Plastic Raw Materials

A steady reduction in the cost of basic plastics raw materials relative to the cost of such traditional materials as leather, paper, metals and ceramics. 

It may be argued that there were four main reasons why in general the price of plastics raw materials declined relatively, and often absolutely, between 1945 and 1973. These are ... 

Casein is the only protein that has achieved commercial significance as a plastics raw material. Many other proteins are readily available in many vegetable material residues which arise from such processes as the extraction of oils and starches from seeds. It would be advantageous to countries possessing such residues if plastics could be successfully exploited commercially. Although plastics materials have been produced they have failed to be of value since they are invariably dark in colour and still have the water susceptibility and long curing times, both of which are severe limitations of casein. 

Because of the nature of their activity, market development must work closely with the applications laboratory. Applications is a group of specialists who develop detailed technical information on the properties of the new plastic raw material. They determine the functional suitability of the plastic part after it has been produced from the customer s mold or of the prototype part built by the lab group. This testing of course, includes the usual chemical and mechanical analysis as well as environmental testing under the conditions in which the customer intends to use the part. 

Consider also that almost every plastic raw material is made by more than one producer. For example there are now about seven producers of ABS, five producers of methyl methacrylate, eight producers of polypropylene, four producers of fluorocarbons, fifteen producers of polyesters, five producers of nylon, twenty-one producers of polystyrene, thirteen producers of low density polyethylene, eleven producers of high density polyethylene, two polycarbonate producers, twenty-four PVC producers, three epoxy producers, two acetal producers, three cellulosics producers, and thirteen producers of phenolics. 

The Fisher Body Division of General Motors is the largest consumer of plastic automotive parts and one of the largest consumers of plastic raw materials in the United States. At the present time, our organization is purchasing ten generic families of thermoplastic resins consisting of 35 various types. 

Oxonatlon of llnoar alpha oloflnt glvot primary alcohols of a high dogroo of llnoarlty. From this procoss it is possible to obtain odd-numbered, as well as even-numbered, carbon atom alcohols. These represent a new type of plasticizer raw material in the United States since such alcohols are not commercially available from natural sources, the conventional oxo process, or the ethylene growth process. Phthalate esters of these alcohols exhibit the improved performance In PVC compounds expected of linear alcohols. 

Plasticizer manufacturers have long recognized the desirable features of straight chain alcohols as plasticizer raw materials, but until recently, they depended entirely on limited production from natural sources for these products. Presently, mixtures of straight chain alcohols of even carbon number are available at commercially attractive prices from the ethylene growth process (2), but the pure alcohols are still too expensive generally to interest the plasticizer manufacture. 

Compression molding is an old and common method of molding thermoset (TS). It now processes TS plastics as well as other plastics such as thermoplastics (TP), elastomers (TS and TP), and natural rubbers (TS). By this method, plastic raw materials are converted into finished products by simply compressing them into the desired shapes... 

With very large volumes a fully integrated in-line, closed loop system can be justified. The line is fed with plastics raw material, with extruders feeding directly into the thermoforming machine. 

Plastic raw materials, i.e, kaolin and clays, which render plastic forming possible. The clay minerals, which these raw materials contain, are responsible for their properties. 

Non-plastic raw materials which reduce drying and firing shrinkage, whilst simultanously reducing plasticity. In comparison with plastic raw materials, they are coarse-grained, usually non-porous, or at least so stable that they do not shrink on firing. Typical examples are quartz, corundum, calcined (presintered) clay, etc. 

In 1974, the Federal Trade Commission brought it forcibly to the attention of 26 manufacturers of foamed plastics, raw material suppliers, and The Society of the Plastics Industry that, among other things, the tunnel test did not correctly evaluate the actual fire hazards of these materials. The building codes responded accordingly, and the first code language... 

The greatest challenge, I feel, will be for the sales organization itself. It will be customer oriented—but oriented in a special way—so that the larger volumes of plastics raw materials and products of the 70 s can be sold profitably. I strongly feel that properly organized, the plas-... 

The trend toward integration of plastic raw material suppliers into the manufacture and sale of film indicates the feeling there is not enough room for adequate profit from the raw material and the finished product. The plastics industry has seen many such moves in the past 5 years. It will undoubtedly see more in the fabulous 60 s. A typical trend already started relates to the export-import market. 

Use Mainly for technical purposes as lubricants, in the production of paints, varnishes, and plastics raw material for the production of cosmetics, in medicine as a laxative. 

Compounding is the designation for all the process methods applied to render a plastic raw material into a processable molding compound. As a rule, various... 

Today, 50-80 % of the waste products from production are reused. Metal wastes, the largest contingent, are sold as scrap. The industry is making considerable efforts to recycle reusable waste products into its own, i.e., internal, processes. Nonreusable waste products are in most cases environmentally neutral and can thus be disposed of by way of deposition. In order to utilize existing waste deposit sites for as long as possible, German industry is attempting to reduce waste product volumes and to increase the proportion of reusable, pure-type substances (rubber, plastics, raw materials, etc.). 

Uses Intermediate for plasticizers raw material In the mfg. of alkyl phtha-lates, phosphoro diethlonates, alkyl methacrylate monomers defoamer In drilling muds and fermentation broths emollient In cosmetics, pharmaceuticals cosmetic raw material Manuf./Dlstiib. Sea-Land Whyte Chems. Ltd Trade Names Containing Jarcol I-18E Jarcol 1-18T... 

HMIS Health 0, Flammability 2, Reactivity 0 Uses Plasticizer, softener, tackifier, processing aid for rubber and plastics raw material for paints and varnishes ore flotation roofing compositions tar soaps asphaltic compositions marine preservative laboratory reagent antidandruff agent in cosmetics plasticizer in food-contact rubber articles for repeated use medicine (cough syrups) Regulatory FDA 21CFR 177.2600... 

Plastics raw material in granular form. Granules shaped cylindrically or like lentils, usually... 

Precaution Combustible Uses Specialty solvent leveling agent, flow control agent for paints/coatings shelf life extender for vinyl coatings for metal or plastic thinner for PVC pastes and plasticizers raw material... 

Plastics raw materials are synthetic polymers and oligomers, as well as a series of semisynthetics based on natural polymers. Additives may be of low or of high molar mass. The additives may, for example, act as fillers, plasticizers, colorants, lubricants, or antioxidants. 

According to physical behavior and means of processing, plastics or plastics raw materials are classified as thermoplasts, thermosets, elastomers, and elastoplasts. Physical characteristics and processing behavior are determined by molecular architecture and temperature of use (Table 33-1). 

Table 33-1 Classification of Plastics or Plastics Raw Materials According to Molecular Architecture and Characteristic Transition Temperatures, Tuans (Tm if Crystalline, Tc if Amorphous), Relative to Application Temperatures, T The Lowest Transition Temperature Should Always Be Used for Two-Phase Polymers.

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