TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

363 P. CASAL ST. QUIAPO, MANILA

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

ASSIGNMENT
IN
PLASTICS TECHNOLOGY

SUBMITTED BY:
PERALTA, KRYSTAL GAYLE C.
CH52FC1

SUBMITTED TO:
ENGR. LINA DELA CRUZ
INSTRUCTOR

26 January 2017
PLASTIC PROCESSING ADDITIVES

Every activity in modern life is influenced by plastics and many depend entirely on plastics products.
Imagine cars without synthetic bumper, dashboards, steering wheels and switches; medicine without plastic
hypodermic syringes and artificial hip joints. And what about telecommunications, dependent on plastic
telephones, circuit boards and cable insulation. Our entertainment and leisure relies on the unique
combination of characteristics offered by plastics in sports equipment and clothing, CDs, video and audio
tape, television and cinema.

All these plastics products are made from the essential polymer mixed with a complex blend of
materials known collectively as additives. Without additives, plastics would not work, but with them they can
be made safer, cleaner, tougher and more colourful. Additives cost money, of course, but by reducing
production costs and making products last longer, they help us to save money and conserve the world's
precious raw material reserves. In fact, our world today would be a lot less safe, a lot more expensive and a
great deal duller without the additives that turn basic polymers in to useful plastics.

Why to use additives in plastics?

Improve processing conditions

Increase resins stability to oxidation
Obtain better impact resistance
Increase or decrease hardness
Control surface tension
Facilitate extrusion moulding
Control blocking
Reduce cost
Increase flame resistance

Types of additives

Anti-Counterfeiting

There are a number of ways manufacturers and brand owners can combat counterfeiting by
employing one of several or indeed multilayer anti-counterfeiting technologies. Optical brighteners absorb
ultraviolet and violet light then re-emit this energy at a higher wavelength, normally as a blue glow.
Antimicrobials/Bio stabilisers
Help prevent deterioration of plastic materials where part of the material might be susceptible to
microbiological attack. Such attacks can cause staining, discolouration, odour and loss of aesthetics but more
importantly, loss of electrical insulating properties, hygiene and overall loss of mechanical properties in the
material.

Anti-oxidants
Help prevent "oxidation", the polymer reacting with oxygen. Oxidation can cause loss of impact
strength, elongation, surface cracks and discolouration. Antioxidants help prevent thermal oxidation reactions
when plastics are processed at high temperatures and light-assisted oxidation when plastics are exposed to
UV light.

Antistatic Agents
Help to prevent the build-up of static electric charge. Plastics are generally insulating and so have the
capacity to build up static charges on the surface which greatly disturb processing procedures and can be an
issue for hygiene and aesthetics.

Biodegradable Plasticisers
Used to make plastics softer and more flexible and to enhance the degradability of the product.

Blowing Agents
Form gases in the plastic to produce a foam material. The blowing agents form gases by breaking down on
heating at a pre-determined temperature and form a foam structure within the plastic's polymer matrix.
External Lubricants
To prevent damage to plastics or the mould during processing. Applied to the material or directly to the
machine to allow processing without damage.

Fillers/Extenders
Natural substances used to improve strength and lower the cost of the material. Usually mineral-based,
fillers/extenders literally increase the overall "bulk" of the plastic.
Flame Retardants
To prevent ignition or spread of flame in plastic material. Plastics see substantial use in critical
construction, electrical and transport applications which have to meet fire safety standards either by
mandatory regulations or voluntary standards. Flame retardants are added to plastics to meet these
requirements.
Fragrances
Fragrances and deodorants for plastics are used in a variety of applications and are products for the home.

Heat Stabilisers
To prevent decomposition of the polymer during processing. Processing usually results in temperatures
well above 180 degree Celsius, which without the addition of heat stabilisers would result in the plastic
material literally falling apart

Impact Modifiers
Enables plastic products to absorb shocks and resist impact without cracking. Particularly relevant for
polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP) materials.

