IMPACT MODIFIERS

PROCESSING AIDS
LUBRICANTS
MICROORGANISM
INHIBITORS
IMPACT MODIFIERS
• improve the resistance of materials to stress

FUNCTIONS:
1. Increases the toughness of material

2. Improve the bearing strength

3. Reduce brittleness
 IMPACT MODIFIERS
• Key additives for increasing flexibility and
impact strength to meet physical property
requirements

• All impact modifiers are elastomeric or

rubbery in nature with lower modulus than
the host polymer

• Incorporated through polymerization process

or in the compounding step
 THINGS TO CONSIDER IN
CHOOSING IMPACT
MODIFIERS:
a. Impact resistance
b. Flow
c. Stiffness
d. Weatherability
e. Low-temperature toughness
f. Thermal stability
g. Cost
 COMMON IMPACT
MODIFIERS:
Elastomers: ABS, BS, methacrylate–butadiene–
styrene, acrylic, ethylene–vinyl acetate, and
chlorinated polyethylene

PVC resins: MBS (Methyl Butadiene Styrene)

and Acrylics
-impact modifiers enhance the impact
resistance of the PVC products without
impairing other properties.
PROCESSING AIDS
FUNCTION:
 Improves the processing characteristics of a
material

 Improved processability lowers the cost and

improves the quality of the polymer.

 With the help of processing aids, extrusions

run thinner and faster and molding cycles
shorten.

may increase the rheological and

mechanical properties of a melted material
 COMMON PROCESSING
AIDS:
Acrylate copolymers
LUBRICANTS
`
• improve the processing characteristics of a material
during its processing

Functions:
- Reduces the melt viscosity or by decreasing adhesion
between the metallic surfaces of the processing
equipment and the material being processed or
minimizes frictional forces between moving surfaces
Internal lubricants: reduce molecular friction,
consequently decreasing the material’s melt viscosity
and allowing it to flow more easily.
External lubricants: increases the flow of the material by
decreasing the friction of the melted material as it comes
into contact with surrounding surfaces.
 CLASSIFICATIONS
External = Insoluble
• Typically provide lubrication between the
polymer and the metal surface of the
processing equipment

 Classic types:
Polyethylene waxes, Oxidized Polyethylene
waxes, Paraffins, Metal Soaps, Esters (high
esterification), Amides, Fatty Acids
Internal = Semi-Soluble (Plasticizer)
Typically reduce bulk viscosity through
partial compatibility with the polymer, thus
opening the polymer chain with the
lubricant’s soluble component while
providing intermolecular lubrication with the
less soluble portion of the molecule.

Classic types:
Fatty alcohols, Esters (low esterification),
EVA Wax, others
 GENERAL EFFECTS OF
LUBRICANTS
Internal Lubricants External Lubricants
 Promote flow  Provide metal release
 Exhibit good clarity  Help reduce process temp
 Promote weld line strength  Can plate out
 Minimize sink marks  Slow fusion/recrystallization
 Improve die filling  Can cause delamination
 Reduce die swell  Can lower weld line strength
 Reduce head and back  Can cause surging
pressure
 Lower HDT
MICROORGANISM INHIBITORS
• Naturally occurring polymeric materials are often
subject to microbiological deterioration.
• Synthetic polymers are not directly attacked by
microorganisms they often allow growth on their
surfaces.
• Synthetic polymeric materials can suffer different
forms of deterioration, including chemical, physical,
and biological.
• In 2005-2008 program a Committee for Conservation
embraced “microbial bio-deterioration” as a
research topic.
Antimicrobial polymers, also known as polymeric
biocides has the ability to inhibit the growth of
microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi or
protozoans.
organotin-containing compounds
- major antimicrobial grouping
- monomeric organotin compounds
are now outlawed due to high
leaching
- polymeric versions can be
considered non-leaching or slowly
leaching
Quaternary ammonium carboxylates and
tributyltin compounds used against pink
staining of PVC.

• Other effective preservatives or biocides

- esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid,
- N-(trichloromethylthio)-4-phthalimide,
- bis(tri-n-butyltin), and
- bis(8-quinolinato) copper.
Biocides are potentially dangerous for human
health and the environment