Flexibility low temperature

Methyl butadiene styrene (MBS) and acrylic (PMMA), which are used widely as impact modifiers for PVC and engineering resins, also function as processing aids, for rigid and semi-rigid processes and applications, such as blow moulding, calendering, profile extrusion, and injection moulding of technical parts. Some types can also be tailored to suit specific requirements. 

According to Milliken, the 3988 grade makes it possible for clarified PP to match the aesthetics of more expensive packaging materials such as PET. In fact, an Italian processor claimed to be able to produce high-clarity PP packaging at half the cost of PET. 

Apart from crystaUization effects, the differential scanning calorimeter reveals a glass transition temperature for polychloroprene at around 40°C, which is practically independent of the type of polymer tested. Compounding ingredients can shift the glass transition temperature further to lower temperatures. Typical data are summarized in Table 1.11. Low crystallization grades of CR need to be used. 

Parameter Aging time to 100% elongation CR- M-grade, cable sheathing compound 

FIGURE 1.14 Arrhenius plot of air aged CR vulcanizates (VDE 0304/Part 2/7.59). 

Synthetic low-temperature plasticizers allows CR vulcanizates to exhibit elastic behavior down to temperatures of around —45°C to —50°C (depending on the formulation). 

---

Nitrile mbber finds broad application in industry because of its excellent resistance to oil and chemicals, its good flexibility at low temperatures, high abrasion and heat resistance (up to 120°C), and good mechanical properties. Nitrile mbber consists of butadiene—acrylonitrile copolymers with an acrylonitrile content ranging from 15 to 45% (see Elastomers, SYNTHETIC, NITRILE RUBBER). In addition to the traditional applications of nitrile mbber for hoses, gaskets, seals, and oil well equipment, new applications have emerged with the development of nitrile mbber blends with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). These blends combine the chemical resistance and low temperature flexibility characteristics of nitrile mbber with the stability and ozone resistance of PVC. This has greatly expanded the use of nitrile mbber in outdoor applications for hoses, belts, and cable jackets, where ozone resistance is necessary. 

Until comparatively recently the bulk of general purpose phthaiate plasticisers have been based on the branched alcohols because of low cost of such raw material. Suitable linear alcohols at comparative prices have become available from petroleum refineries and good all-round plasticisers are produced with the additional advantage of conferring good low-temperature flexibility and high room temperature resistance to plasticised PVC compounds. A typical material (Pliabrac 810) is prepared from a blend of straight chain octyl and decyl alcohols. 

Whilst exhibiting the excellent low-temperature flexibility (with a Tg of about -80°C) and very good heat resistance (up to 200°C) typical of a silicone rubber, the fluorosilicones also exhibit good aliphatic oil resistance and excellent aging resistance. However, for some applications they have recently encountered a challenge from the polyphosphazenes (see Section 13.10). 

The PSA formulator can also take advantage of plasticizers. For example, polyether-based plasticizers have both good low-temperature flexibility and good hydrophilicity. Using these properties, acrylic PSAs have been formulated with these types of plasticizers to obtain high adhesion to food packages stored under refrigerated conditions [102]. Similarly, polyether plasticized acrylics have been used to make repulpable PSAs [103]. 

New Neoprene M- and XD grades. These polychloroprenes were developed in the 1990s and combine low temperature flexibility, improved heat resistance and dynamic properties. 

Alk l chain. The increase in the alkyl chain length and linearity improves the efficiency of the plasticizer and the low-temperature flexibility of the plasticized polymers. 

The polyols used are of three types polyether, polyester, and polybutadiene. The polyether diols range from 400 to about 10,000 g/mol. The most common polyethers are based on ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, and tetrahydrofuran or their copolymers. The ether link provides low temperature flexibility and low viscosity. Ethylene oxide is the most hydrophilic and thus can increase the rate of ingress of water and consequently the cure rate. However, it will crystallize slowly above about 600 g/mol. Propylene oxide is hydrophobic due to hindered access to the ether link, but still provides high permeability to small molecules like water. Tetrahydrofuran is between these two in hydrophobicity, but somewhat more expensive. Propylene oxide based diols are the most common. 

