luis uribe

Fire-safe plastics are crucial to our daily use. Without them, there would be a lot more fire outbreaks and higher fatality rates from these disasters than we have now. Because many plastics naturally tend to catch fire when exposed to high temperatures. Only polymers with inherent flame resistance can resist this tendency. Unfortunately, there aren’t many of them for the vast applications of polymers in our world. But the good news is that for these non-flame-resistant polymers, we have flame retardant polymer additives.

It isn’t enough, however, to just mix any kind of polymer with any kind of flame retardants and hope that the material doesn’t go up in flames. The processes of flame retardation in these polymers and the choice of the additives themselves are often complex. So, we have in this article everything you need to know about flame retardants, including:

• What flame retardants are.
• The need for flame retardants in polymers.
• How flame retardants work.
• Types of flame retardants in plastics.
• Different polymers and their compatible flame retardants.
• Flame retardants and their health concerns, and
• The best way to ship flame retardants.

What are Flame Retardants?

Flame retardants are polymer additives that prevent ignition and/or retard burning in polymers using chemical and physical reactions.

You could try to make the polymer itself flame retardant by improving its intrinsic thermal stability. This would effectively make the polymers less likely to decompose from exposure to high temperatures. But it would be a more expensive venture, considering the volumes of polymers that would have to be intrinsically altered to meet up with the massive applications of the polymers. The cheaper, yet equally effective alternative is the use of flame retardants.

Flame retardants, like other polymer additives, only need to be added in negligible quantities. For instance, you only need between 2% and 10% w of red phosphorus flame retardant, depending on the polymer.

Additive and Reactive Flame Retardants

The additive flame retardant is the category of FRs that is physically mixed with the polymers during processing. Reactive FRs, on the other hand, have to mix with their polymer bases through chemical reactions.

Additive flame retardants don’t need to react chemically with the polymers, so manufacturers can mix them at any stage during the manufacturing process. While this is an enormous advantage for additive flame retardants over their reactive counterparts, the effect of the latter is usually more lasting than that of the former because they bond chemically with the polymer. But since reactive flame retardants must be added reactively to the polymers, this must be done in the early stages of polymer manufacture.

The Need for Flame Retardants in Polymers

There are many reasons we need flame retardants in polymers. Flame retardants:

• Inhibit fire outbreak or its propagation by increasing the flame retardant property of the polymer.
• Help to preserve lives and properties.
• Make the duties of fire service operators easier.

How flame Retardants Work

Flame retardants are different in their working mechanisms. A good starting place to understand how they work is knowing how polymers burn or ignite.

When exposed to heat, polymers emit combustible gasses. These gases mix with oxygen in the air to start ignition. And as long as the polymer has not completely decomposed, it gives off the gas that burns continuously, serving as fuel to the fire. The heat from the fire also returns to the system to keep the fire going. And it goes on and on until the polymer is completely burnt.

During the process, you might observe that the three most important factors are heat, fuel, and oxygen. And these three factors lead the polymer into various stages of the combustion process that comprise heating, decomposition, ignition, spreading of the flame, and smoking.

Without having all these factors to set up the combustion process, there’s no way burning could happen. And this is where our heroes come in. Flame retardants work by breaking the combustion process by removing any of the requisites for combustion.

There are three means through which flame retardants do this: Vapor Phase Inhibition, Solid Phase Char Formation, and Quench and Cool.

The Mechanisms for Flame Retardants In Polymers

Flame retardant retardants deter ignition and burning in the following ways:

1.     Vapor Phase Inhibition

The vapor phase inhibition of flame retardants involves the disruption of the release of the flammable gases that polymers release when exposed to heat. Flame retardants disrupt this process by cooling the polymer so that there isn’t enough heat to cause the expulsion of the combustive gases. The desired consequence is that there isn’t enough gas to start the ignition or keep the burning going.

