Fabrication and Processing of Engineering Materials - Polymer Additives

6 important questions on Fabrication and Processing of Engineering Materials - Polymer Additives

What are typical additives?

Fillers, plasticizers, stabilizers, colorants, and flame retardants.

How do fillers modify the polymer properties?

Fillers are mostly added to improve tensile and compression strength, abrasion resistance, toughness, dimensional and thermal stability. They are also used to reduce the cost of the final material.

How do plasticizers modify the polymer properties?

Plasticizers are used to enhance flexibility, ductility and toughness of polymers. They are usually liquids with low vapor pressure. Small plasticizers may reduce the secondary intermolecular bonding.
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How do colorants modify the polymer properties?

As the name says the colorants color the polymer.

What is the difference between pigment and dye colorant?

- Dye molecules dissolve in the polymer.
- Pigments are a filler material that remain in a different phase.

How do flame retardants modify the polymer properties?

The flame retardant influences the flammability resistance by either interfering with the combustion process trough the gas phase or by initiating a different combustion with lower heat production.

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