Hybrid Ti+Zr neoalkoxy compound with pyrophosphate ligand; specialty grade; 100 kg make-to-order.

SZ-97 is a titanate-zirconate hybrid neoalkoxy compound — a single molecule containing both Ti(IV) and Zr(IV) centres bridged by neopentyl-glycolate ligand backbone, with a pyrophosphato ester acting as the filler-anchor functionality on the Zr side and a chelating diol acting as the polymer-compatibility extension on the Ti side. The structure is best understood as Kenrich LICA-97’s “two-headed” coupling architecture: the molecule presents a Ti-OR coupling face and a Zr-OR coupling face, allowing it to bind preferentially to whichever filler surface chemistry is most accessible. Molecular weight ~720 g/mol (theoretical for the active species; commercial formulations include carrier solvent). SEMITECH supplies SZ-97 as a clear amber to red-brown viscous liquid at ≥75% active content with combined Ti+Zr metal content of 9.5–10.5% as TiO₂+ZrO₂, phosphorus content 3.5–4.5%, water content ≤0.3% by Karl Fischer.

SZ-97 is functionally equivalent to Kenrich LICA-97 (Ligand-Inserted-Coupling-Agent series). SEMITECH supply pricing: ex-Zhejiang spot CNY 95,000–120,000/MT (USD 13.3–16.8/kg) — a high-margin specialty grade reflecting the chemistry complexity and lower production volume. Kenrich LICA-97 distributor pricing North America USD 22–32/kg landed — a smaller landed-cost differential of 25–35% compared to other zirconate grades (the production economics narrow at low volumes). The grade is made-to-order with 2–4 week lead time and 100 kg MOQ; bulk orders ≥500 kg may negotiate price down to CNY 85,000–100,000/MT range with extended lead time.

Ti moiety binds CaCO₃ surface; Zr moiety binds ATH/MDH surface; bridging ligand creates single network across mixed-filler particles.

In compounds where multiple filler chemistries are present in unpredictable ratios — typical of post-consumer-recycled (PCR) plastic compounds where source-stream variation produces commingled CaCO₃ + ATH + talc + GCC fractions — single-mechanism coupling agents underperform because they bind effectively to one filler chemistry but ignore the others. SZ-97 solves this by presenting both Ti-O coupling capability (effective on CaCO₃, dolomite, calcium hydroxide) and Zr-O coupling capability (effective on ATH, MDH, alumina, basic oxides) on the same molecule. As the compound mixes during twin-screw extrusion, the SZ-97 molecules diffuse to filler surfaces and bind by whichever face is most reactive at each particular filler particle.

• Loading 0.5–1.0 phr — PCR wire & cable compounds with mixed CaCO₃+ATH filler stream
• Loading 0.7–1.0 phr — recycled engineering plastic compounds with talc+CaCO₃ filler
• Loading 0.5–0.8 phr — multi-filler structural composites (specifically formulated dual-filler systems)
• Loading 1.0–1.5 phr — high-loading recycled compounds where filler ratios drift batch-to-batch

The performance benefit is most pronounced in the PCR plastic compounding context: a typical PCR-PE wire jacket compound from mixed-stream cable scrap might contain 25% CaCO₃, 15% ATH, 5% talc, 5% other inorganics — totaling 50% mixed filler. With SZ-12 phosphate alone (effective on ATH but sub-optimal on CaCO₃), tensile retention is 70–80% of virgin compound and LOI 28–30. With SZ-97 hybrid coupling, tensile retention rises to 85–95% and LOI to 30–32 — a 15–25% mechanical-property improvement and 2–3 LOI unit improvement that justifies the SZ-97 cost premium when PCR content is targeted at 30%+ of the total compound. Compounders running post-consumer-recycled (PCR) PE wire & cable compounds report 15–25% improvement in tensile retention and 5–10 unit increase in LOI compared with single-mechanism coupling agents.

PCR wire & cable (largest), recycled engineering plastics, multi-filler structural composites, dual-filler intumescent.

Post-consumer-recycled (PCR) wire & cable compounds are the largest single application driver — recycled PE and EVA cable scrap streams contain unpredictable mixes of CaCO₃, ATH, MDH, and talc fillers from the original commingled cable mix. Cable recyclers running PCR jacket compound use SZ-97 at 0.7–1.0 phr on filler weight to deliver compound performance close to virgin-grade despite the variable filler content. The economic case: PCR content commands 20–40% lower raw-material cost than virgin polymer, and a 30% PCR content compound saves USD 200–500/MT depending on resin pricing — easily justifying the SZ-97 cost premium of USD 50–100/MT compound (at 1.0 phr loading on a 50% filler compound).