Although the choice of flame retardant depends on the polymer itself, the two most common compounds used for this kind of vapor phase inhibition are chlorinated organic compounds and brominated compounds. These compounds interfere with the gas phase by releasing chlorine or bromine ions that break the combustive gases reaction process in the polymers. The effect of this process on the flame is that it either slows or dies.

2.     Solid Phase Char Formation

The solid phase char formation is a mechanism some flame retardants employ to break the combustion process through the formation of char. A flame retardant that has this property causes a layer of carbon (char) to form on the surface of the polymer This layer of char then serves as a barrier between the polymer and the heat from the environment.

Apart from forming a barrier, the solid-phase char formation flame retardant also doubles as a hindrance for the flammable gas in the polymer to escape. This ability comes in handy when there is eventually enough heat to force the release of the combustive gases despite the char formation. The char then hinders gases from getting out.

Common examples of flame retardants that fall into this category are melamine-based flame retardants. The molecular structure of these compounds changes into cross-linked structures when they are exposed to heat. And this is where the char comes from.

3.     Quench and Cool

Quench and cool flame retardants make use of hydrated minerals to disrupt the combustion cycle. When these hydrated minerals are exposed to heat, they release the water molecules in them, which in turn cool the polymer and prevent the polymer from letting off its flammable gases.

The compounds that fall into the quench and cool category of flame retardants are magnesium and aluminum compounds. Besides releasing the polymer-cooling water molecules, the retardants also starve the polymer of the energy it requires to sustain burning. Another positive consequence is that this process forms a layer of char that further protects the polymer.

Classifications of Flame Retardants Used in Polymers

Flame retardants exist in several classes. And each class has peculiar properties that make it suitable for specific applications. The six most common of these flame retardant classes are:

• Halogenated flame retardants
• Phosphorus-based flame retardants
• Melamine flame retardants
• Phosphate flame retardants
• Metal hydroxide flame retardants
• Silicon-based flame retardants

But of these six, we’ll only discuss the first three:

1.    Halogenated Flame Retardants

The two halogenated flame retardants we use in polymers are the brominated compounds and chlorinated compounds. Fluorides don’t make it to the list because of their low effectiveness. Iodides also fall short because of their thermal instability at the temperature ranges where polymers are processed.

a.     Chlorinated flame retardants

Chlorinated flame retardants (CFRs) contain chlorine in high concentrations, and they are mostly used in the vapor phase inhibition of flames. They aren’t deployed alone into the polymers, however. Synergists (such as antimony trioxide) are used in combination with them. Chlorinated flame retardants often fall into two categories: chlorinated paraffin and chlorinated alkyl phosphate.

Depending on how long the paraffin chain is, chlorinated paraffin flame retardants are either liquid or solid. And their most common application is in combination with DP or DOP as a plasticizer for flexible PVC. Cables and flooring materials built with this flexible PVC have flame retardant properties. Solid chlorinated paraffin is also useful in combination with a synergist in thermoplastics. Chlorinated alkyl phosphate flame retardants, on the other hand, are used in flexible and rigid polyurethane foams.

Before you choose any chlorinated flame retardant to use in your polymers, consider its chlorine content, physical form, volatility, and thermal stability. Common examples of CFRs are bis(hexachlorocyclopentadiene)cyclooctane (dechlorane plus), hexachlorocyclopentadienyl-dibromocyclooctane (HCDBCO), and tris(2-chloroethyl)phosphate (TCEP).

b.    Brominated flame retardants

Brominated flame retards make up the largest volume of flame retardants used in the polymer industry today. This popularity is because of the versatility of the group. Brominated flame retardants are easily processable, affordable, possess high flame retardant properties, and impressive chemical properties.

Using brominated flame retardants in combination with minerals also increases the mechanical properties of the polymers they are added to, while reducing the corrosivity and opacity of the fumes released as they burn. These properties make the fire retardant perfect in buying time for the escape of people who are caught in a fire outbreak. The environmental benefit is that there is less emission of toxic fumes into the atmosphere.