Internal Lubricants
Used to improve process ability of plastics by increasing the flowability. Internal lubricants improve the melt
flow of material by lowering the viscosity and heat dissipation (also see Processing Aids)

Light Stabilisers
Used to inhibit the reactions in plastics which cause undesirable chemical degradation from exposure to UV
light.

Pigments
Tiny particles used to create a particular colour.

Plasticisers
Used to make plastics softer and more flexible.

Process Aids
Used to improve processability of plastics by increasing the flowability. Internal lubricants improve the melt
flow of material by lowering the viscosity and heat dissipation (Also see Internal Lubricants) High-polymeric
processing aids also improve flowability of PVC compounds.

Reinforcements
Used to reinforce or improve tensile strength, flexural strength and stiffness of the material. Often fibre-based.
Additives Make Plastics Easier To Process

Making things out of plastics is like playing a game with molecules. The aim is to re-organise them into new
shapes without their changing colour, sticking to the mould, or doing anything that could spoil the finished
article. Additives help with all these problems. In fact, processing plastics without additives is virtually
impossible.

Consider the range of plastics available and the wide variety of plastic objects in everyday use. From fizzy
drinks bottles and carrier bags to window frames and computers, it is clear that there are many different ways
of forming plastics. Most of these processes involve melting polymer powder or granules inside a heated
tube. This 'melt' is forced through a shaped die, injected into a mould, or rolled or blown into flat film. The
ease with which this is done depends on the physical and chemical properties of each plastic material, and
can be improved through the use of certain additives known as PROCESS AIDS.

Process aids become liquid during the moulding process and form a liquid around colour particles so that
they mix better. Other additives make the individual polymer particles adhere more to each other inside the
tube so that they melt quicker. This means that the moulding temperature can be lower which saves energy
and prevents or minimises heat damage to the plastics.

Certain plastics can be difficult to process because they become viscous and sticky when they melt.
LUBRICANTS help reduce viscosity by creating a film between the mould and the polymer melt, and by
lubricating the polymer particles against each other. More intricate shapes can be moulded and the moulding
temperature can be lowered. Most plastics have to be processed at over 180oC, a temperature which
unfortunately can sometimes spoil the colour and weaken or embrittle the plastic. However, these effects can
be prevented or minimised by additives known as ANTIOXIDANTS, which are special compounds such as
Vitamin E, which help protect the plastic under hostile conditions. Other additives called HEAT STABILISERS
help stop plastics from decomposing during processing.

Additives Make Plastics Look good

What is it about plastics objects that catches our attention? Its shape? Its usefulness? Its colour? Plastics
are coloured using two main methods. The surface can be painted or printed after moulding, or additives
called PIGMENTS can be incorporated before or during moulding. With this method, colour pigments can
create all sorts of decorative effects that go all the way through the object and of course, will never wear off.
This property, coupled with the range of moulding techniques available, gives designers today a tremendous
freedom when working with plastics.

Pigments are tiny particles which have to be evenly mixed into the polymer in its molten state. Colourists
specialise in scientifically devising shades suitable for all types of situations. Through a skilful manipulation
of additives, plastics components can be colour matched with parts made from other materials such as wood,
metal and fabrics, cars radios and kitchen appliances all use this technique.
Different pigment formulations co-ordinate plastics with other materials, as in the Land Rover Discovery
(BASF).

