The importance of plasticizers in industrial production
The importance of plasticizers in industrial production cannot be ignored. It is an indispensable type of additive in the processing of polymer materials. The importance of plasticizers is elaborated on from several aspects below:
1. Improve material properties
Plasticizers can significantly improve the properties of polymer materials. By being added to polymer materials, plasticizers can weaken the secondary bonds between resin molecules, increase the mobility of resin molecular bonds, and reduce the crystallinity of resin molecules, thereby increasing the plasticity of resin molecules, making them more flexible and easy to processing. This is very important for the production of soft plastic products such as plastic films, plastic pipes, plastic floors, etc.
2. Improve production efficiency
The use of plasticizers can lower the glass transition temperature (Tg) of plastics, making the plastics softer and easier to process at lower temperatures. This helps increase production efficiency because the plastic can be formed and processed at lower temperatures, reducing energy consumption and equipment wear.
3. Reduce production costs
Plasticizers can reduce the amount of plastic used without changing the basic properties of the plastic, thereby reducing production costs. For example, in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic products, the amount of plasticizer added can sometimes reach 50% of the product, which significantly reduces the use of raw materials, thereby reducing production costs.
4. Wide application fields
The application fields of plasticizers are very wide, involving almost every field of the national economy. It is widely used in materials such as plastic products, concrete, plaster, cement, gypsum, cosmetics and cleaning agents. Especially in polyvinyl chloride plastic products, the role of plasticizers is particularly prominent. In addition, plasticizers are widely used in thousands of products including rubber, adhesives, cellulose, resins, medical devices, cables, and more.
5. Promote the development of related industries
The development of the plasticizer industry not only promotes the advancement of polymer material processing technology, but also promotes the development of related industries. For example, with the increasing demand for plasticizers in plastic packaging, building materials, medical devices and other fields, the production and research and development of plasticizers have also developed rapidly. At the same time, the quality and performance of plasticizers are also constantly improving to meet the performance needs of polymer materials in different fields.
6. Environmental and health issues require attention
Although plasticizers play an important role in industrial production, their use may also pose some environmental and health concerns. Some plasticizers may leach into the environment, causing contamination of soil and water sources. In addition, some plasticizers may cause harm to human health, such as interfering with the endocrine system. Therefore, you need to choose carefully when using plasticizers and follow relevant safety standards and regulations.
To sum up, the importance of plasticizers in industrial production is self-evident. It can not only significantly improve the performance of polymer materials, increase production efficiency and reduce production costs, but is also widely used in various fields of the national economy. However, we also need to pay attention to the environmental and health issues that plasticizers may cause to ensure their safe and sustainable use.