Selecting a brominated flame retardant is not as straightforward. There are many factors to put into consideration. Some of these factors include the cost, processing characteristics, type and content of the bromine in the compound, aging characteristics, and UV stability. Other factors include the standards that must be met and the environment.

Being as popular as they are, brominated flame retardants are useful in various applications, such as textiles, construction, furnishing, wire and cable, connectors, printed wiring boards, electronic enclosures, and many more.

Some of the most common examples of brominated flame retardants are polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA).

2.    Phosphorus-based flame retardants

The two common phosphorus-based flame retardants used in polymers are red phosphorus flame retardants and organophosphorus flame retardants.

a.     Red phosphorus flame retardants

You’ll often find red phosphorus (P-red) flame retardants in thermoplastics (polyesters, polyamides, etc), natural fibers (cotton and cellulose), and thermosets (epoxies, polyisocyanates, etc). But its use is limited by color to only gray and black materials.

Ironically, red-phosphorus is an ingredient on the striking surfaces of matches, yet when added in negligible quantities to polymers, retards the propagation of fire. Its flame retardation mechanism is solid-phase char formation.

One of the best things about red phosphorus flame retardants is that they are mostly used to meet high flammability demands. Polymers that have P-red flame retardants in them can withstand up to 320 degrees without decomposing, corroding extrusion equipment, giving off toxic substances, or releasing carbonaceous substances. In addition, they possess remarkable mechanical and electrical purposes.

b.    Organophosphorus flame retardants

The manufacture of thermoplastics alloys is one of the most popular areas of application of organophosphorus flame retardants. PC-ABS and PPO/HIPS are thermoplastic alloys that require specific flame retardant requirements, like the UL94 V0. One of the flame retardants that help these thermoplastic alloys reach these standards is organic phosphorus flame retardants. And in addition, they often impress UV stability on the resin.

Another common space where these flame retardants are used is in the production of polyurethane foams. Apart from their flame retardance, these phosphorus-based flame retardants are used in this application because of their easy processability and impressive physical properties.

There are many other areas of applications of organophosphorus flame retardants. But like every other flame retardant, thoughtful consideration has to be invested into choosing a polymer to use them with. One factor to consider is migration because phosphorus-based flame retardants are likely to migrate out of their base materials after some time. Foam density is another enormous factor when the compound is to be used in flexible PUR foams. Other factors include scorching, viscosity, and fogging.

Examples of organophosphorus flame retardants are tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP), tripentyl phosphate (TPP), tris(2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate (TDB99), phenyl propan-2-yl hydrogen phosphate (PPHP), and many more.

3.    Melamine Flame Retardants

Melamine flame retardants (MFRs) are a class of non-halogenated flame retardants that break the combustion cycle in polymers through the formation of solid-phase chars. The common subclasses in this class include melamine derivatives (organic or inorganic acids with salts), melamine homologs (such as melem, melon, and melam), and pure melamine itself.

These compounds of melamine may not yet be as popular as the other classes of flame retardants, but they are quickly growing in popularity. And their recent spurt in growth is because of their outstanding performances when it comes to affordability, safe handling, low corrosion, toxicity, and smoke density levels, and their general eco-friendliness. Another reason is the compounds’ ability to retard flame through several mechanisms.

The areas of application of melamine-based flame retardants are polyamides, flexible polyurethane foams, thermoplastic polyurethanes, and intumescent coatings. An example of MFRs is melamine polyphosphate (MPP).

Different Polymers and Their Compatible Flame Retardants

For the various polymers that there are, there are some flame retardants that are most compatible with them. These FRs are often the most widely used and most recommended by manufacturers for use on these polymers. Here are 11 common polymers and their compatible flame retardants:

1.    Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is a polymer best known for its high heat stability, toughness, and easy processability. Besides these, it also has remarkable chemical resistance and impact strength. The flame retardants most compatible with ABS are brominated flame retardants. However, the choice of the particular brominated retardant depends on the application.

