By: Rupesh Ravani

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 Functions of polymer stabilizer

PERFORMANCE

POLYMER
Stabilizer

- PROPERTY
RETENTION / PROCESSABILITY
PRESERVATION

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 to facilitate the polymer processing
 preservation of certain properties
 Modification of some properties for specific
end use application
The numerous and diverse applications of
polypropylene would not be possible without
incorporation of additives.

Each additive has a definite role, starting from polymer

manufacturing to storage, transportation, processing
and the end use applications
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 TYPES OF ADDITIVES
Additives can he divided in two principal groups :
A. Functional Additives : These are required either to
prevent degradation of polymer or to impart new properties
and enhance existing properties of polymer material .
Most common functional additives for polypropylene are : -
 Antioxidants & Heat Stabilizers
 Acid acceptors / neutralizers
 Antistatic agents
 Nucleating agents / Clarifiers
 U.V. Stabilizers
 Antiblocking agents
 Slip agents
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 TYPES OF ADDITIVES
B. Process additives :
These are incorporated for easy processing of polymer material.
Various processing additives are Lubricants, Processing Aids and
Mould release agents.
Apart from functioning effectively for the desired objective, the
additive must fulfill some of the important requirements, such as
:-
 Easy dispersion in the polymer.
 Good compatibility with the polymer.
 Easy handling.
 Low volatility.
 High resistance to extraction.
 Good colour retention.
 Low toxicity.
 Attaractive price / performance ratio.
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INCORPORATION OF ADDITIVES

Additives are incorporated in polyolefins, preferably

during -

 manufacturing stage or
 at the time of processing.

Additives can be added directly or as a solution in

suitable solvent or in the form of master batch.

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 ANTIOXIDANTS
 Polymers are susceptible to thermo-oxidative degradation.
 The degradation of polymer occurs due to heat, light and
oxygen.
 These environmental factors in presence of residual
catalyst or impurities, produce free radicals in the
polymer, which results into-
 discoloration,
 loss of gloss,
 poor mechanical properties and
 cracking.

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 ANTIOXIDANTS
 Antioxidants are incorporated in polypropylene to
slow down the degradation process and thus
enhance service life of the product.
 antioxidants are extremely vital additives for
polymers during its-
 manufacturing,

 storage,

 processing and

 end-use.

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 TYPES OF ANTIOXIDANTS

There are two main types of antioxidants :

 Primary antioxidants

 Secondary antioxidants

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 TYPES OF ANTIOXIDANTS
A. Primary antioxidants :
These are free radical scavengers, which
interfere in the chain propagation reaction
deactivating alkyl and alkylperoxy radicals. It
protects from thermo oxidative degradation.
 Sterically hindered phenols or secondary
amines are most commonly used as primary
antioxidants.
 The former are more widely used in
polypropylene stabilization, as they are less
susceptible to colour formation than the latter.

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 TYPES OF ANTIOXIDANTS
B. Secondary antioxidants :
 These are the hydro peroxide decomposers, which
prevent chain branching.
 They react with hydro peroxides to form non-ionic
products.
Phosphite, phosphonite and thioether are the most
important class of secondary antioxidants. Thioether
also acts as a long term heat stabilizer (LTHS).
 Important aspect in using combination of antioxidants
(A & B type ) in polypropylene is the synergistic effect
shown by these two chemicals in protecting polymer
chain from degradation.

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 ACID ACCEPTORS AND NEUTRALIZERS

 Catalyst residue in polyolefins is comprised of transition

metal compounds which act as catalysts in polymer
degradation.
 Acidic compounds which are formed during such
degradation lead to corrosion of mould/die.

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 ACID ACCEPTORS AND NEUTRALIZERS

Choice of acid acceptor, used in polypropylene for neutralizing

acidic residues, can be explained as follows :
 Calcium stearate is used in rigid packaging/ tape grade .

