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[Chemical Knowledge]：The nature and use of plastic additives

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Plastic additives are widely used in the field of chemical production raw materials, and their properties and uses have their own characteristics. This article will detail the properties and uses of several common plastic additives such as antioxidants, light stabilizers, heat stabilizers, plasticizers, flame retardants, etc.

1. antioxidant

antioxidant is a kind of additive used to prevent or delay the oxidative degradation of polymer materials, which can prolong the service life of plastic products. Antioxidants can be divided into chain terminators and peroxide decomposers according to their mechanism of action. The chain terminator mainly stops the oxidation chain reaction by trapping free radicals, thereby preventing the aging of the material. The peroxide decomposer can decompose the peroxide and eliminate the harm of the peroxide. Antioxidants are widely used in polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polyamide and other plastic products.

2. light stabilizers

light stabilizers are a class of additives that can absorb or shield ultraviolet rays and prevent polymer materials from being degraded by photo-oxidation. The mechanism of action of light stabilizers includes ultraviolet absorption, energy transfer, quenching of singlet oxygen, etc. Commonly used light stabilizers are benzophenones, benzotriazoles, triazines, etc. Light stabilizers are mainly used in plastic products for outdoor use, such as agricultural films, building materials, and auto parts.

3. heat stabilizers

heat stabilizers are a class of additives used to prevent or slow down the degradation of polymer materials due to thermal oxidation during processing and use. The mechanism of thermal stabilizer is to inhibit the oxidative degradation of materials by capturing free radicals, decomposing peroxides and eliminating active hydrogen. Commonly used heat stabilizers include lead salts, organic tin, calcium-zinc composite stabilizers, etc. Heat stabilizers are widely used in PVC plastic products, such as pipes, profiles, cables, etc.

4. plasticizers

plasticizers are a class of additives that can increase the plasticity of polymer materials and reduce their glass transition temperature. The mechanism of action of plasticizers is mainly through the insertion of polymer chains to increase the chain spacing and reduce the intermolecular force, thereby improving the flexibility and processability of the material. Commonly used plasticizers include phthalic acid esters, terephthalic acid esters, phosphoric acid esters, etc. Plasticizers are widely used in PVC, polyurethane, polyvinyl acetate and other plastic products, such as food packaging, medical equipment, wire and cable.

5. flame retardant

flame retardant is a kind of additive that can improve the fire resistance of polymer materials. The mechanism of flame retardant is mainly through the gas phase and condensed phase flame retardant effect, inhibit flame propagation, reduce the burning speed, so as to achieve the purpose of flame retardant. Commonly used flame retardants are halogen flame retardants, phosphorus flame retardants, nitrogen flame retardants, etc. Flame retardants are widely used in plastic products in the fields of construction, electronic appliances, transportation, etc., such as fire doors, wires and cables, automotive interiors, etc.

summary:

plastic additives play an important role in the field of chemical production raw materials, which can improve the performance and quality of plastic products, extend their service life and broaden their application fields. Different types of plastic additives have different properties and uses, and need to be selected and used according to specific application scenarios. With the continuous progress of science and technology, new efficient and environmentally friendly plastic additives will continue to emerge, injecting new vitality into the development of the plastics industry.

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