2.    High Impact Polystyrene

High-impact Polystyrene (HIPS) polymer has a combination of many remarkable properties that make it suitable for various applications. To keep up with its wide applications, a flame retardant that is also suitable for various applications must be used. That is one reason why brominated flame retardants are commonly used in combination with HIPS. Phosphorus flame retardants are, however, the more suitable option for the PPO-HIPS polymer.

3.    Natural and Synthetic Rubbers

We use both natural and synthetic rubbers to make materials like seals, conveyor belts, protective coverings, medical products, etc. And the most compatible flame retardants for these polymers are cross-linked elastomers which make use of aluminum trihydroxide or magnesium dihydroxide.

4.    Polyamide

Polyamide is most commonly used in carpets, textiles, and other areas of applications where its flexibility and strength are needed. Examples of these applications include guitar picks, fishing lines, medical implants, and many more. And for this polymer, magnesium dihydroxide flame retardant is preferred.

5.    Polybutylene Terephthalate

Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) finds its purpose in many household items, such as irons and showerheads. They are also useful in vehicles as plug connectors. Although brominated flame retardants are the best for PBT, careful consideration should be taken to choose one that best suits the purpose.

6.    Polycarbonates

Polycarbonate (PC) has its most common areas of applications in mobile phones, connectors, battery boxes, electrical chargers, and many more. Its toughness, strength, and resistance to high and low temperatures make it suitable for those uses. And after a series of trials, silicon-based flame retardants have been found to be remarkably compatible with PCs.

7.    Polyethylene

Products such as trash bags, grocery bags, squeeze bottles, housewares, and packaging film all depend heavily on polyethylene (PE). PE, in turn, depends on magnesium dihydroxide and aluminum trihydroxide for its flame retardance.

8.    Polyesters

The major area of application of polyester is in the textile industry because it doesn’t wrinkle easily and can also retain its shape after distortion. These properties make it a perfect fit for the clothes that we wear and many other fabrics. And the most commonly used chemicals for inhibiting ignition or burning in polyesters are brominated flame retardants.

9.    Polypropylene

The use of polypropylene cuts across various areas and industries. It has applications in textiles, plastics, packaging, healthcare, automotive, and many more. And magnesium dihydroxide has proven to be one of the most compatible flame retardants with this polymer over time.

10. Polyurethane foams

Apart from seat cushions, polyurethane is also used in bushings for automotive suspensions, carpet underlays, gaskets, and many more. And for these polymers, brominated and phosphorus fire retardants are most compatible. However, the choice of the FR must be tested under the weight of careful considerations because of the high impact these FRs can have on polyurethane foams.

11.    Polyvinyl Chloride

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is probably the most commonly used of all these polymers, with areas of applications in many industries. Name an industry, be it electronics and electrical, automotive, healthcare, or housing and construction. There is a prime chance that PVC is used there. On its own, PVC could be pretty useless. But mix it up with some plasticizers, and you have one of the most widely used polymers in the world. The flame retardant that goes well with this widely used polymer is either aluminum trihydroxide or magnesium dihydroxide.

Flame Retardant Health Concerns

Some of the most common health concerns associated with flame retardants include adverse effects in both animals and humans, such as reproductive toxicity, disruptions to the immune system, cancer, and neurologic functions.

The most vulnerable set of people to the adverse effects of flame retardants are children. Their organs are just developing, and not yet fully equipped to handle the potential hazards that flame retardants expose them to. And the most common culprits among flame retardants that are often responsible for these health risks are brominated flame retardants.

