Engineering plastics, additives

Nonionic surfactants and phenoUc resins based on alkylphenols are mature markets and only moderate growth in these derivatives is expected. Concerns over the biodegradabiUty and toxicity of these alkylphenol derivatives to aquatic species may limit their use in the future. The use of alkylphenols in the production of both polymer additives and monomers for engineering plastics is expected to show above average growth as plastics continue to replace traditional building materials. 

Resins for advanced composites can be classified according to their chemistry typical resins are polyaryletherketones, polysulfides, polysulfones, and a very broad class of polyimides containing one or more additional functional groups (Table 2) (see also Engineering plastics). 

As recently as 1986 almost all addition polymers were excluded from the ranks of engineering plastics. However, progress since then has been made in the development of addition polymeric resins such as polymethylpentene and polycyclopentadiene and its copolymers (see Cyclopentadiene AND DICYCLOPENTAD IENE). 

Polyarylate (PAR)-b-PSt and PAR-b-PMMA for compatibiiizers are described 135,39,40). The addition of PAR-b-PSt (1-10 parts) to 100 parts of a blend of PAR-PSt (7w-3w) resulted in improvement of the tensile and flexural modulus (Fig. 4), and PSt dispersed particles were diminished from 1-5 microns to an order that is undetectable by SEM, indicating the excellent, compatibilizing effect of the block copolymer. The alloy thus formed exert the characteristic of PAR, an engineering plastic, as well as easy processability of PSt. Addition of PAR-b-PMMA (3 or 8 parts) to 100 parts of a blend of PAR-polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) (7w-3w) resulted in improved microdispersed state of PVDF due to compatibility of PMMA with PVDF, while segregation of PVDF onto the surface was controlled. 

In addition to the broad categories of TPs and TSs, TPs can be further classified in terms of their structure, as either crystalline, amorphous, or liquid crystalline. Other classes (terms) include elastomers, copolymers, compounds, commodity resins, engineering plastics, or neat plastics. Additives, fillers, and reinforcements are other classifications that relate directly to plastics properties and performance. 

Another method of reducing the quantity of plastics that has been used in certain products is to use engineered plastics with higher performance than the lower-cost commodity plastics. When applicable, this approach permits using less material to compensate for its higher cost. With a thinner-walled construction there could also be additional cost savings, since less processing heat, pressure, and time cycle is required. 

Information about the market introduction of new additives is easily accessible by means of various annual reports in Plastics Engineering (e.g. refs [75,76]), Modern Plastics International [77], Plastics Additives and Compounding (e.g. ref. [78]) or otherwise (Additives for Polymers, etc.), as well as regular conferences such as AddCon, AddPlast and SPE meetings. For business opportunities for 2002-2006, see ref. [79]. 

The additive analysis reported has been largely confined to conventional polymers (polyolefins, polycondensates, PS, PVC, etc.) Very little work, if any, has been reported on advanced engineering plastics. Similarly, also relatively little research activity has focused on additives in acrylics or blends. 

The fibers made from Nylon 66 are durable, tough, and abrasion-resistant, which suits them for tire cord. They are easy to color, which gives them a secure place in the carpet market (and on the floor). The additional attributes of moldability or processibility make Nylon 66 suitable in the engineering plastics market. 

A large percentage of the total volume of commercial polymers—many of which are amorphous—is produced by chain or addition polymerization of vinyl monomers. Nevertheless, several important widely used commercial polymers and most of the engineering plastics and fibers are produced by stepwise or condensation polymerization of two reactants. Many of these engineering plastics and most fibers are crystalline products. 

S.V. Levchik, D.A. Bright, G.R. Alessio, and S. Dashevsky, New halogen-free fire retardant for engineering plastic applications,. Vinyl Addit. Technol., 7(2) 98-103, 2001. 

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