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Plastic Materials - 2

Compounding is the process of intimately mixing together polymers and additives in a molten state to create a homogeneous material. There are two types of polymer combinations: alloys which have a single transition temperature and synergistic properties, and blends which have multiple transition temperatures and averaged properties. Fillers, additives, and plasticizers are used to improve the physical, mechanical, and processing properties of polymers. Common fillers include wood flour and calcium carbonate, while plasticizers enhance flexibility and melt flow. Additives like antioxidants, UV absorbers, and flame retardants protect polymers from degradation during processing and use.

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44 views16 pages

Plastic Materials - 2

Compounding is the process of intimately mixing together polymers and additives in a molten state to create a homogeneous material. There are two types of polymer combinations: alloys which have a single transition temperature and synergistic properties, and blends which have multiple transition temperatures and averaged properties. Fillers, additives, and plasticizers are used to improve the physical, mechanical, and processing properties of polymers. Common fillers include wood flour and calcium carbonate, while plasticizers enhance flexibility and melt flow. Additives like antioxidants, UV absorbers, and flame retardants protect polymers from degradation during processing and use.

Uploaded by

Anbu M S T
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Compounding of polymers

Compounding is the name of the process by


which the constituents are intimately mixed
together in the molten state into as nearly a
homogeneous mass as possible. This is the
general term given to
(1) the process of alloying or blending
polymers;
(2) using additives and fillers such as
colorants, flame retardants, antistatic agents,
plasticizers, and others.
Alloying and Blending

When the combination of polymers


produces a product that has a single glass
transition temperature and that exhibits a
synergistic effect in properties, the product
is called an alloy.
When the combination produces a
product with multiple glass
transition temperatures and with
properties that are the average of
the contributions of the individual
constituent polymers, the product
is called a blend.
Fillers and Additives
These materials are compounded with plastics to
change and improve their physical, mechanical,
and processing properties
Fillers- may be inorganic, organic, mineral,
natural, or synthetic. They are more commonly
used with the thermosetting resins such as the
phenolics, ureas, and melamines, although they
are also used for some thermoplastics. Large
amount of fillers are called extenders since they
allow the production of a large volume of the
plastic with a small amount of resin, thereby
reducing the cost of the plastic.
Because the properties of an extended
plastic often decrease, its use is limited to
less critical applications. One of the most
widely used filler is wood flour. Examples
of mineral fillers are calcium carbonate,
silica, and clay
Plasticizers- are used generally to
enhance flexibility, resiliency, and melt
flow of the plastics. A plasticizer is not
chemically linked to the plastic, but acts
like an internal lubricant by reducing
the vander-Waals forces between the
polymer chains, and by separating the
chains to prevent them from
intermeshing.
Heat stabilizers- prevent the
degradation of resins during
processing when melts are
subjected to high temperatures, or
they extend the life of end
products of which they become a
part.
Antioxidants- protect materials from
deterioration through oxidation brought on
by heat, light, or chemically induced
mechanisms.
Deterioration is manifested by
embitterment, melt-flow instability, loss of
tensile properties, and discoloration.
Ultraviolet (UV) light absorbers -stabilize
the colour and lengthen the life of the
product because virtually every plastic
degrades in sun- light in a number of ways,
the most common being discoloration and
the loss of physical properties
Antistatic agents- sometimes-
called destaticizers are used to
reduce the build up of
electrostatic charges on the
surface of the plastics due to their
inherent poor electrical
conduction.
Coupling or sizing agents- are
added to improve the bonding of
plastic to its inorganic filler
materials, such as glass fibres.
silicones and titanates are used for
this purpose.
Flame retardants- are added to reduce
the flammability of plastics because
they insulate the plastic, create an
endothermic cooling reaction, coat the
plastic thereby excluding oxygen, or
actually influence the combustion
through a reaction with materials that
have different physical properties.
Blowing agents- is used singly or
in combination with other
substances to produce cellular
structure (foam) in a plastic mass.
Lubricants- is used to enhance the resins
processability and the appearance of the
final products.
Colorants- must provide colorfastness
when exposed to light, temperature,
humidity, chemicals, and so on, but without
reducing other desirable properties such as
flow during processing, resistance to
chalking and impact strength

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