Fashion is a word that not only covers clothes and accessories, but also includes, tableware, kitchenware
and office equipment. In all these areas, pigments enable plastics to offer an endlessly variable palette of
colours, as vivid as any other media. Colour in plastics also has many non-decorative functions. It can be
used to cut down light to protect the contents of a package, for example in medicine bottles. It can be used
as an important danger signal. Often it is used simply to protect and conceal, as in dashboards, machine
housings and pipes. To make an opaque moulding, pigments are chosen that absorb or scatter light very
well. The most common, cost-effective way of creating solid colour is to use carbon black or titanium dioxide.
Carbon black absorbs light, whereas titanium dioxide, with its high refractive index, scatters light, producing
a very high level of whiteness and brightness. It is part of a range of inorganic pigments and is mixed with
other colours to create pastel shades. Organic pigments are also good for making bright colours.
Additives Make Plastics Safe And Sound

Good design in plastics includes the art of combining the inherent safety properties of plastics, such as
unbreakable materials, with appropriately designed product features. Rounded edges, child resistant
closures and tamper evident seals are examples. Even greater safety factors can be built in through the use
of additives.

Most people are probably not aware that all our major plastics are similar in composition to natural polymers
such as wood, wool, silk or cotton. They are all based on organic molecules which can catch fire and burn.
In some cases this is not a problem, but in other situations it could mean life or death. the building materials
that are used to construct our homes, schools and public buildings must be protected against fire by law,
which means they must nor ignite or spread flame. Depending on the type of plastics material and the likely
hazard, there are many FLAME RETARDANT additives available to help satisfy this requirement.
Tough crash helmets and colour coded occurred regularly when pulleys overheated, causing serious warning
lights are produced with additives (Shell).

An excellent example of lives saved by flame retardants in plastics is the conveyor belt in coal mines. For
many years fires occurred regularly when pulleys overheated, causing serious accidents and deaths. But
when belting made from PVC containing high levels of flame retardants was introduced in the mid-1950s,
these accidents stopped.

An increasing amount of plastics is found in cars today. These man made materials are often selected for
their safety value. Dashboards and bumper not only have to look stylish and work well, but must also prevent
injury by absorbing and dissipating the force of any impact. The additive type used in this case would be an
impact modifier. Pigments are additives usually chosen to make plastics look more attractive, but they can
also increase the safety factor, such as the special colour-coding for electrical wiring. Designer often use
colours to accentuate the controls on machines and day-glow pigments prevent many road accidents: runner
and cyclists wear reflective fabrics and strips, while road, rail and building site workers can easily be seen in
their fluorescent helmets and jackets.

Additives Make Plastics Clean and Healthy

Hand in hand with advances in medical science, plastics have become an important medium for raising
standards of hygiene to the high level we now enjoy. Throughout our lives, plastics help prevent disease and
prolong active healthiness. PVC, for example, with its low toxicity, flexibility, clarity and sealing properties, all
achieved through additives, has become one of the most important plastics in medicine, PVC tubing, blood
transfusion sets and disposable packs of equipment have helped create an easier and healthier lifestyle.
Additives have allowed the development of a sealed system of PVC tubing and bags which separates blood
into its constituents without the need to open the equipment. This has led to a whole new field of blood
component therapy. Plasticised PVC medical bags help save lives.

To prevent plastics materials from becoming hard and brittle at low temperatures, or soft and sticky at high
temperatures, additives are used to 'design' the plastics for its specific end use. Today plastics containers
can be transferred from freezer to microwave and remain virtually unbreakable and safe in all conditions.

Polythene, and later polypropylene, inspired a post-war revolution in kitchenware. Now we have something
even more versatile and good-looking - Clingfilm - which can prevent micro-organisms spoiling fresh or
cooked foods. To do this the polymer is formulated with suitable additives such as plasticisers and non-toxic
stabiliser systems. The plasticiser makes the film very clingy so that bacteria cannot get into the food, yet the
film can also be permeable so that oxygen and water vapour can pass through for safer storage. Most plastics
are by nature insulators, and this property has encouraged the development of a myriad of electrical products
which are safe and a pleasure to use: telephones, shavers, hairdryers, radios, TV sets and food processors.
Their plugs, sockets and wires are of course all insulated with plastics as well. However, being non-
conductive, static can build up in plastics which attracts annoying dirt and dust. The additive that helps to
counteract that problem is known as an ANTI-STATIC AGENT.