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Additives: Fully Compounded

Additives

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Vy Thoai
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45 views

Additives: Fully Compounded

Additives

Uploaded by

Vy Thoai
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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120 Chapter 4

• A Tg may be detected for the amorphous


phase present in a crystalline polymer.
• The amorphous phase in a crystalline poly-
mer can have profound effects on the poly-
mer's mechanical properties.

Polymer properties are significantly affected


by the degree of crystallinity. Crystallinity tends
to increase mechanical properties such as ten-
sile strength and hardness while diminishing
ductility, toughness, and elongation. The amor-
phous phase present in semicrystalline polymers,
however, can improve the toughness. Chemical
permeability and solubility generally decrease Figure 4-21
with increasing crystallinity. Crystalline polymers Typical forms of thermoplastic beads and pellets
are generally optically opaque or translucent,
whereas amorphous polymers have the greatest
optical clarity.
through a plate with many small holes. As the
Semicrystalline thermoplastics will gener-
polymer extrudate exits the extrusion die, the
ally shrink more than amprphous thermoplastics
molten polymer is simultaneously quenched in a
when cooled from the injection molding tem-
liquid bath and cut into small pellets with a knife.
perature. Over time, the crystallinity of a
The polymer pellets are removed from the bath,
semicrystalline plastic part may increase, causing
dried, and packaged for use. During the pelletiz-
dimensional changes (shrinkage). Amorphous
ing process, various additives are typically added
polymers are typically more dimensionally
to the polymer. Examples of typical polymer ad-
stable.
ditives are listed in Table 4-1.
Fully compounded resins have additives
added in the proper proportion through the en-
Additives
tire batch of resin. Alternatively, additives are
Engineering and commodity plastics, as well as sometimes added to a plastic by dispersing poly-
other polymeric materials such as paints and ad- mer pellets or beads that contain concentrated
hesives, use special additives to improve their additives into a base resin (virgin pellets or
properties and performance. Additives improve beads) before molding. Polymer pellets or beads
mechanical properties, thermal processing, sur- with concentrated additives are called master-
face characteristics, and chemical properties as batch resins. Color concentrates, for example,
well as appearance and aesthetic properties. are often added as masterbatch additions. In-
Additives may be incorporated into a poly- stead of purchasing large quantities of resins in
mer in various ways. In thermosetting polymers, various colors, using color concentrates allows a
for example, most of the additives are added to molder to buy large quantities of a naturally col-
the resin though special mixing and dispersion ored base resin and then control the color ofvar-
processes. Most thermoplastics are sold in the ious parts by adding a color concentrate.
form of small beads or pellets (Figure 4-21). The strength of a polymeric material may
Pellets and beads are made using a pelletizer be improved by using fillers such as glass, car-
machine, in which molten polymer is extruded bon or aramid (Kevlar®) fibers. The effect of
Principles of Polymeric Materials 121

Figure 4-22
Effect of glass-fiber reinforcement on the properties of nylon %

glass-fiber reinforcement on the properties of mer from sticking to processing equipment or to


a nylon thermoplastic is shown in Figure 4-22. itself.
Mineral fillers such as talc, ~ood pulp, milled Plasticizers are added to thermoplastics to
glass, mica, calcium carbonate, and so on may improve flexibility and toughness. Polyvinyl chlo-
be added to reduce the cost of a polymer resin ride, for example, is commonly plasticized for
or to increase dimensional stability and reduce applications such as automotive interiors. High-
shrinkage. The toughness of polymers is typically molecular-weight phthalate esters added to PVC
improved through the incorporation of impact increase the polymer's internal free volume, pro-
modifiers. High-impact polystyrene, for exam- viding more space within the polymer structure
pIe, contains small rubber particles (e.g., styrene for long-range motion of the polymer chains.
butadiene rubber) that are grafted to the main While improving flexibility, plasticizers reduce
polymer chain. The rubber particles arrest crazes the Tg, melt viscosity, and tensile strength of a
and cracks-thereby increasing the toughness thermoplastic (Figure 4-23). The solubility and
and fracture resistance of the material. chemistry of plasticizers in thermoplastics is im-
Lubricants such as molybdenum disulfide, portant, because plasticizers can migrate to the
graphite, silicone compounds, or fluoropolymers surface of a polymer, causing greasy films, or
(Teflon®) allow a polymer to be self-lubricating may vaporize from the surface, causing the ma-
for wear application such as bearings. Other lu- terial to become brittle. Certain phthalate esters
bricants (or slip agents) such as fatty acid es- such as di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), used
ters migrate to the surface to help lubricate a in medical devices, food packaging, and chil-
polymer during processing to prevent the poly- dren's toys, have come under scrutiny by some

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