Polymer oleochemicals

Surfactants used as lubricants are added to polymer resins to improve the flow characteristics of the plastic during processing they also stabilise the cells of polyurethane foams during the foaming process. Surfactants are either nonionic (e.g. fatty amides and alcohols), cationic, anionic (dominating class e.g. alkylbenzene sulfonates), zwitterionic, hetero-element or polymeric (e.g. EO-PO block copolymers). Fluorinated anionic surfactants or super surfactants enable a variety of surfaces normally regarded as difficult to wet. These include PE and PP any product required to wet the surface of these polymers will benefit from inclusion of fluorosurfactants. Surfactants are frequently multicomponent formulations, based on petro- or oleochemicals. 

In polymer applications derivatives of oils and fats, such as epoxides, polyols and dimerizations products based on unsaturated fatty acids, are used as plastic additives or components for composites or polymers like polyamides and polyurethanes. In the lubricant sector oleochemically-based fatty acid esters have proved to be powerful alternatives to conventional mineral oil products. For home and personal care applications a wide range of products, such as surfactants, emulsifiers, emollients and waxes, based on vegetable oil derivatives has provided extraordinary performance benefits to the end-customer. Selected products, such as the anionic surfactant fatty alcohol sulfate have been investigated thoroughly with regard to their environmental impact compared with petrochemical based products by life-cycle analysis. Other product examples include carbohydrate-based surfactants as well as oleochemical based emulsifiers, waxes and emollients. 

The use of oleochemicals in polymers has a long tradition. One can differentiate between the use as polymer materials, such as linseed oil and soybean oil as drying oils, polymer stabilizers and additives, such as epoxidized soybean oil as plasticizer, and building blocks for polymers, such as dicarboxylic acids for polyesters or polyamides (Table 4.2) [7]. Considering the total market for polymers of ca. 150 million tonnes in 1997 the share of oleochemical based products is relatively small - or, in other terms, the potential for these products is very high. Without doubt there is still a trend in the use of naturally derived materials for polymer applications, especially in niche markets. As an example, the demand for linseed oil for the production of linoleum has increased from 10000 tonnes in 1975 to 50 000 tonnes in 1998 (coming from 120000 tonnes in 1960 ) [8a]. Epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) as a plastic additive has a relatively stable market of ca. 100000 tonnes year-1 [8b]. 

Industrial Development and Application of Biobased Oleochemicals Table 4.2 Oleochemicals for polymers — selected examples [7],... 

Oleochemical based dicarboxylic acids - azelaic, sebacic, and dimer acid (Figs. 4.5 and 4.6) - amount to ca. 100000 tonnes year-1 as components for polymers. This is about 0.5% of the total dicarboxylic acid market for this application, where phthalic and terephthalic acids represent 87%. The chemical nature of these oleochemical derived dicarboxylic acids can alter or modify condensation polymers, and, used as a co-monomer, will remain a special niche market area. Some of these special properties are elasticity, flexibility, high impact strength, hydrolytic... 

The metathesis of oleochemicals in the presence of ethylene, also called ethenolysis, provides an efficient way to a-oleftns and 0)-unsaturated esters, which are useful intermediates for the synthesis of polymers, fragrances, surfactants, lubricants, and others [51, 52], The ethenolysis of methyl oleate was demonstrated in 1994 by Grubbs et al. using C3 [32], They could reach productive turnovers of 130-140. In 2001, Warwel et al. carried out the ethenolysis of the methyl esters of oleic, erucic, 5-eicosenoic, and petroselinic acids also in the presence of C3 [53]. The reactions were performed at 50°C and 10 bar using 0.025 mol% of catalyst and gave conversions from 58% to 74%. 

Oleochemicals Health Care Ingredients Cosmetics Ingredients Cleaning Products Polymer Additives... 

The properties of these new oleochemicals must be examined because thiophene derivatives are of importance in areas as diverse as Pharmaceuticals, veterinary drugs, agrochemicals, and polymers. 

Trade Name Synonyms Aluminum Stearate 132 t[Witco/Oleochems. Derive. ] Haro Chem ALT t[Akcros bv http //www.akcros.com], Liga TR [Omya UK] Synpro Aluminum Tristearate 404 t[Ferro/Polymer Addit. http //WWW. ferro. com]... 

Trade Name Synonyms Cropure Coconut t[Croda Oleochems.] EmCon COCO [Fanning http //www.fanncorp.com]-, Esi-Terge 40% Coconut Oil Soap f[Cook Composites Polymers http //www.ccponiine.com]-, Esi-Terge LHS 40% [Cook Composites Polymers http //www.ccponline.com], Hipochem LH-Soap t[High Point http //www.hptallc.com]... 

Croda International. This group of companies started with the manufacture of lanolin from wool greases, and oleochemicals, i.e. glycerides, fatty acids and compounds derived from them, remain an area of major importance. Other areas of interest include coal-tar chemicals heterocyclic compounds polymers used in adhesives, inks, paints and resins and foodstuffs. Manufacturing locations are centred on Humberside, Wolverhampton and Leek in Staffordshire. 

Meier MAR (2009) Metathesis with oleochemicals new approaches for the utilization of plant oils as renewable resources in polymer science. Macromol Chem Phys 210(13-14) 1073-1079... 

Thiol-ene and Thiol-yne Reactions for the Transformation of Oleochemicals into Monomers and Polymers... 

A few companies have reduced their commitment to polymer additives. The Swiss company Lonza places increasing emphasis on pharmaceutical intermediates in its European operations, but also makes oleochemicals for plastics. Other additive products include plasticisers, both general-pm tose types and linear phthalates, together with polymeries and trimellitates. It is a leading supplier in the US of polymer lubricants such as EBS (ethylene bis-stearamide) and other amide waxes. First half profits overall were down 16% in 2004. Research and development expenditure in 2003 amoimted to US 65 M. A new CEO, Stefan Borgas, has been appointed from BASF. 

Incoshield, Long-fiber nickel concentrates, INCO Specialty Powder Products Indofast, Organic pigment, Bayer Corp., Performance Products Indopol, Polybutene, Amoco Chemicals Industrene, Technical-industrial fatty acids, Witeo Corp., Oleochemicals Derivatives Div. Ineilec, Polypropylene sheet. Polymer Industries... 

Keltan, EPDM, DSM Copolymer, Inc. Kemamide, Antiblock agents, Witco Corp., Polymer Chemicals Group Kemester, Patty and nonfatty esters, Witco Corp., Oleochemicals Derivatives Div. Kongard, Smoke suppressants flame retardants, Sherwin-Williams Chemicals... 

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