Rubber-based adhesives provide softness and good low temperature flexibility (see Table 8). These properties make them the primary choice for the hinge application, which are two thin glue beads applied to the sides of the book block adjacent to the spine. These adhesive beads allow the book to open with the cover and help to protect the spine glue from stresses. Hinge glues have low if any wax, and are pressure sensitive. When used for the spine application, rubber-based adhesives require a water-based emulsion primer due to their short open time and thus low penetration of paper substrates. 

Low temperature flexibility of HNBR is better than NBR. With the increase of the degree of hydrogenation. 

Polybutadienes, polycaprolactones, polycarbonates, and amine-terminated polyethers (ATPEs) are shown in Scheme 4.4 as examples of other commercially available polyols. They are all specialty materials, used in situations where specific property profiles are required. For example, ATPEs are utilized in spray-applied elastomers where fast-reacting, high-molecular-weight polyamines give quick gel times and rapid viscosity buildup. Polycarbonates are used for implantation devices because polyuredtanes based on them perform best in this very demanding environment. Polycaprolactones and polybutadienes may be chosen for applications which require exceptional light stability, hydrolysis resistance, and/or low-temperature flexibility. 

Organofunctionalized polysiloxanes possess a unique combination of properties, including hydrophobicity, low-temperature flexibility, and thermal stability.41... 

Although each of these cyclic siloxane monomers can be polymerized separately to synthesize the respective homopolymers, in practice they are primarily used to modify and further improve some specific properties of polydimethylsiloxanes. The properties that can be changed or modified by the variations in the siloxane backbone include the low temperature flexibility (glass transition temperature, crystallization and melting behavior), thermal, oxidation, and radiation stability, solubility characteristics and chemical reactivity. Table 9 summarizes the effect of various substituents on the physical properties of resulting siloxane homopolymers. The... 

In recent years, many poly(phosphazenes), [RoPN]n, with a variety of substituents at phosphorus have been prepared and they often exhibit useful properties including low temperature flexibility, resistance to chemical attack, flame retardancy, stability to UV radiation, and reasonably high thermal stability. (1,2) Compounds containing biologically, catalytically, or electrically active side groups are also being investigated. (3,4)... 

When an elastomer sample is subjected to low temperatures, the brittle point is the highest temperature at which the sample breaks when subjected to a sharp blow. The brittle point is one indication of low temperature flexibility and is usually somewhat higher than the glass transition temperature. 

The generic term applied to all elastomers resulting from the copolymerisation of butadiene and acrylonitrile. Nitrile rubbers are available with different butadiene/acrylonitrile ratios ranging from 18% to 50%, a high acrylonitrile content giving rubbers excellent oil resistance, a lower acrylonitrile content giving improved low-temperature flexibility. 

Polybutadiene is produced by solution polymerisation, and one important feature governing the performance of the resultant polymer is the cis 1,4, and 1, 2 vinyl contents. High cis 1,4 polymers (>90%) have a Tg around -90 °C, and hence exhibit excellent low temperature flexibility only exceeded by the phenyl silicones. They also exhibit excellent resilience and abrasion resistance unfortunately the high resilience gives poor wet grip in tyre treads, and hence this rubber finds limited use as the sole base for such compounds. 

When polybutadiene is used in blends for other applications, it is where the improved abrasion and low temperature flexibility conferred on a blend is advantageous, e g., in shoes, conveyor and transmission belts. 

PVC/NBR polymer blends can be produced as colloidal or mechanical blends, the former generally giving superior properties. Commercially available blends have PVC contents ranging from 30-55%. The blends have reduced elasticity, which gives improved extrudability, but they also exhibit superior ozone resistance, improved oil swell resistance, and tensile and tear strength this, however, is achieved at the expense of low temperature flexibility and compression set. The ozone resistance of such blends is, however, only improved if the PVC is adequately distributed and fluxed. This is harder to achieve in mechanical blends, but if it is not achieved failure due to ozone attack can occur. 

In compounding, choice of the correct grade is required if the required balance of oil resistance and low temperature flexibility is to be achieved. 

---