Calcium Zinc Stabilizers for PVC: A Comprehensive Guide

10 Jun.,2024

 

Calcium Zinc Stabilizers for PVC: A Comprehensive Guide

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) is a versatile and widely used polymer in various industries due to its exceptional properties. However, PVC is inherently unstable and susceptible to degradation under heat, UV exposure, and other environmental factors.

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To overcome this challenge, stabilizers are added to PVC formulations. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the benefits of calcium zinc stabilizers for PVC, exploring their product grades, applications, and key features.

Understanding Calcium Zinc Stabilizers:

Calcium zinc stabilizers are a type of stabilizer commonly used in PVC formulations. They are composed of a blend of calcium, zinc, and organic acids. Unlike traditional stabilizers like lead-based or tin-based stabilizers, calcium zinc stabilizers offer improved safety and environmental advantages. They are free from heavy metals and hazardous substances, making them a sustainable choice for PVC production.

Product Grades of Calcium Zinc Stabilizers:

Various product grades of calcium zinc stabilizers for PVC are available, each with specific performance characteristics for different PVC formulations.

  1. General-Purpose Grades: Balanced combination of heat stability, weatherability, and processing performance.
  2. High-Heat Stability Grades: Excellent heat stability during PVC processing at elevated temperatures.
  3. Weatherability Grades: Enhance the resistance of PVC products to outdoor weathering, UV radiation, and environmental factors.
  4. Transparent Grades: Maintain the clarity and transparency of PVC while providing necessary stabilization.
  5. Low-Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Grades: Minimizing the emission of volatile organic compounds during PVC processing or in the final product.
  6. Food-Contact Grades: Complies with regulatory requirements for PVC products intended for food-contact applications.

Factors such as heat stability, weatherability, and mechanical properties influence the selection process. It is important to consider the specific requirements of the PVC application and consult with experts to determine the optimal grade.

Applications of PVC with Calcium Zinc Stabilizers:

The applications of PVC with calcium zinc stabilizers are widespread across several industries.

Construction industry: PVC pipes and fittings, as well as window profiles and frames, benefit from the heat stability and long-term durability provided by calcium zinc stabilizers.

Electrical industry: PVC cable insulation and electrical connectors rely on the improved weatherability and resistance to degradation offered by these stabilizers.

Automotive industry: Utilizes PVC with calcium zinc stabilizers in interior trims, panels, seals, and gaskets, enhancing their mechanical properties and longevity.

Furthermore, calcium zinc stabilizers find applications in other industries and niche applications, showcasing their versatility and wide-ranging benefits.

Key Features and Advantages of Calcium Zinc Stabilizers:

The key features and advantages of calcium zinc stabilizers for PVC formulations are numerous.

  1. Heat Stability: Minimizes thermal degradation during PVC processing, ensuring consistent product quality.
  2. Weatherability and UV Resistance: Protects PVC products from discoloration and degradation under harsh environmental conditions.
  3. Enhanced Mechanical Properties: Improves impact resistance and tensile strength for enhanced durability.
  4. Compatibility: Compatible with other additives and raw materials, allowing for versatile formulations.
  5. Safety, Health, and Environmental Benefits: Free from hazardous substances, contributing to worker safety and environmental sustainability.

Considerations and Best Practices:

To maximize the benefits of calcium zinc stabilizers for PVC formulations, it is important to follow certain considerations and best practices.

  1. Optimal Dosage and Usage: Follow dosage guidelines for optimal performance without compromising PVC properties.
  2. Compatibility: Consider compatibility with other additives and processing conditions.
  3. Regulatory Compliance: Adhere to regulatory requirements and obtain necessary certifications.

Conclusion:

Calcium zinc stabilizers offer a multitude of benefits for PVC formulations, making them a preferred choice in various industries. With their improved heat stability, weatherability, mechanical properties, and compatibility, PVC products formulated with calcium zinc stabilizers exhibit enhanced performance and longevity. As the demand for sustainable and high-quality PVC continues to grow, the utilization of calcium zinc stabilizers proves to be a valuable solution. Embrace the advantages they offer and unlock the full potential of PVC in your applications. In case you still have any queries regarding Calcium Zinc Stabilizer for PVC, feel free to contact us.