How to Reduce Exposure to Flame Retardants

There are a lot of ways to get exposed to flame retardants. It could be at your workplace, in your diet, vehicle, home, or anywhere else. There isn’t much you could do about coming in contact with flame retardants. But you are not completely helpless against these fire-retarding chemicals. Here are some things you could do to reduce exposure to flame retardants:

• When you need to purchase new products, go for those that are baby-friendly, as they often contain negligible traces of toxic chemicals.
• Go for furniture made from cotton, wool, or polyester instead of polyurethane foams.
• The surrounding dust could carry traces of these chemicals. So, provide good ventilation systems in all the rooms you’ll be spending a lot of time in.
• Washing your hands is highly underrated. But this simple practice can save you a lot of doctors’ appointments down the line. Always wash your hands.

To help you stay ahead of the game concerning the health hazards of flame retardants and to keep you safe from any other potentially toxic chemicals, use these government platforms:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Consumer Product Safety Commission
• National Toxicology Program
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Here is an example of Flame Retardents being demonstrated in a controlled environment

Video credit to: Commercial Products USA

Shipping Bulk Flame Retardants With Total Connection

What makes bulk flame retardants tricky to transport is that many of the chemicals are regarded as hazardous materials (HAZMAT). And because of this hazardous nature, a lot of care, planning, and consideration has to be put into the transporting of these materials. And with the ever-vigilant eyes of strict regulatory bodies (such as the United States Department of Transportation) monitoring your bulk flame retardant shipping, there’s no space for a misstep.

For this reason, leave the shipping of your bulk flame retardants in the hands of only the experienced and competent. And this is exactly what you’ll get with Total Connection logistics services.

Total Connection helps you handle your bulk flame retardant transport from loading down to offloading. You give the order, and you get your order as soon as you want it and where you want it. It’s that simple!

Your company too can enjoy an efficient supply chain, affordable shipping, and tailor-made services that the clients of Total Connection logistics company enjoy when you fill out the brief quote form below.

Elastomers are everywhere around us. We depend on them, probably more than we ever imagined. They’re in our cars, our houses, our offices, and everywhere else. And because of their wide usage, the elastomer market is estimated to be worth about 92.36 billion this year 2021.

In this piece, you’ll learn everything you need to know about what elastomers are (and what they aren’t), their categories, and common examples and applications of the billion-dollar polymers. Finally, you’ll see the most efficient way to ship your bulk elastomers.

What are Elastomers?

Elastomers are elastic polymers. In fact, the name “elastomer” was coined from “elastic polymer”. The intermolecular forces holding the molecules within elastomers are weak so that they can move apart from one another under strain. However, these weak intermolecular forces are not so weak that they break so easily under strain. Another unique characteristic of elastomers is that they are viscoelastic, meaning they are elastic and viscous.

How Are Elastomers Different From Polymers?

“Polymer” is a term that is so closely related to elastomers that some people wrongly use them interchangeably. Although these two are similar to a very large extent, some differences set them apart without ambiguity.

A major similarity is that elastomers are a category of polymers. This similarity is very important to note, as elastomers still possess some properties that are peculiar to all polymers. However, an elastomer differs from other categories of polymers in its:

●      Physical Properties

Many of the physical properties of the elastomer hinge on its elasticity. For instance, the extremely high resistance of elastomers is mainly because of their elasticity. Polymers, on the other hand, have various physical properties, depending on the category. Remove the elasticity property from polymers and what you have is just another easy-to-break polymer.

●      Flexibility

Elastomers are unique for their elasticity, and they can retain their shapes and sizes after deformation. Many other polymers, on the other hand, have a brittleness, rigidity, or hardness that may lead them to permanent deformation at the application of force.

●      Morphology

Elastomers are amorphous, meaning the molecules of elastomers don’t have a definite shape. This amorphous nature makes them well-suited for applications where flexibility is required. Other polymers range from being amorphous to being crystalline in their molecules.

Categories of Elastomers

Elastomers fall into two major categories, depending on how they react under the sulfur vulcanization process. The first is the saturated elastomer category while the other is the unsaturated elastomer category.

The sulfur vulcanization process involves the heating of natural rubber or other related polymers with accelerators and curatives based on sulfur. This curing process aims to derive varying degrees of hardness, mechanical durability, and elasticity from the polymers.

