Titanate zirconate coupling agents

Zirconates Zirconate coupling agents have very similar structure to the titanates. They also perform similar functions. Zirconium compounds exist in both water and organic solvent soluble forms. Like the titanates, zirconate coupling agents are useful in improving the dispersion characteristics of fillers in polymer systems. Examples of zirconate coupling... 

Fig. 1. Typical generalized structures of titanate/zirconate coupling agents. (Courtesy Kenrich Petrochemicals, Inc.)...

For silica fillers, hydrolytic stability is best when M = Si for other fillers, e.g., calcium carbonate then titanate- or zirconate-coupling agents are preferred. 

Monte S J, Sugerman G, Ken-React Reference Manual - Titanate and Zirconate Coupling Agents, Kenrich Pertochemical Inc., Bayonne, 1985. 

Titanate and zirconate coupling agents have also been used to compatibilize PP and PE to aeate useful products that contain more recyclate For example, a titanate reportedly aeated a useful 80% LDPE, 20% PP regrind blend. 

Monte SJ. Titanate and zirconate coupling agents in foamed polymers, technical report. Kenrich Petrochemicals Inc. 

Monte SJ, Neoalkoxy titanate and zirconate coupling agent additives in thermoplastics. Rapra Technology. Polym Polym Compos 2002 10(1). 

Table 5.2 Titanate and zirconate coupling agents form designation.

Two examples of titanate coupling agents are shown below. The first contains amine groups and would be suitable for use with epoxide adhesives. Zirconate coupling agents have very similar structures to the titanates. 

Monte, S.J. and Sugarman, G. (1985) Titanate and zirconate coupling agent applications in polymer composites. Developments in Polymer Technology - 2 (eds A. Whelan and J.L. Craft), Elsevier Applied Science Publishers, Barking, UK. 

Typical generalized structures of titanate and zirconate coupling agents are shown in Fig. 1. One of the proposed mechanisms for the effectiveness of the titanates in some composite systems is shown in Fig. 2. The water of hydration at the inorganic filler or fiber surface is re-... 

Kenrich is the outstanding company that has conducted research on titanate and zirconate coupling agents and produced these materials for adhesives and composites. This effort has led to many patents related to their products. U.S. Patent, 4,600,789 (July 15, 1986) and... 

Other additives such as silanes, titanates and zirconates are also used to overcome the processing characteristics of silica fillers. Silanes not only give improved processability of silica-filled compounds, but also provide improved crosslinks between the silica particle surface and the rubber molecular chains giving increased physical properties. The use of silane coupling agents at a... 

Hunt et al. [ 17] have investigated the role of various coupling agents, such as zirconates, titanates, and zircoaluminates, in zirconia-polypropylene suspensions for use in the production of ceramics by injection moulding. All the coupling agents were observed to reduce the melt viscosity. 

There are a variety of silanes, titanates and zirconates used as coupling agents for the reinforcing type of filler. 

Titanate coupling agents impart increased functionality to fillers in plastics. The different ways that these additives work in filled polymers can be explained by breaking down the various mechanisms of the titanate (or zirconate) molecule into six distinct functions. Filler pretreatment and in situ reactive compounding with titanates and zirconates to effect coupling, catalysis, and heteroatom functionality in the polymer melt are also discussed. 

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