PPO resin

Alkylated phenol derivatives are used as raw materials for the production of resins, novolaks (alcohol-soluble resins of the phenol—formaldehyde type), herbicides, insecticides, antioxidants, and other chemicals. The synthesis of 2,6-xylenol [576-26-1] h.a.s become commercially important since PPO resin, poly(2,6-dimethyl phenylene oxide), an engineering thermoplastic, was developed (114,115). The demand for (9-cresol and 2,6-xylenol (2,6-dimethylphenol) increased further in the 1980s along with the growing use of epoxy cresol novolak (ECN) in the electronics industries and poly(phenylene ether) resin in the automobile industries. The ECN is derived from o-cresol, and poly(phenylene ether) resin is derived from 2,6-xylenol. 

Modified nylons are blends of nylon resins and specially grafted nylon resins. In the Du Pont family of Zytel resin, certain blends have been designated Supertough to emphasize the improvement in impact that blends provide over standard resins. General Electric s Noryl GTX resins consist of a nylon matrix resin and a PPO resin in dispersed form. A highly sophisticated blend, it maintains a filled nylon s HPT with no sacrifice of impact resistance. 

Noryl resins became the world s most successful and best known polymer blends or alloys because combinations of PPO resins and styrene polymers tend to assume the best features of each ... 

PPO resins with very high heat distortion temperatures (HDTs) can readily raise the HDT of styrenics to over 100 °C, which is a significant temperature because this qualifies the product for all boiling water applications. 

Styrene polymers, with ease of processing and well-established impact modification, balance the refractory nature of PPO resins. 

Both PPO resins and styrene polymers have excellent water resistance and outstanding electrical properties. 

Stjwex. [Faro/Engineering Thermoplastics] Polystyrene, SAN, ABS, or PPO resins, some glass or carbon reinforced thermoidastics. 

Alkylation General electric (1970)/Basf AG (1985)-process for the production of 2.6-xylenol, monomer of PPO resin, using MgO as the catalyst Figure I /). 

Since the discovery of PPO by Allan S. Hay ofthe General Electric Company in the 1960s [3,41], over 1500 patents have been issued in the field of oxidative coupling polymerization, and the total sales worldwide of engineering plastics based on PPO to date represent about US 1 billion per year. In fact, Noryl -modrfied PPO resins have become the world s most successful and best-known polymer blends and alloys. 

PROPERTIES OF SPECIAL INTEREST Amorphous and relatively nonpolar. Low moisture absorption, good strength, and high heat-resistance. Excellent compatibility with other pol5uners for blending. Pure PPO resin carmot be easily processed at temperatures above its glass transition temperature because of poor melt flow. 

Hazardous Decomp. Prods. CO, CO2, NO ammonia, nitric acid, nitrosamines, irritating or toxic fumes NEPA Health 3, Elammability 3, Reactivity 0 Storage Store in cool, dry, ventilated area in closed containers, away from heat, flames, sparks do not store in reactive metal containers Uses Intermediate in mfg. of rubber accelerators, surfactants, dyes, polymers, DEET pesticides, textile specialties, petroleum chemicals selective solvent buffer flotation agent polymerization inhibitor in electroplating sol ns. corrosion inhibitor for metals depilatory for hides in food-pkg. adhesives in pharmaceutical injectables catalyst in food-contact PPO resins activator in food-contact rubber articles for repeated use... 

Figure 12.14. Fracture toughness of PPO composites, (a) PPO resin (b) 20% A-1100 glass-fiber composite (c) 20% glass-fiber composite (d) 20 % graphite-fiber composite (e) 20 % glass-bead composite (f) 20 % A-llOO glass-bead composite. The term A-llOO refers to the silane used as a coupling agent. (Trachte and DiBenedetto, 1971.)...

Uses Aviation gasoline additive octane booster in gasoline solvent for paints, gums, resins, rubber, inks, cleaners, adhesives, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals diluent, thinner in nitrocellulose lacquers thinner for perfumes, dyes alcohol denaturant process solvent adhesive solvent in plastic toys in extraction of various principles from plants mfg. of benzene, benzoic acid, benzaldehyde, toluene diisocyanate for PU resins, dyes, TNT for explosives, toluene sulfonates for detergents and dyestuffs adjuvant in resinous/polymeric food-contact coatings in paper/paperboard in contact with dry food in acrylic food pkg. in cellophane for food pkg. adjuvant for PC food-pkg. resins solvent in food-contact PPO resins in food-pkg. adhesives Regulatory FDA 21CFR 175.105, 175.320, 176.180, 177.1010, 177.1200, 177.1440,... 

Dependence of swell ratio of die for a toughened PPO resin on shear rate of the wall (after General Electric Plastics). 

The commercial PPO resins were developed by General Electric (Noryl) and defined as modified PPO. Their exact chemical nature is unknown. They may be polymer blends, likely with polystyrene or high-impact polystryene. In Europe PPO is recognized by a more generic name, polyphenylene ether (PPE). 

PPO resins are easy to process by injection molding or extrusion. For optimum appearance, a preheating in a dehumidifying oven is recommended. The PPO resins are well suited for conventional assembly and finishing operations. 

Applications for PPO resins include television and communication components such as terminal blocks and deflection yokes. Plumbing and automotive parts such as handles, vents, and brackets are a major end use. Housings, particularly those molded in the structural foam configurations, dominate the business machine and appliance market. 

The poly(phenylene oxide)s are also referred to as polyoxyphenylenes and poly(phenylene ether)s. Variations in the configuration of the ether group, ie, ortho, meta, or para, and in the extent and type of substitution, eg, alkyl, halo, etc, on the aromatic backbone give rise to a large number of possible homo- and copolymers. The polymers with para-oriented ethers have been studied most extensively and several have significant utility. Poly(2,6-dimethyl-l,4-phenylene oxide) [25134-01-4] (DMPPO), prepared by General Electric by the oxidative coupling polymerization of 2,6-dimethylphenol, is marketed as PPO resin. Blends of... 

At this point in time a business decision was made by Dr. Jack Welch, the introduction of modified PPO resins which were given the name NORYL resins. The resins were projected to fill a market niche between the engineering plastics known at that time and the commodity resins. Today Noryl resin is one of the largest volume engineering thermoplastics. 

On the supply side, global capacity as of mid-2006 is estimated to be 189 thousand metric tons for PPO resins and 535 thousand metric tons for MPPO blends. Regional producers and capacity for these countries are listed in Table 2.2 (6). Compared with the estimated 2010 demand of about 32 thousand metric tons, the industry is an over-capacity situation. 

PPO alloys presents a unique combination of properties such as heat resistance, low dielectric constant, good impact and tensile strength plus the flame retardancy and low density. These properties make the PPO resins competitive against many other engineering plastics for decades. The major application areas of MPPO alloy are in ... 

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