1.    Saturated Elastomers

Saturated elastomers resist sulfur vulcanization. They aren’t very reactive, so they have strong stability under exposure to heat, ozone, radiation, and oxygen. Examples of saturated elastomers are:

• Ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM)
• Ethylene propylene rubber (EPM)
• Epichlorohydrin rubber (ECO)
• Fluorosilicone rubber (FVMQ)
• Chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM, or Hypalon), and many more.

2.    Unsaturated Elastomers

Sulfur vulcanization can cure unsaturated elastomers. And this explains why unsaturated elastomers have more areas of applications than saturated elastomers because their properties can be modified to suit various purposes through sulfur vulcanization. Examples of unsaturated elastomers are:

• Butyl rubber
• Natural polyisoprene
• Synthetic polyisoprene
• Styrene-butadiene rubber
• Chloroprene rubber
• Nitrile rubber, and many more.

Common Elastomers and their Uses

Here are some of the most commonly used elastomers, their strengths, weaknesses, and their applications:

1.    Butyl

Butyl is made of mostly polyisobutylene (98%) and a bit of isoprene (2%). What makes it suitable for most of the applications we use it for are its great air retention, flexibility, and gas repellence.

Advantages

The advantages of butyl elastomer include:

• Impressive impermeability to gas and moisture.
• Significant resistance to factors that could lead to its degradation or the degradation of whatever it protects. Examples of these invading factors include sunlight, heat aging, ozone, silicone fluids, oils (animal or vegetable), and many more.
• Excellent at energy absorption, and as a result, having a high electrical insulation performance.
• Oxygenated solvents, flexing, abrasion, and flexing don’t get through to it.

Disadvantages

The limitations of butyl rubber include are these:

• It could prove tricky to handle during processing, as it has it tends to blister, creep, or trap air.
• Aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons are its undoing. It has low resistance levels to them. Other chemicals it’s weak against include coal, diesel-based lubricants, and tar.

Applications of butyl rubber

Some applications of butyl rubber are these:

• Butyl rubber is excellent for use in seals and vacuums because of its gas resistance.
• Tire inner tubes and liners are often made of butyl rubber.

2.    Silicone

Despite sharing a similar look and feel with natural rubber, silicone is in a class of its own among elastomers when it comes to molecular structure. While other elastomers have carbon and hydrogen atoms in their structures, silicone has silicon and oxygen. As a result, it is very flexible. It also remains stable to a very large extent under exposure to a wider range of temperatures. On the downside, however, its chain is weak.

Advantages

Silicone has the following advantages:

• Silicone beats other elastomers in applications that involve exposure to a wide range of temperatures.
• The elastomer exhibits significant resistance to elongation, fatigue, ozone, UV rays, oxygen, fungus, and moisture.

Disadvantages

Silicone has the following disadvantages:

• Silicone exhibits low resistance to concentrated solvents, oils, hydrocarbons, steam, concentrated acids, and some more.
• Tensile, abrasion, and tear resistance are not the strong suits of silicone.

Applications of silicon

Silicone has the following applications:

• It is used in products like seals, bellows, gaskets, and o-rings.
• Silicone is well suited for applications in extreme temperatures.

Neoprene

When neoprene was first produced, it was meant to serve as a synthetic replacement for natural rubber. Today, it not only serves as an alternative to natural rubber, but it also finds purpose in vast areas of application where natural rubber can’t be used.

Advantages

Some pros of neoprene are these:

• Neoprene is a very versatile rubber.
• Some compounds that contain neoprene are flame retardants. This spares a manufacturer some expenses on flame retardant polymer additives.
• Exceptional mechanical properties, such as abrasion strength and resilience
• Neoprene has applications in both metal and fabric products.
• Great resistance to the weather, oils, solvents, petroleum oils, refrigerants, oxidation, sunlight, ozone, and more.

