Additives for Plastics Handbook

J. Murphy

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2001
• Print ISBN:
  9781856173704
• Edition: 2
• eBook ISBN:
  9780080498614
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Materials Science
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Both technically and economically, additives form a large and increasingly significant part of the polymer industry, both plastics and elastomers. Since the first edition of this book was published, there have been wide-ranging developments, covering chemistry and formulation of new and more efficient additive systems and the safer use of additives, both by processors in the factory and, in the wider field, as they affect the general public. This new edition follows the successful formula of its predecessor, it provides a comprehensive view of all types of additives, concentrating mainly on their technical aspects (chemistry/formulation, structure, function, main applications) with notes on the commercial background of each. The field has been expanded to include any substance that is added to a polymer to improve its use, so including reinforcing materials (such as glass fibre), carbon black and titanium dioxide. This is a book which has been planned for ease of use and the information is presented in a way which is appropriate to the users' needs.

CHAPTER 1

An Overview of Additives

From the very beginnings of the plastics industry, it has been necessary to add materials to a basic polymer resin in order, at least, to make it processable. It has also been clear that additive materials are necessary to modify a resin, to improve properties that are desirable, and to eliminate or mitigate properties that are undesirable. In developing additive systems, the plastics industry has learnt much from the earlier experience of the rubber industry, but the pace of development responding to market needs has produced research in completely new fields, developing additive systems using new chemistry.

While the plastics industry is a major user of additives, it is not the only one. Additives overall can be classified as follows:

For plastics, the range of additives is very large, involving the improvement of many properties:

Table 1.1

Types and uses of additives

Type	Main applications
Additives	Products, normally used in small quantities, which enhance the value of materials such as plastics, paints, colour prints, and lubricants, by improving their processability, performance, and appearance during manufacture and in use.
Antimicrobials	Substances that prevent the growth of microbes and give consumer products such as soaps and toothpastes a medicated property.
Coatings	The broad term for paints, inks, and lacquers. While often associated with decoration, coatings also protect surfaces from corrosion and damage.
Colours	Can be soluble dyes for textiles, leather, paper, or insoluble pigments for plastics, coatings, and printing inks.
Fine chemicals	Highly complex functional intermediates or ingredients for ‘high-tech’ applications: for example, in the pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and electronic industries.
Heat and light stabilizers	Additives that prevent the degradation of plastics and coatings under the effects of heat, oxygen, and light.
Optical brighteners	Chemicals which impart whiteness to textiles, detergents, paper, fibres, and plastics.
Photo/repro additives	Additives that, when irradiated with light, promote the hardening of printing inks, coatings, and adhesives, and chemically fix images used in electronic or graphic materials.
Pigments	Colorants that remain undissolved before, during, and after application: they are used to colour plastics, inks, paints, and synthetic fibres.
UV curing	Hardening of coatings and adhesives by means of ultraviolet light.
Water treatments	Help purify water for industrial and domestic applications. They also modify water as an agent for the processing of minerals and oils, and have a variety of properties to process water (for example, flocculants separate water from solid particles).

Source: Ciba Specialty Chemicals

Table 1.2

The main effect of additives on the properties of a compound

Key: – decreases:

++ increases:

= essentially no effect.

Table 1.3

Main types of additive for plastics, and their functions

Type	Examples	Functions
Fillers and mineral reinforcements	Calcium carbonate, talc, mica	Adding bulk to a compound: increasingly used to improve stiffness, surface hardness
Fibre reinforcements	Aramid, carbon, glass, natural fibres	Mechanical strength: used as short fibre, long fibre, spheres
Colorants	Pigments, liquid colours, colour pastes, dyestuffs, special effects	Virtually unlimited, added as powders or liquids: easier mixing, replacement of heavy metals
Black and white pigments	Carbon black, titanium dioxide	Also for improved UV resistance and (carbon black) electrical conductivity
Heat resistance	Antioxidants and stabilizers	Act to delay/prevent oxidation of polymer under heat, during processing or application
UV resistance	UV stabilizers	Delay/prevent oxidation of end-product under prolonged exposure to ...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• LIST OF TABLES
• LIST OF FIGURES
• Preface
• Chapter 1: An Overview of Additives
• Chapter 2: Types of Additive and the Main Technical Trends
• Chapter 3: The World Market
• Chapter 4: Modifying Specific Properties: Mechanical Properties – Fillers
• Chapter 5: Modifying Specific Properties: Mechanical Properties – Reinforcements
• Chapter 6: Modifying Specific Properties: Appearance – Colorants, Pigments, Dyes, Special Effects
• Chapter 7: Modifying Specific Properties: Appearance – Black and White Pigmentation
• Chapter 8: Modifying Specific Properties: Resistance to Heat – Heat Stabilizers
• Chapter 9: Modifying Specific Properties: Resistance to Light – UV Stabilizers
• Chapter 10: Modifying Specific Properties: Flammability – Flame Retardants
• Chapter 11: Modifying Specific Properties: Conductivity – Antistatic/Conductive Additives
• Chapter 12: Modifying Processing Characteristics: Curing and Cross-linking
• Chapter 13: Modifying Processing Characteristics: Coupling, Compatibilizing Agents
• Chapter 14: Modifying Processing Characteristics: Plasticizers
• Chapter 15: Modifying Processing Characteristics: Blowing Agents
• Chapter 16: Modifying Processing Characteristics: Modifiers and Processing Aids
• Chapter 17: Modifying Processing Characteristics: Lubricants, Mould Release Agents, Anti-slip and Anti-blocking
• Chapter 18: Other Types of Additive: Miscellaneous Additives
• Chapter 19: Other Types of Additive: Additives for Rubber
• Chapter 20: Other Types of Additive: Additives for Recycling
• Chapter 21: Background Information: Equipment – Mixing, Compounding, and Dosing
• Chapter 22: Background Information: Health and Safety
• Chapter 23: Background Information: Legislation and Testing
• APPENDIX A: Conversion Tables
• APPENDIX B: Technical Terms
• APPENDIX C: Standard Abbreviations for Plastics and Elastomers
• APPENDIX D: Trade Names
• APPENDIX E: Directories
• DATA SHEETS
• EDITORIAL INDEX
• INDEX OF ADVERTISERS