Industrial Chemicals #5715726

Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate is a Commodity Polymer that is a copolymer of Ethylene and Vinyl Acetate. EVA copolymer is classified into three categories according to Vinyl Acetate content present. The first type is EVA containing low VA percentage. This category of Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate is used as a Thermoplastics Material. The second type of EVA consists of 4% to 30% of VA and it is used as a Thermoplastic Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate. The third category of Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate consists of more than 40% VA and it is used as Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Rubber. The process of manufacturing Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate involves a method wherein Ethylene and Vinyl Acetate are continuously polymerised. This continuous polymerisation is performed in a Polymerising Vessel.

Usage

Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate has extensive applications in Biomedical Engineering where it is used as a Drug Delivery device. EVA is also known as Expanded Rubber or Foam Rubber. It is used as padding for sports equipment like Ski Boots, Bicycle Saddles, Hockey Pads, Gloves, helmets, etc. The Photovoltaics Industry also uses Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate as an Encapsulation Material for Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells. Other common uses of EVA include in Footwear Components, Flexible Hoses, Automobile Bumpers, Toys and Athletic Goods, Moulded Automotive Parts, Flexible Packaging, Films, etc. The Food Industry also uses Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate for various food packaging applications like Seafood and Meat Packaging, Beverage and Food Packaging Design, Dry Food, and Snack Packaging, Dairy and Cheese Packaging, Plastic Closures for Beverages, Vacuum Packaging, Barrier Shrink Bags, Case Ready Meat Packaging, etc.

Poly-methyl methacrylate is an Engineering polymer which is a transparent thermoplastic commonly used as an alternative to glass. PMMA has several alternative names like acrylic, acrylic glass, plexiglass, acrylate, Lucite, Perspex, etc. The production of PMMA involves four stages namely, emulsion polymerization, solution polymerization, and bulk polymerization. It is essentially produced from a compound called propylene, which is obtained by refining lighter versions of crude oil.The process begins when propylene and benzene react together to form cumene. The cumene is then oxidized to produce cumene hydroperoxide.Next, the cumene hydroperoxide is treated with acid to form acetone. The resulting acetone undergoes a three-step process where it is finally converted into methyl methacrylate.

Usage

Industrial applications for Poly-methyl Methacrylate are numerous. The automotive industry, for instance, uses PMMA to manufacture rear light indicators and dashboard covers. Healthcare and medical industry applications of PMMA are in blood sample tubes, diagnostic dishes, andtoothbrushes.The Building and Construction Industry uses PMMA for making Windows, port-holes, and domes. PMMA is also used for making popular consumer products and household items such as salad bowls, plates, pens, lamp covers, etc.The optical industry uses properties of PMMA like transparency and UV resistance for making optical products like sunglasses, watch glasses, diffuser panels, etc. Other uses of PMMA include point-of-purchase displays, blister packaging, rear lights, instrument clusters for vehicles, appliances, glass lenses, window panels, skylights, bullet proof security barriers, signs and displays, bathtubs, LCD screens, furniture, etc.

In the preparation of Paraffin Wax, Slack Wax is first chosen as the Feed Stock. Slack Wax is obtained as a by-product when lubricating oil is refined. It is a mixture of Oil and Wax. Slack Wax is first de-oiled or de-waxed. The separation of Oil from Slack Wax is usually performed through Crystallisation. Crystallisation process works by heating the Slack Wax and mixing it with a solvent like Ketone. It is then cooled. When it cools, the solution is separated into Oil and crystallized wax. The mixture is filtered into solid and liquid streams. The solid stream consists of wax with some amount of solvent. The liquid stream has Oil and Solvent. Next, Distillation recovers the solvent. Post Distillation, the resulting products are product wax and foots oil. The product wax is further processed to remove colours and odours. Finally, the wax is blended and certain properties like melt point and penetration are added to it. This blended wax is Paraffin Wax.

The three major industries that make use of Paraffin Wax are the Candle, Thermostat, Distillation, and Packaging Industries. Other areas of application include the Agriculture Industry, Cosmetics, and Personal Care Industry. Paraffin Wax is used for Barrier Coating that is applied to surfaces to prevent the Interaction or Penetration of Liquids and Gases. They are used in the construction of marine and off-road batteries to secure bonding and to measure moisture protection. Paraffin Wax is also used to repel moisture in wood composite boards.

There are two major manufacturing processes for Polyethylene Wax namely, High Pressure Polymerisation and Low Pressure Polymerisation. Low Pressure Polymerisation is a controlled thermal degradation of high molecular weight Polyethylene. In the high-pressure reaction, Polyethylene Wax is prepared from either Polyethylene or Ethylene. Batch processing technology is employed for making PE wax in the degradation technique. This is because it is based on the Thermal Cracking Method and is cost effective as opposed to the Continuous Process Technology. In this degradation technique, by-products such as wax gel and wax emulsion are also obtained. The Technology for manufacturing Polyethylene Wax using either of the two processes as mentioned above was developed by an American Company which used Scrap HDPE and LDPE as the Raw Material.

Usage

PE Wax is mainly used as Slip Agents, Dispersants, Resin Modifiers, and Mould Release Agents. It is added to coatings and to ink to resist adhesion, scratches, and to increase smoothness. They are also used in Masterbaches for Wetting and Dispersion of Pigments. The processing of plastics of different kinds also requires PE Wax for Internal or External Lubricants. For wood-plastic composites, PE Wax is used in adhesion promotion. Some cosmetic applications also use PE Wax. Other uses include Surface Modification for Aqueous and Solvent based Coating Systems and Water or Solvent based wax dispersions.

Impact Modifiers are substances that increase the durability of moulded or extruded plastics, especially those that need to be constantly subjected to impact forces like cold weather. They are added to compounded materials to provide performance features. They provide strength and break resistance to the product for which they are added. They also provide rigidity to the product to prevent it from wrapping or sagging during everyday use. Impact Modifiers also provide various properties to the product like optical and tensile strength, weatherability, processability, flammability, and heat distortion. Impact Modifiers are of different types depending on the product they are added into like Precipitated Calcium Carbonate for PVC etc. Impact Modifiers are elastomeric or rubbery in nature which is why they can absorb the energy of an impact or dissipate it.

Usage

The major applications of Impact Modifiers are for packaging, construction, automotive, and consumer goods. They are used in plastic resins for packaging and film like Technical Films, and Rigid Containers. PVC Pipes and Fittings in the Building and Construction Industry also see the use for Impact Modifiers. Other uses of Impact Modifiers include Electronic Housing, Transportation Parts, and Films. Other PVC applications of Impact Modifiers include for siding, fence, deck, rail, pipe, and injection moulding applications. Manufacture of Sheets, Food Packaging Film, Bottles, Pharmaceutical Blister Packs also need Impact Modifiers. Sporting goods, Glass and Mineral Fillers also need Impact Modifiers for production.