Disadvantages

Neoprene has the following cons:

• Neoprene is expensive.
• Exhibits poor resistance to nitro hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones, esters, and potent oxidizing acids.
• Neoprene may not be the best elastomer for some specific purposes, as many other elastomers have better properties.

Applications of neoprene

• Neoprene is often the main rubber for situations where the seal is exposed to silicate ester lubricants, and weathering refrigerants.
• Used in gaskets and seals, weather stripping, engine coolants, motor mounts, refrigeration seals, and a lot more.

Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Modified (EPDM)

The two types of EP rubber you’ll find around are EPDM and EP. EPDM is an unsaturated elastomer that responds well to sulfur vulcanization curing. EP, on the other hand, is cured with peroxide.

Advantages

The strengths of EPDM include:

• Remarkable resistance to UV exposure, ozone, water (steam or liquid), heat, and weather aging, steam, vegetable and animal oils, oxygenated solvents, brake fluids, and many more.

Disadvantages

The weaknesses of EPDM rubber are the following:

• It is not recommended that you use EPDM rubber with petroleum oils, solvents, or fluids, as this could lead to the swelling of the material.
• It also has less than average resistance to aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons.

Applications of EPDM rubber

Some of the applications of EPDM include:

• In most outdoor applications where exceptional water and weather resistance is required of the rubber, EPDM is up to it.
• Manufacturers use EPDM in making bumpers, gaskets, auto-braking systems, conveyor belts, dust covers, and many more

Natural Rubber

Although the Hevea Brasiliensis tree is one of the major sources of natural rubber, you can also get this elastomer in its raw form from the juices of a lot of trees, vines, and shrubs. The remarkable mechanical properties of natural rubber are its greatest strength.

Advantages

The advantages of natural rubber include:

• Top-notch mechanical properties, such as impressive tensile, tear resistance, electrical insulation, and elongation.
• The low compression set of rubber means it allows for bonding with many other materials.
• The abrasion resistance of natural rubber only gets better when it bonds with carbon black.
• Even under low temperatures, natural rubber still maintains its flexibility

Disadvantages

Some of the disadvantages of natural rubber include:

• Natural rubber needs polymer additives to help it gain resistance against sunlight, ozone, heat, and oxygen.
• The degradation of natural rubber is accelerated when it is exposed to solvents, hydraulic fluids, oils, and petroleum derivatives.

Applications of natural rubber

Some common uses of natural rubber include:

• Natural rubber finds itself in various products, including metal and fabric, because of its ability to bond with a wide array of materials.
• Tires, tubings, seals, hoses, electrical components, drive wheels, vibration isolators, and many others involve the use of natural rubber.

Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR)

The primary purpose of SBR was to serve as an alternative to natural rubber in the manufacture of tires. Today, it joins natural rubber as one of the most used elastomers in the world.

Advantages

Some of the benefits of SBR are:

• SBR bonds excellently with many other compounds to offer a wide variety of properties for various applications.
• Excellent electrical insulation.
• Impressive resistance to oxygenated solvent, alcohol, and mild acid.
• Better than natural rubber in water resistance, flexibility in low temperatures, heat aging performance, heat resistance, and abrasion resistance.

Disadvantages

The disbenefits of SBR are:

• It has low resistance to many hydrocarbons, hydraulic fluids, oils, fluids, strong acids, and greases.
• It also requires polymer additives to supply it with some crucial properties, such as sunlight, ozone, and oxygen resistance.

Applications of SBR

Uses of SBR include:

• Products like hoses, gaskets, tubes, tires, shock mounts, lining rubber, and conveyor belt covers use SBR.

Nitrile

Nitrile is most popular for its oil resistance. It is made from acrylonitrile and butadiene.

Advantages

The strengths of nitrile include:

• Nitrile exhibits great resistance to heat aging, a wide range of aromatic hydrocarbons, gasoline, solvents, hydraulic fluid, vegetable oils, mineral oils, many acids and bases, and ozone.
• As it has excellent oil resistance, some of the best uses of nitrile are in areas that are exposed to oil and grease.
• When you combine nitrile with some materials, you can get impressive abrasion and tear resistance from it.

