ADDITIVES FOR PLASTIC

Additives are materials that are added to the primary resin to improve the polymer's processability or its performance or appearance in some way. They are used with virtually all polymers either at the compounding stage or during processing, when they may be dosed in via a blender. They can be added directly as a solution in suitable solvent or in the form of Masterbatch. Additives are integral components in plastics contributing greatly to their success by conferring significant extensions of properties in one or more directions, such as:

Process Aids, Lubricants, Heat Stabilizers

Pigments-Clarifiers, Colours, Carbon Black, Ti02, Antifogging agents

Impact Modifier, Flame Retardants, Mineral Fillers, Diluents and extenders

Flame Retardant, Anti-Static Agent, Blowing agents, Conductive

Anti Fungal, Bacterial, Rodents

Light Stabilisers, UV Absorbers, Antioxidants, cross linking agents

Biodegradable

Compatibilisers, Blowing Agents, Plastics would not have been able to deliver their performance without the addition or these polymer additives. Although used at only 5-7% In terms or weight or about 10% by cost, they provide immense benefits

Types of additives: Additives can be divided in two principal groups.

1. Functional additives: These are required either to prevent degradation of polymer or to impart new properties and enhance existing properties of polymer material.
2. rocess additives: These are incorporated for easy processing of polymers.

Apart from functioning effectively for the desired objective, the additive must fulfil some of the important requirements, such as:

• easy dispersion in polymer good compatibility with the polymer
• easy handling
• low volatility and high resistance to exudation
• high resistance to extraction
• good colour retention
• low toxicity
• attractive price / performance ratio