Recycled engineering plastic compounds for non-critical automotive interior parts, household appliance housings, and consumer electronic enclosures use SZ-97 at 0.7–1.0 phr to bridge the variable filler chemistry from recycled PA, PBT, and ABS streams. Multi-filler structural composites — specifically formulated dual-filler systems combining a primary reinforcement filler (talc, mica) with a secondary cost-reduction filler (CaCO₃) — use SZ-97 at 0.5–0.8 phr to provide effective coupling to both filler types, allowing the compound to capture both the mechanical benefit of the primary filler and the cost benefit of the secondary filler. Dual-filler intumescent coatings combining an APP-PER-melamine intumescent system with talc or CaCO₃ rheology modifier use SZ-97 at 0.5–1.0% to provide effective coupling to both the intumescent filler chemistry and the rheology filler chemistry.

Avoid SZ-97 in single-filler compounds where a simpler grade would work — for ATH-only HFFR compounds specify SZ-12 (Kenrich NZ-12 eq.); for MDH-only specify SZ-44 (Kenrich NZ-44 eq.); for CaCO₃-only specify SZ-TPZ (Kenrich NZ-01 eq.) or a titanate; for waterborne specify SZ-2 (Bacote eq.). SZ-97 is over-specified — and over-priced — for single-mechanism coupling needs.

Make-to-order; CoA per shipment; 100 kg MOQ; 2–4 week lead time; nitrogen-blanket discipline; 12-month shelf life.

SEMITECH issues a CoA on every batch with: combined TiO₂+ZrO₂ assay (gravimetric ignition followed by ICP-OES separation, target 9.5–10.5%), phosphorus content (ICP-OES, target 3.5–4.5%), Ti:Zr molar ratio (ICP-OES, target ~1:1 ± 0.05), active content (titration, target ≥75%), water content (Karl Fischer, target ≤0.3%), APHA colour, density, and viscosity. SZ-97 is a make-to-order specialty grade — not stocked inventory. Lead time 2–4 weeks ex-Zhejiang from confirmed PO; the production runs are batched monthly at 200–500 kg lots based on order book. MOQ 100 kg per order. Standard packing 25 kg HDPE jerrycans under dry nitrogen blanket; 200 kg lined steel drums for ≥500 kg orders.

Storage: nitrogen-blanket sealed below 25°C; re-blanket headspace after every draw; consume opened drums within 30 days; shelf life 12 months sealed. The hybrid molecule is more chemically complex than single-metal zirconates and shows a slightly faster activity drop-off if stored above 30°C — production scheduling should align inventory consumption to within 6 months of receipt for high-precision PCR compounding applications. Cost positioning: SZ-97 Q1 2026 ex-Zhejiang spot CNY 95,000–120,000/MT (USD 13.3–16.8/kg); Kenrich LICA-97 distributor pricing North America USD 22–32/kg landed, Europe USD 25–38/kg — 25–35% landed-cost discount for SEMITECH supply (smaller differential than other zirconate grades because of the lower production volumes and chemistry complexity). Bulk orders ≥500 kg negotiate down to CNY 85,000–100,000/MT range with extended lead time. Health and regulatory: SZ-97 is REACH-registered; SDS in EU/GHS format issued with every shipment. Mildly skin and eye irritant; flammable solvent carrier (n-propanol or n-butanol) flash point 35–40°C. Standard PPE — nitrile gloves, splash goggles. The titanate-zirconate hybrid chemistry has no specific food-contact or medical-device qualification — for regulated applications use a single-mechanism alternative with documented compliance pathway.

SZ-97 is the dual-mechanism specialty zirconate — Kenrich LICA-97 equivalent for mixed-filler compounds where filler chemistry is unpredictable. Standard solution for PCR wire & cable, recycled engineering plastics, and multi-filler structural composites. 100 kg MOQ make-to-order, 2–4 week lead time, 25–35% landed-cost discount vs Kenrich. For single-filler compounds use the simpler SZ-12 / SZ-44 / SZ-TPZ / SZ-2 alternatives.

Make-to-order specialty grade; CoA per batch; 100 kg MOQ.