Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Plasticizer shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Plasticizer offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Plasticizer at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Plasticizer? Wrong! If the Plasticizer is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Plasticizer then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Plasticizer? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Plasticizer and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Plasticizer wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Plasticizer then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Plasticizer site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Plasticizer, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Plasticizer, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
Plasticizers are additives that increase the plasticity or
fluidity the material to which they are added, these include plastics, cement, concrete and clay bodies. Although the same compounds are often used for both plastics and concretes, the desired effect is slightly different. The plasticizers for plastics soften the final product increasing its flexibility. Plasticizers for
concrete soften the mix before it hardens, increasing its Concrete#workability, and are usually not intended to affect the properties of the final product after it hardens.
Plasticizers for plastics
Plasticizers for plastics are additive, most commonly phthalates, that give hard
plastics like polyvinyl chloride the desired flexibility and durability. They are often based on esters of polycarboxylic acids with linear or branched aliphatic alcohols of moderate chain length. Plasticizers work by embedding themselves between the chains of
polymers, spacing them apart (increasing of the "free volume"), and thus significantly lowering the
glass transition temperature for the plastic and making it softer. For plastics such as PVC, the more plasticiser added, the lower its
cold flex temperature will be. This means that it will be more flexible, though its strength and hardness will decrease as a result of it. Some plasticizers evaporate and tend to concentrate in an enclosed space; the "
new car smell" is caused mostly by plasticizers evaporating from the car interior.
Dicarboxylic/tricarboxylic ester-based plasticizers
- Phthalate-based plasticizers are used in situations where good resistance to water and oils is required. Some common phthalate plasticizers are:
- Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), used in construction materials, food packaging, children toys, medical devices, and cling wrap
- Diisononyl phthalate (DINP), found in garden hoses, shoes, toys, and building materials
- Bis(n-butyl)phthalate (DnBP, DBP), used for cellulose plastics, food wraps, adhesives, perfumes and also in cosmetics - about a third of nail polishes, glosses, enamels and hardeners contain it, together with some shampoos, sunscreens, skin emollients, and insect repellents
- Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP) is found in vinyl tiles, traffic cones, food conveyor belts, artificial leather and plastic foams
- Diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), used for insulation of wires and cables, car undercoating, shoes, carpets, pool liners
- Di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP or DnOP), used in flooring materials, carpets, notebook covers, and high explosives, such as Semtex. Together with DEHP it was the most common plasticizers, but now is suspected of causing cancer
- Diisooctyl phthalate (DIOP), all-purpose plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, rubbers, cellulose plastics and polyurethane.
- Diethyl phthalate (DEP)
- Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)
- Di-n-hexyl phthalate, used in flooring materials, tool handles and automobile parts
- Trimellitates are used in automobile interiors and other applications where resistance to high temperature is required. They have extremely low volatility.
- Adipate-based plasticizers are used for low-temperature or resistance to ultraviolet light. Some examples are:
Other plasticisers
- Glycols/polyethers
- Triethylene glycol dihexanoate (3G6, 3GH)
- Tetraethylene glycol diheptanoate (4G7)
Some other chemicals working as plasticizers are
nitrobenzene,
carbon disulfide and
β-naphthyl salicylate. Plasticizers, such as DEHP and DOA, were found to be carcinogens and endocrine disruptors.
Safer plasticizers
Safer plasticizers with better biodegradability and less biochemical effects are being developed. Some such plasticizers are:
- Alkyl citrates, used in food packagings, medical products, cosmetics and children toys
- Triethyl citrate (TEC)
- Acetyl triethyl citrate (ATEC), higher boiling point and lower volatility than TEC
- Tributyl citrate (TBC)
- Acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC), compatible with PVC and vinyl chloride copolymers
- Trioctyl citrate (TOC), also used for gums and controlled release medicines
- Acetyl trioctyl citrate (ATOC), also used for printing ink
- Trihexyl citrate (THC), compatible with PVC, also used for controlled release medicines
- Acetyl trihexyl citrate (ATHC), compatible with PVC
- Butyryl trihexyl citrate (BTHC, trihexyl o-butyryl citrate), compatible with PVC
- Trimethyl citrate (TMC), compatible with PVC
Plasticizers for energetic materials
For
energetic materials, especially propellants (eg.
smokeless powders), plasticizers based on nitrates are frequently employed. Some such plasticizers are:
Due to the
secondary alcohol groups, NG and BTTN have relatively low thermal stability. METN, DEGN, BDNPF and BDNPA have relatively low energies. NG and DEGN have relatively high
vapor pressure.