Calcium/Zinc stabilisers - PVC

The use of calcium/zinc stabiliser systems has been common in PVC applications for over 25 years.

These materials are generally based on metal carboxylates and will sometimes incorporate other elements to boost performance such as aluminium or magnesium.

Because the heat stability in some applications may require some enhancement when using calcium/zinc, organic co-stabilisers will also often be added to this type of formulation.

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These materials include polyols, epoxydised soya bean oil, antioxidants and organic phosphites.

Properties and Applications

Because of the characteristics of calcium/zinc stabilised materials they are widely used in many flexible and rigid PVC applications. This type of stabilising system can give products which have a high degree of clarity, good mechanical and electrical properties, excellent organoleptic properties and good outdoor weatherability.

This type of stabilising system can give products which have a high degree of clarity, good mechanical and electrical properties, excellent organoleptic properties and good outdoor weatherability.

As a result, calcium/zinc stabilisers have been incorporated and established in a wide range of applications as shown in table two. These include toys, healthcare products, such as blood bags, semi-rigid and flexible foil for food packaging, bottles for potable water, as well as for potable water pipe.

The performance of more recent developments in calcium/zinc stabilisers also makes them potential technical alternatives to most other stabilising systems, including lead and barium/zinc. As a result of pressures on the continuing use of heat stabilisers based on lead compounds, considerable development work has been carried out on new, improved systems for applications including cable covering, pipe and window profile and many of these are have been in commercial use for several years.

These newer forms of calcium/zinc stabiliser are in general more complex and expensive than the traditional soaps mainly because of the specialised co-stabilisers required to meet the specific requirements of these applications. The rate of introduction of such stabilising systems is slowed down by the extensive evaluation work required and the need for acceptance by the specifier.

So far, the penetration of calcium/zinc stabilisers in these three sectors is almost complete in drinking water pipes, well advanced in cables but still limited in other pipes and profiles. Sales of formulated Ca based stabilizers in Western Europe and Turkey , including Ca/Zn, have increased from 18 kt in to 56 kt in .

Further growth is expected as a result of the progressive phasing out of lead-based systems. In the sector of flexible foils where the main stabiliser used is a barium/zinc soap, substitution by calcium/zinc materials is also taking place although, again, there are technical issues which need to be overcome.

Applications for Stabilisers - European Market


Stabiliser Type Application Pb Pb/Ba/Cd Ba/Cd Ca/Zn Ba/Zn Sn K/Zn (2) Unplasticised PVC Pipes ++

++(1)


Fittings ++



+(1)
Profiles ++ ++
+


Foil




++
Bottles


++
++
Sheet +

(+)
++
Plasticised PVC Cable Covering +

++


Foil and Sheet +

+ ++

Flooring



++ + ++ Wall Covering


(+) ++ + ++ Medical Use


++


Tubes and Footwear


+ ++

Food Packaging Film


++


Fabric Coating


+ ++
++

++ Major use
+ Minor use
(+) Occasional use
(1) Used for potable water pipe
(2) Used as a stabiliser/'kicker' for foamed layers in these products

Safety, Health and Environmental Issues

Inherently calcium/zinc stabiliser systems incorporating the proven range of co-stabilisers have low toxicity or are regarded as non-toxic.

Calcium/zinc salts of any of the acids in the EU Additives Directive are approved for food contact use, although specific approval would depend on the co-stabiliser incorporated into the stabilising system. Solid calcium/zinc stabilisers have to meet the general requirements for dust emissions in the workplace although dust-free forms are readily available.

There are no risks to human health or the environment arising from the use of zinc stearate in PVC heat stabilisers

Zinc is an essential element to human activity and health and has been the subject of various risk assessments. The conclusion of these has been that there are no risks to human health or the environment arising from the use of zinc stearate in PVC heat stabilisers.

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