ADDITIVES FOR POLYMER’S PROPERTIES ENHANCEMENT

Abstract

Incorporation of additives in the polymer can  often be used to alter the bulk properties of  polymer. It is also possible  to achieve variations in the  properties of the polymeric products. Additives may be divided into four groups such as solids, liquids, rubbers and gases. The important additives for polymers are fillers, plasticizers, lubricants, anti-aging additives, flame retardants, colourants, blowing agents, ultraviolet degradable additives, cross-linking agents, etc. Filler is a solid additive incorporated into the polymer to modify its physical i.e. mechanical properties,  plasticizers can be used in plastics to improve flexibility, resiliency, and melt flow. Lubricants are used to improve the processibility of resin and appearance  of the end product, anti-aging additives are used in plastics to avoid the change of properties of polymeric materials with time and an adverse conditions, flame retardants are used to delay ignition and reduces flame spread of the material when polymer is exposed to flame. Blowing agent is used to produce a cellular structure in a polymeric material. Colourants are used to impart a specific colour to the polymeric material. Crosslinking agents are used in polymer to produce a thermoset plastics. The additives used in polymer should be stable under processing conditions of polymers, service  conditions. They should not bloom, should be efficient in their function, should be non-toxic and cheap.