Plasticizers for concrete production
Superplasticizers are chemical admixtures that can be added to concrete mixtures to improve
Concrete#Workability. Strength of concrete is inversely proportional to the amount of water added or water-cement (w/c) ratio. In order to produce stronger concrete, less water is added, which makes the concrete mixture very unworkable and difficult to mix, necessitating the use of plasticizers and superplasticizers.
Superplasticizers are also often used when
pozzolanic ash is added to concrete to improve strength. This method of mix proportioning is especially popular when producing high strength concrete and fiber reinforced concrete.
Adding 2% superplasticizer per unit weight of cement is usually sufficient. However, note that most commercially available superplasticizers come dissolved in water, so the extra water added has to be accounted for in mix proportioning. Adding an excessive amount of superplasticizer will result in excessive segregation of concrete and is not advisable. Some studies also show that too much superplasticizer will result in a retarding effect.
Plasticizers are commonly manufactured from lignosulfonates, a by-product from the
paper industry. Superplasticizers have generally been manufactured from Sulfonic acid naphthalene formaldehyde or sulfonated melamine formaldehyde, although new generation products based on polycarboxylic ethers are now available. Traditional lignosulfonate based plasticisers and naphthalene and
melamine based superplasticisers disperse the flocculated cement particles through a mechanism of electrostatic repulsion (see colloid). In normal plasticisers, the active substances are adsorption on to the cement particles, giving them a negative charge, which leads to repulsion between particles. Naphthalene and melamine superplasticisers are organic polymers. The long molecules wrap themselves around the cement particles, giving them a highly negative charge so that they repel each other.
Polycarboxylate Ethers (PCE), the new generation of superplasticisers are not only chemically different from the older sulphonated melamine and naphthalene based products but their action mechanism is also different, giving cement dispersion by steric stabilisation, instead of electrostatic repulsion. This form of dispersion is more powerful in its effect and gives improved workability retention to the cementitious mix. Furthermore, the chemical structure of PCE allows for a greater degree of chemical modification than the older generation products, offering a range of performance that can be tailored to meet specific needs.
In ancient times, the
Ancient Rome used blood as a superplasticizer for their concrete mixes.
Plasticisers can be obtained by your local concrete manufacturer
Household washing up liquid may also be used as a simple plasticizer.
External links
- Plasticisers Information Centre
- Glass transition
- DIDP, DINP, and DBP - Risk Assessment Reports by the European Chemicals Bureau (ECB).
Plasticizers are additives that increase the
plasticity or fluidity the material to which they are added, these include plastics, cement, concrete and clay bodies. Although the same compounds are often used for both plastics and concretes, the desired effect is slightly different. The plasticizers for plastics soften the final product increasing its flexibility. Plasticizers for
concrete soften the mix before it hardens, increasing its
Concrete#workability, and are usually not intended to affect the properties of the final product after it hardens.
Plasticizers for plastics
Plasticizers for plastics are additive, most commonly phthalates, that give hard
plastics like
polyvinyl chloride the desired flexibility and durability. They are often based on
esters of polycarboxylic acids with linear or branched aliphatic alcohols of moderate chain length. Plasticizers work by embedding themselves between the chains of polymers, spacing them apart (increasing of the "free volume"), and thus significantly lowering the glass transition temperature for the plastic and making it softer. For plastics such as PVC, the more plasticiser added, the lower its
cold flex temperature will be. This means that it will be more flexible, though its strength and hardness will decrease as a result of it. Some plasticizers evaporate and tend to concentrate in an enclosed space; the "new car smell" is caused mostly by plasticizers evaporating from the car interior.
Dicarboxylic/tricarboxylic ester-based plasticizers
- Phthalate-based plasticizers are used in situations where good resistance to water and oils is required. Some common phthalate plasticizers are:
- Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), used in construction materials, food packaging, children toys, medical devices, and cling wrap
- Diisononyl phthalate (DINP), found in garden hoses, shoes, toys, and building materials
- Bis(n-butyl)phthalate (DnBP, DBP), used for cellulose plastics, food wraps, adhesives, perfumes and also in cosmetics - about a third of nail polishes, glosses, enamels and hardeners contain it, together with some shampoos, sunscreens, skin emollients, and insect repellents
- Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP) is found in vinyl tiles, traffic cones, food conveyor belts, artificial leather and plastic foams
- Diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), used for insulation of wires and cables, car undercoating, shoes, carpets, pool liners
- Di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP or DnOP), used in flooring materials, carpets, notebook covers, and high explosives, such as Semtex. Together with DEHP it was the most common plasticizers, but now is suspected of causing cancer
- Diisooctyl phthalate (DIOP), all-purpose plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, rubbers, cellulose plastics and polyurethane.
