Polymer

Compounding and
Fabrication
Dr. Farhan Saeed

Course synopsis

This course covers compounding

ingredients, some basic concept of polymer
compounding, techniques and equipment
used for compounding, and some examples
of polymer compounding and their
fabrication techniques.

In addition, the course also covers the raw

materials and the techniques employed for
the rubber compounding.

References

PVC compound and processing

S. Patrick

Additives for plastics

J. Stepek H. Daoust

Additives for plastics Handbook

John Murphy

Outlines of polymer technology

R. Sinha

Polymer blends and alloys-an overview

R. P. Singh, C. K. Das, S. K. Mustaf

Polymeric terms

An additive is a substance which is

incorporated into plastics to achieve a technical
effect in the fnished product, and is intended
to be an essential part of the fnished article.

Some examples of additives are antioxidants,

antistatic agents, antifogging agents,
emulsifers, fllers, impact modifers, lubricants,
plasticisers, release agents, solvents,
stabilisers, thickeners and UV absorbers

Polymeric terms

Polymer additives/compounding ingredients

The chemicals/materials used either to enhance
the properties of the polymer or to reduce the
cost of the product.

Fillers
Compatibilisers
Pigments
Stabilizers
Plasticizers
Blowing agents

Polymeric terms

Polymer compounds
Mixture of polymers with different additives such as
fllers, processing aids, pigments, according to a
specifc formulation either for enhancing the properties
or reducing the cost.

Polymer blends
Mixture of chemically different polymers or copolymers
with no covalent bonding between them.

Polymer composites
Consists of two physically distinct and mechanically
separable materials, dispersion of one material is
achieved in a controlled way to get optimum properties.

Polymer compounding

Mixing ingredients in a specifc proportion

as per requirements.

Two or more segregated components are

deformed by laminar or shearing force
which results in random
distribution/dispersion of the components.

Polymer compounding

Interfacial area should be high and striation

thickness should be minimum.

Elements of interface between the components

must be uniformly distributive throughout the
mass.

The components must be distributive in the

entire mass as to have same proportion among
the components irrespective of volume of
mass.

Polymer compounding
Pre-treatment
Pre-mixing
Storing and transporting
Feeding
Mixing/compounding
Product fnishing

Summary

Polymers as replacement of natural

products in various applications.

Polymer additives.

Techniques for polymer compounding and

fabrication.