SPE Library

The SPE Library contains thousands of papers, presentations, journal briefs and recorded webinars from the best minds in the Plastics Industry. Spanning almost two decades, this collection of published research and development work in polymer science and plastics technology is a wealth of knowledge and information for anyone involved in plastics.

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Conference Proceedings

Sustainable Plasticizers for Flexible Vinyl

Patrick Harmon, May 2009

PowerPoint Presentation at Vinyltec Conference 2009.

Formulating Specialty Plasticizers

William D. Arendt, May 2009

PowerPoint Presentation at Vinyltec Conference 2009.

Benzoate Plasticizers in Rotational Molding Plastisol

William D. Arendt, May 2009

PowerPoint Presentation at Vinyltec Conference 2009.

SURFACE ENHANCEMENT OF TPO POLYMERS WITH IMPROVED FLOW AND SCRATCH PROPERTIES

Ashutosh H. Sharma , Jennifer K. Lynch, May 2009

Detailed application data is presented for the newly developed additive formulations designed for their use in surface enhancement of TPO polymers with improved flow and scratch properties. Improvements in impact properties and talc dispersion have been achieved with newly developed additives. Excellent scratch resistance performance has been achieved in TPO when used at 1-3% loadings without negatively affecting key physical properties. Recent work conducted on flow and release property enhancers for polyolefins are discussed. It is shown that significant performance improvements in PP /TPO polymers can be obtained at low loadings of these process aids. In addition to mechanical properties, rheological data is presented. It is shown that tailor making the additive formulations can achieve optimal scratch performance required for automotive interior/exterior applications.

The New Climate of Political Toxicology and What it Means to Plastics Producers

Devin Wm. Hill, May 2009

Chemical substances are under increasing attack from consumer groups, legislators, and certain segments of the scientific community. These attacks have led to decisions being based on “political toxicology.” Advocates seeking to restrict or eliminate the use of chemicals are able to leverage public reaction to results obtained from unconventional and esoteric studies to condemn a substance even when data based on accepted toxicological principles and validated protocols support a safety conclusion. Those advocating these policies seem to believe that simply banning chemicals will achieve an alluring ideal that all potential risk can be avoided, often without any thought to adverse consequences of their actions. This presentation will discuss the current regulatory and political climate that is evolving around the use of chemical substances, particularly when these chemicals are used in contact with food or in consumer products used by infants and children. Mr. Hill will present examples of the increasing number of legislative and regulatory initiatives at the local, state, federal level that are affecting the future use of chemical substances and the increased burden on industry. Finally, the presentation will provide some insight on how companies can position themselves in this climate of political toxicology and proactively defend the use of safe and effective products from pseudoscience and public misconception.

Most recent developments in Mineral Additives – basis for sustainable and ecofriendly stabilizers

Reiner Sauerwein, May 2009

The public perception of PVC is changing throughout the world. In Europe a lot of emotional discussion was going on in the past, with a peak at the end of the last century. This has changed during the very previous years – PVC has gained a relatively good public perception and acceptance in Europe again. The voluntary Vinyl 2010 initiative has been successful in establishing joined forces within the PVC process chain to generate trust in the move for sustainability of the whole industry. Besides tremendous work in the field of PVC recycling, the substitution of hazardous or critical additives in heat stabilizers is one of the key topics that lead to this positive change in public acceptance.

Formulating Flexible PVC for Long Service Life - Effects on Eco-Friendliness

Paul H. Daniels, May 2009

A significant fraction of the flexible PVC products produced in the US consists of durable goods, products with intended service lives of three years or (sometimes much) more. Geomembranes, roofing membranes, vinyl wallcovering and flooring, electrical wire insulation are all examples of long-lived flexible PVC products. Obviously, flexible PVC can be designed for the long term. But flexible PVC (like other plastics) is often accused of being a readily disposable commodity that when discarded contributes to roadside litter or endures for hundreds of years (or longer) in landfills. Which is it? Does formulating flexible PVC for long service life make it less eco-friendly? In this paper the steps involved in designing flexible PVC for long service life and the some ecological impacts of long-lived flexible PVC products are examined.

Formulating Flexible PVC for Long Service Life - Effects on Eco-Friendliness

Paul H. Daniels, May 2009

Alkyl Pyrrolidones- Plasticizers for Technically Challenging Applications -

H. Kaytan | M. Bonnet, May 2009

Alkyl Pyrrolidones (specifically N-[C-8 to C-18]-2-Pyrrolidones) are strong solvating, general purpose PVC plasticizers, which are about 30-50% more efficient then the standard plasticizers, reduce processing temperatures dramatically and impart flexibility at extremely low temperatures. They can be used as primary plasticizers, in plasticizer blends as well as at additive levels by all typical processing methods; extrusion, calendaring, injection molding, plastisol. They improve the compatibility of other components of the flexible PVC like fillers, extenders and other plasticizers like ESO, Polymerics, DINCH etc. The described benefits and properties are carried proportionally to the blended systems, so that all formulation issues can be addressed by using Alkyl Pyrrolidones from as low as 1phr in plasticizer blends (decreasing processing temperatures and increasing gelling speed) ) to >80phr (for extremely flexible highly filled PVC with gum-like elasticity). Alkyl Pyrrolidones also provide new solutions for semi-rigid applications (e.g. at 6-12 phr) since they exhibit no anti-plasticizing behavior. They are particularly useful in plastisol applications, where working with phthalate or phthalate-free plasticizer systems can cause various technical issues. By using Alkyl Pyrrolidones many of these problems can be overcome, since they increase gelling speed and transparency, reduce gelling temperatures and haze, improve de-aeration, enhance foam uniformity.

PVC: Compound Reactants And the Plastics Processing Reactor

Gary R. Mitchener, May 2009

What advice can we give to the novice, vinyl technologist pursuing a career involving formulating and processing vinyl plastic? All seasoned vinyl veterans have faced the challenge of trying to explain why something unexpected came out of the processing equipment. Is there some advice to help explain this? For me, there is one concept that helps explain many of those occurrences. It can be summed up as follows: Vinyl polymer and its additives are chemicals. Vinyl processing equipment are reactors. When we process vinyl compounds, we produce chemical reactions. Anticipate and understand these reactions.