- Diethyl phthalate (DEP)
- Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)
- Di-n-hexyl phthalate, used in flooring materials, tool handles and automobile parts
- Trimellitates are used in automobile interiors and other applications where resistance to high temperature is required. They have extremely low volatility.
- Adipate-based plasticizers are used for low-temperature or resistance to ultraviolet light. Some examples are:
Other plasticisers
Some other chemicals working as plasticizers are nitrobenzene, carbon disulfide and
β-naphthyl salicylate. Plasticizers, such as DEHP and DOA, were found to be
carcinogens and
endocrine disruptors.
Safer plasticizers
Safer plasticizers with better
biodegradability and less biochemical effects are being developed. Some such plasticizers are:
- Acetylated monoglycerides; these can be used as food additives
- Alkyl citrates, used in food packagings, medical products, cosmetics and children toys
- Triethyl citrate (TEC)
- Acetyl triethyl citrate (ATEC), higher boiling point and lower volatility than TEC
- Tributyl citrate (TBC)
- Acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC), compatible with PVC and vinyl chloride copolymers
- Trioctyl citrate (TOC), also used for gums and controlled release medicines
- Acetyl trioctyl citrate (ATOC), also used for printing ink
- Trihexyl citrate (THC), compatible with PVC, also used for controlled release medicines
- Acetyl trihexyl citrate (ATHC), compatible with PVC
- Butyryl trihexyl citrate (BTHC, trihexyl o-butyryl citrate), compatible with PVC
- Trimethyl citrate (TMC), compatible with PVC
Plasticizers for energetic materials
For
energetic materials, especially
propellants (eg. smokeless powders), plasticizers based on
nitrates are frequently employed. Some such plasticizers are:
Due to the secondary alcohol groups, NG and BTTN have relatively low thermal stability. METN, DEGN, BDNPF and BDNPA have relatively low energies. NG and DEGN have relatively high vapor pressure.
Plasticizers for concrete production
Superplasticizers are chemical admixtures that can be added to concrete mixtures to improve Concrete#Workability. Strength of concrete is inversely proportional to the amount of water added or water-cement (w/c) ratio. In order to produce stronger concrete, less water is added, which makes the concrete mixture very unworkable and difficult to mix, necessitating the use of plasticizers and superplasticizers.
Superplasticizers are also often used when pozzolanic ash is added to concrete to improve strength. This method of mix proportioning is especially popular when producing high strength concrete and fiber reinforced concrete.
Adding 2% superplasticizer per unit weight of cement is usually sufficient. However, note that most commercially available superplasticizers come dissolved in water, so the extra water added has to be accounted for in mix proportioning. Adding an excessive amount of superplasticizer will result in excessive segregation of concrete and is not advisable. Some studies also show that too much superplasticizer will result in a retarding effect.
Plasticizers are commonly manufactured from lignosulfonates, a by-product from the paper industry. Superplasticizers have generally been manufactured from
Sulfonic acid naphthalene formaldehyde or sulfonated melamine formaldehyde, although new generation products based on
polycarboxylic ethers are now available. Traditional lignosulfonate based plasticisers and naphthalene and
melamine based superplasticisers disperse the flocculated cement particles through a mechanism of electrostatic repulsion (see
colloid). In normal plasticisers, the active substances are
adsorption on to the cement particles, giving them a negative charge, which leads to repulsion between particles. Naphthalene and melamine superplasticisers are organic polymers. The long molecules wrap themselves around the cement particles, giving them a highly negative charge so that they repel each other.
Polycarboxylate Ethers (PCE), the new generation of superplasticisers are not only chemically different from the older sulphonated melamine and naphthalene based products but their action mechanism is also different, giving cement dispersion by steric stabilisation, instead of electrostatic repulsion. This form of dispersion is more powerful in its effect and gives improved workability retention to the cementitious mix. Furthermore, the chemical structure of PCE allows for a greater degree of chemical modification than the older generation products, offering a range of performance that can be tailored to meet specific needs.
In ancient times, the
Ancient Rome used
blood as a superplasticizer for their concrete mixes.
Plasticisers can be obtained by your local concrete manufacturer
Household washing up liquid may also be used as a simple plasticizer.
External links
- Plasticisers Information Centre
- Glass transition
- DIDP, DINP, and DBP - Risk Assessment Reports by the European Chemicals Bureau (ECB).
Plasticizer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Plasticizers are additives that increase the plasticity or fluidity of the material to which they are added, these include plastics, cement, concrete, wallboard and clay bodies.
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plasticizer - Definition at Your Dictionary
noun. any of various liquid or solid organic substances added to plastics, paints, etc. to modify viscosity, flexibility, or strength