounding company processes the material to meet the end user's specifications.  Toll compounding is often done for large polymer producers who have lesser amounts of non-standard grades of their products, a place for joint cooperation between large and smaller companies.

A new area of compounding that has emerged has been the creation of a new polymer composition by reacting polymers and other reactants in an extruder, typically a twin screw extruder, where the processing can be carefully controlled.   Some polyurethane producers use this method for making TPU's.  The possible compositions and different properties vs. cost are growing, providing another path for enhancing the technology used in compounding.  Look for polymer development from compounding.