NUCLEATING AGENTS

24-Aug, 2020
OVERVIEW
FUNCTION

1. Increase the crystallization temperature of polymers

when cooling.
2. Enhance the processibility of polymers.
3. Improve in physical properties (Increase Tc, Flexural
Modulus, Izod Impact, HDT)
4. Improve in optical properties (Transparency, Haze)

MECHANISM

Source: Nucleating and clarifying agents for polymers, Jitka Kučerová

Nucleating Agents
1. Micronized Inorganic Material: Talc (Mg3Si4O10), Na2CO3,
• Improve stiffness, Tc
• Reduce shrinkage
• Improve thermo properties.
• Improve the hardness
2. Organic Material
2.1 Melt sensitive : Sorbitol-based
2.2 Melt insensitive : Sodium Benzoate
Class of Nucleating Agent
2.1 Melt sensitive : Sorbitol-based
– Melting point which is below or near the normal processing temperatures
– Set-up a physical gelation network within the matrix and insure a highly dispersion
– Enhance clarity and increase physical properties such as FM, tensile strength, Tc.
– Thermal decomposition
• Loss of nucleating property and decrease in clarity
• Formation of aldehydes (organoleptic properties) --> sweet, cherry-like odor

DMDBS
Class of Nucleating Agent
2.2 Melt insensitive
– Benzoate-salt such as sodium benzoate, AL-PTBBA, organic phosphates
– Do not melt at normal processing temperatures, but acts as single point nucleation
sites within the matrix
– Enhance physical properties but less effective at improving transparency

Properties Measurement
• Content : X-ray, Ash content, FT-IR
• Performance : FM, HDT, Tc, Shrinkage, Izod, Haze, etc.

Source: Nucleating and clarifying agents for polymers, Jitka Kučerová

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

Q & A ??