Handbook of Polymer Processing Additives

The handbook and the databook series include separate books on many commonly used additives, such as Antiblocking Agents, Antioxidants, Biocides, Flame Retardants, Nucleating Agents, Plasticizers, Solvents, UV Stabilizers, and many others. This Handbook contains a selection of minor additives used in the processing of polymeric and other materials, such as acid scavengers, air release, anticaking, antifoaming, antifreezing, antigassing, antigelling, defoaming, and antisettling additives, and hydrolysis stabilizers, moisture scavengers, and reprocessing aids. They are all very important additives, although less documented in the literature.

Information on the use of these additives in various products is divided into the following sections: Methods and mechanisms of additives use, Types and concentrations, Application data that emphasize reasons for their use, advantages and disadvantages of additive use, effect on product properties, and properties of final products.

The above-listed additives are most frequently used in PVC resins, including rigid, flexible, and paste resin, PVC copolymers, other vinyl resins, and mixtures with other polymers, polyolefins (PE and PP), and their copolymers (e.g., EVA, EPDM), polystyrene and various styrene copolymers, epichlorohydrin rubber, fluoroelastomers, fluorinated rubbers, and fluoropolymers, polyesters (PBT, PET, PLA, PBAT, unsaturated polyesters, and TPE), polyamides, polyurethanes, acrylates, and their various copolymers, alkyds, polyoxymethylene, epoxy, melamine, and phenolic resins, cellulosic polymers (e.g., nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate butyrate), rubbers (butyl, chlorinated rubber, styrene-butadiene, chlorobutyl, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, nitrile, silicone, and polychloroprene), starch-based resins, and many others not mentioned by name.

 

Many products and industries require these additives, including construction, automotive, aeronautic, electronic industries, glass coating, insulating glass manufacture, mineral wool insulation, adhesives, sealants and gaskets, cable and wire industry, paints, primers, and coatings, wind turbines, 3D printing, shoe industry, pneumatic pipe, film, conveyor belts, elevator wheel, home appliances, building decorative boards, shopping bags, agricultural film, food containers, toys and stationery, membranes, leather and coated fabrics, roof coatings, asphaltic felt, modified bitumen and single plies, printing with gravure and flexo on paper and vinyl wall coverings, foams, cast parts, cleaners, printing inks and toners, agrochemicals, cosmetics, and many others not mentioned by name.

The above (incomplete) list of polymers and products, which use discussed in this book additives, shows how important they are for polymer processing and production of many other products.

A complete analysis of literature and patents is included in this book. The book considers all essential aspects of chemistry, physical properties, influence on properties of final products, formulations, methods of incorporation, analysis, and effects on health and environment.

This book is an excellent companion to the Databook of Polymer Processing Additives because the data in the Handbook of Polymer Processing Additives do not repeat information, but Handbook gives a broader background for the selection of the additives, and their performance mechanisms, and many essential application properties.

The combination of data and comprehensive analysis of the performance of these materials form a particularly important source of information for industry, research, academia, and legislature. These two books should be considered by any industrial, university, governmental, and public library because of the widespread applications of these additives in industry and everyday life.

George Wypych has a Ph.D. in chemical engineering. His professional expertise includes both university teaching (full professor) and research and development. He has published 18 books, 47 scientific papers, and he has obtained 16 patents. He specializes in polymer additives, polymer processing and formulation, material durability and the development of sealants and coatings.