Additives for Polyolefins: Getting the Most out of Polypropylene, Polyethylene and TPO

Additives for Polyolefins is a unique quick-reference resource for those who create or use polyethylene and polypropylene compounds—the most commercially important family of plastic materials, making up close to half of the volume all plastics produced and used. These polymers would be useless without various additives.

The book focuses on polyolefin additives that are currently important in the plastics industry, alongside new additives of increasing interest, such as nanofillers and environmentally sustainable materials. As much as possible, each chapter emphasises the performance of the additives in the polymer, and the value each relevant additive brings to polypropylene or polyethylene. Where possible, similar additives are compared by capability and relative cost.

In this new edition, product tables have been updated with the most current product and company names, new case studies have been added, the role of nanofillers is discussed in greater detail, and the book concludes with a discussion on blending and handling additives, along with an entirely new chapter on how engineers can approach the issue of sustainability when choosing an additive.

Assesses capabilities and costs of a range of additives to enable engineers and scientists to make the correct selection for their property requirementsProvides concise, practical information about the purpose and use of specific additives, fillers, and reinforcements – demystifying the world of additives by providing clear, engineering explanations, and including real-world application case storiesUpdated to include additional material on nanofillers, blending and handling, and sustainability

1 Introduction

2 Trends in polyolefin and additive use

3 Antioxidants and heat stabilization

4 Ultraviolet light protection and stabilization

5 Flame-retarding additives

6 Additives for modifying electrical properties

7 Overview of fillers and fibers

8 Factors determining selection of fillers and fibers

9 Colorants

10 Nucleation and clarity

11 Processing aids for molding

12 Processing aids for extrusion

13 Reducing density: PO foams

14 Coupling, compatibilizing, recycling, and biodegradability

15 Cross-linking

16 Sterilization and radiation resistance

17 Aesthetics enhancement and surface modification

18 Gas-barrier properties enhancement

19 Adding additives to resin

20 Choosing additives for sustainability