 Calcium pelargonate is also used in tape grades as its low

water carry over tendency and lubricity.
 Zinc Oxide is used due to its low plate-out characteristics. It is
suitable for use in fine fiber, tape and appliances.
 Hydrotalcite DHT-4A is used in film, molding and tape grades.

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 ANTISTATIC AGENTS

Due to the low surface conductivity of polypropylene, high

electrostatic charge may develop on the surfaces of an article,
leading to one or more of the following problems :
 Dust attraction on the surface of granules leading to
contamination during processing and affecting product
aesthetics.
 Sticking of film surfaces to each other.
 Poor printability of product.
 Possibility of spark discharge leading to serious fire or
explosion.

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 ANTISTATIC AGENTS

 Incorporation of antistatic agent prevents or reduces all these

manifestations by imparting a permanent antistatic.
 Antistatic agent function by migrating to surface, attracting
moisture which forms a conductive bridge.
Permanent antistatic behavior is achieved by one of the
following methods :
 Surface application of an antistatic agent solution.
 Incorporation of an “Internal” antistatic agent.
 Incorporation of a conducting agent.
Common practice is to incorporate internal antistatic
agent during the manufacturing of processing of
polypropylene.

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 NUCLEATING AGENTS AND CLARIFIERS

 Polypropylene has a medium crystal growth rate which can be

influenced by foreign substances called nucleating agents.
 In the presence of these nucleating agents polypropylene
shows enhanced crystallization rate leading to improvement in
some of the characteristics, such as :
 Shorter cycle time in molding.

 Improved optical properties.

 Increased hardness, flexural modulus & tensile properties.

 Higher heat distortion temperature.

 Improved dimensional stability

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 NUCLEATING AGENTS AND CLARIFIERS

The following classes of chemicals are used as nucleating agents :

 Inorganic additives such as talc, silica and kaolin have a poor
nucleating effect and they impart haze in the products.
 Salts of mono or polycarboxylic acids : Sodium benzoate, Sodium
succinate, Sodium glutarate, Sodium cinnamate etc., have a good
nucleating effect but no significant improvement in clarify is
observed.
 Alkaline earth or aluminium salts of aromatic and aliphatic carboxylic
acids are also active nucleating agents for polypropylene.
 Sorbitol derivatives (dibenzylidene sorbitol ) are preferred as
nucleating agents in polypropylene products. Incorporation of
sorbitate, results in higher clarity products from PP random
copolymers. It has limited use in homopolymers

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 UV STABILIZERS

 U.V. radiation is responsible for the initiation of photo

degradation in polymers.
 The U.V. radiation excite the polymer molecule and lead to
radical formation.
 Free radicals initiate and propagate degradation of the
polymer.
 The purpose of incorporating U.V. Stabilizer is to prevent
degradation of polypropylene due to U.V. radiation.

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 UV STABILIZERS

UV absorbers :
Their protective action is based on a filter effect,
absorbing harmful radiations.
Common UV absorbers are –
 Hydroxyphenylbenztriazoles,

 Salicylates,

 Carbon black and

 certain pigments.

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SLIP ADDITIVES

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 SLIP ADDITIVES
 For certain applications, film surfaces should have good slip
properties with lower coefficient of friction (COF).
 Slip additives should be non-compatible with long polymer
chains and has to migrate strongly to the film surface to form a
uniform invisible thin coating.
 Slip additives are exceptionally important in reducing coefficient
of friction of film surface, thus ensuring good handling properties.
 Fatty acid amide like Oleamide ( C18 unsaturated), or
Erucamide ( C22 unsaturated) is most commonly used slip
additive in polyolefins film. Oleamide is preferred where faster
migration is desired.

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SLIP ADDITIVES

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SLIP ADDITIVES

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SLIP ADDITIVES

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SLIP ADDITIVES

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 End-Use Environment
 Solubility and Migration
 Food and Drug Acceptance
 Performance
 Color and Odor
 Secondary effect
 Availability
 Cost

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THANKS FOR ATTENTION

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