Plasticizer

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Plasticizers or dispersants are additives that increase the plasticity or fluidity of the material to which they are added; these include plastics, cement, concrete, wallboard, and clay. Although the same compounds are often used for both plastics and concretes the desired effect is slightly different. The worldwide market for plasticizers in 2004 had a total volume of around 5.5 million tons, which led to a turnover of just over 6 billion pounds.

Plasticizers for concrete soften the mix before it hardens, increasing its workability or reducing water, and are usually not intended to affect the properties of the final product after it hardens.

Plasticizers for wallboard increase fluidity of the mix, allowing lower use of water and thus reducing energy to dry the board.

The plasticizers for plastics soften the final product increasing its flexibility.

Contents

[edit] For concrete production

Superplasticizers or high range water reducers or dispersants are chemical admixtures [1] that can be added to concrete mixtures to improve workability. Unless the mix is "starved" of water, the 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 (without "starving" the mix), which makes the concrete mixture very unworkable and difficult to mix, necessitating the use of plasticizers, water reducers, superplasticizers or dispersants.

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 1-2% 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. High Range Superplasticizers have generally been manufactured from sulfonated naphthalene condensate or sulfonated melamine formaldehyde, although new-generation products based on polycarboxylic ethers are now available. Traditional lignosulfonate-based plasticisers, naphthalene and melamine sulfonate-based superplasticisers disperse the flocculated cement particles through a mechanism of electrostatic repulsion (see colloid). In normal plasticisers, the active substances are adsorbed on to the cement particles, giving them a negative charge, which leads to repulsion between particles. Lignin, naphthalene and melamine sulfonate 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) or just polycarboxylate (PC), the new generation of superplasticisers, are not only chemically different from the older sulfonated 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 Romans used animal fat, milk and blood as a superplasticizer for their concrete mixes[2].

Plasticizers can be obtained from a local concrete manufacturer.

Household washing up liquid may also be used as a simple plasticizer.

[edit] For gypsum wallboard production

Superplasticizers or dispersants, are chemical additives that can be added to wallboard stucco mixtures to improve workability. In order to reduce the energy in drying wallboard, less water is added, which makes the gypsum mixture very unworkable and difficult to mix, necessitating the use of plasticizers, water reducers or dispersants.

Adding about two pounds of dispersant per thousand square feet (MSF) in 1/2 inch wallboard (15 g/m² of wallboard) is usually sufficient. Some studies also show that too much of lignosulfonate dispersant could result in a set-retarding effect. Data showed that amorphous crystal formations occurred that detracted from the mechanical needle-like crystal interaction in the core, preventing a stronger core. The sugars, chelating agents in lignosulfonates such as aldonic acids and extractive compounds are mainly responsible for set retardation. These low range water reducing dispersants are commonly manufactured from lignosulfonates, a by-product from the paper industry.

High range superplasticizers (dispersants} have generally been manufactured from sulfonated naphthalene condensate, although new generation products based on polycarboxylic ethers are now available. These high range water reducers are used at 1/2 to 1/3 of the lignosulfonate types.

Traditional lignosulfonate and naphthalene sulfonate based superplasticisers disperse the flocculated gypsum particles through a mechanism of electrostatic repulsion (see colloid). In normal plasticisers, the active substances are adsorbed on to the gypsum particles, giving them a negative charge, which leads to repulsion between particles. Lignin and naphthalene sulfonate plasticizers are organic polymers. The long molecules wrap themselves around the gypsum particles, giving them a highly negative charge so that they repel each other.

[edit] For plastics

Plasticizers for plastics are additives, most commonly phthalates, that give hard plastics like PVC 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 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.

[edit] Ester plasticizers

Ester plasticizers serve as plasticizers, softeners, extenders, and lubricants, esters play a significant role in rubber manufacturing. The basic function of an ester plasticizer is to modify a polymer or resin enhancing its utility. Ester plasticizers make it possible to achieve improved compound processing characteristics, while also providing flexibility in the end-use product. Ester plasticizers are selected based upon cost-performance evaluation. The rubber compounder must evaluate ester plasticizers for compatibility, processibility, permanence and other performance properties. The wide variety of ester chemistries that are in production include sebacates, adipates, gluterates, phthalates, azelates, and other specialty blends. This broad product line provides an array of performance benefits required for the many elastomer applications such as tubing and hose products, seals and gaskets, belts, wire and cable and print rolls. Low to high polarity esters provide utility in a wide range of elastomers including nitrile, polychloroprene, EPDM, chlorinated polyethylene, and epichlorohydrin. Plasticizer-elastomer interaction is governed by many factors such as solubility parameter, molecular weight and chemical structure. Compatibility and performance attributes are key factors in developing a rubber formulation for a particular application. [3]

[edit] Dicarboxylic/tricarboxylic ester-based plasticizers

[edit] 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.

[edit] Safer plasticizers

Safer plasticizers with better biodegradability and less biochemical effects are being developed. Some such plasticizers are:

[edit] Plasticizers for energetic materials

Energetic material pyrotechnic compositions, especially solid rocket propellants and smokeless powders for guns, often employ plasticizers to improve physical properties of the propellant binder or of the overall propellant, to provide a secondary fuel, and ideally, to improve specific energy yield (e.g. specific impulse, energy yield per gram of propellant, or similar indices) of the propellant. An energetic plasticizer improves the physical properties of an energetic material while also increasing its specific energy yield. Energetic plasticizers are usually preferred to non-energetic plasticizers, especially for solid rocket propellants. Energetic plasticizers reduce the required mass of propellant, enabling a rocket vehicle to carry more payload or reach higher velocities than would otherwise be the case. However, safety or cost considerations may demand that non-energetic plasticizers be used, even in rocket propellants. The solid rocket propellant used to fuel the Space Shuttle solid rocket booster employs a non-energetic plasticizer/binder/secondary fuel: HTPB. HTPB is a synthetic rubber. Here are some energetic plasticizers used in rocket propellants and smokeless powders:

Due to the secondary alcohol groups, NG and BTTN have relatively low thermal stability. TMETN, DEGDN, BDNPF and BDNPA have relatively low energies. NG and DEGN have relatively high vapor pressure. [1]

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Cement Admixture Association. "CAA". www.admixtures.org.uk. http://www.admixtures.org.uk/publications.asp. Retrieved 2008-04-02. 
  2. ^ Cemex Mortars, p. 6
  3. ^ http://www.hallstar.com/techdocs/The_Function-Selection_Ester_Plasticizers.pdf

[edit] References

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Health issues of plastics and Polyhalogenated compounds (PHC)'s
Plasticizers: Phthalates
DIBP · DBP · BBP (BBzP) · DIHP · DEHP (DOP) · DIDP · DINP
Other plasticizers
Monomers
Other additives incl. PHC's
PBDEs · PCBs · Organotins  · PFCs
Health issues
Miscellaneous
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