Disadvantages

The weaknesses of nitrile are:

• It has low resistance to nitro hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and ketones.
• Nitrile, on its own, has poor sunlight, oxygen, and ozone resistance. It depends on polymer additives to achieve these.
• Not suitable for electrical insulation applications.

Applications of Nitrile

The common uses of nitrile include:

• Sealing products mostly have nitrile in them. The reason for this is nitrile’s high resistance to grease, petroleum, and gasoline.
• Alcohol and hydraulic fluid applications involve the use of nitrile.
• Nitrile is available in commercial-grade blends that can be deployed in applications that aren’t very demanding.
• Many automotive products often make use of nitrile. Examples of such products include rollers, shock mounts, petroleum oil seals, grommets, hydraulic hoses and fluid seals, oil handling hoses, and many more.

Here is a great video by Star Thermoplastics, Alloys and Rubbers explaining the uses and process of manufacturing Elastomers.

Shipping Your Bulk Elastomers with Total Connection

The transport of elastomers is just as important as the polymers themselves. And that is why extra care should be given to the proper shipping of these materials. And with some elastomers being classified as hazardous materials, paying full attention to shipping them properly becomes a compulsion.

At Total Connection Logistics services, we handle the transport of all kinds of elastomers and other substances in bulk. We rely on the affordability of our services, our expertise, and our flexibility to push your supply chain to its best. Be a part of our logistic efficient logistic network by filling out the quote form below.

Plastic is one of the most abundant materials around us. We use it for everything, from furniture to electronics, automobiles, food packaging/containers, and many more. But what you might not know is that there are hardly any of these plastics without polymer additives in them. And the same goes for every other polymer.

When you consider how it’s almost impossible for us to completely do without plastics, you begin to understand the importance of polymer additives as well. So, this article is about the unsung heroes in the polymers we can’t do without — the additives in polymers.

This complete guide covers everything from what polymer additives are, their classifications, examples, FAQs about them, and finally, how to transport them in bulk.

What Are Polymer Additives

Polymer additives are chemicals we add to polymers to keep them from degrading, enhance their inherent properties, and/or give them new ones. Polymer additives are added to polymers to make them more easily processable, last longer, and/or meet specific requirements for a final product.

The Need for Polymer Additives in Plastics and other Polymers

Remember when we said how all plastics contain polymer additives, did you wonder why that is? Here’s one of the many reasons we need polymer additives in plastics:

Plastics, in their natural form, can’t stand heat and light without degrading. Expose them to either light or heat and see how quickly they degrade, discolor, and lose their durability. These processes are usually irreversible, so the only hope we have is to prevent them from ever even happening. And there are two ways to prevent this degradation from happening. The first is to modify the plastic itself or look for a replacement polymer. This method is, however, not economical because of the quantity of plastic we use. Modifying that much plastic would be very expensive. And getting a replacement polymer would mean searching for another polymer that is as abundant in nature as plastic and with similar properties. The options are very few.

The only other option is to enhance the stability of plastic to heat, light, or any other degradation factor with the use of polymer additives. This option is the best as it is effective and economical. You only need to add the additives to the polymers in very little quantities, but their effects are drastic and significant.

For instance, we use polypropylene in various applications, including convenience products, automobiles, and home appliances. But the flaw with ordinary polypropylene is that it cannot withstand high heat. Use it in an oven at 150℃ and watch it degrade within a day. But add as little as 0.4% antioxidant, and what used to degrade in 24 hours now remains undegraded, even after 2000 hours or more after exposure to heat. With that little antioxidant, we have been able to improve polypropylene’s resistance to heat without altering its inherent properties. Impressive, isn’t it?

Classifications of Polymer Additives

Polymer additives generally fall into two classifications. The first class of polymer additives is polymer stabilizers. You can also call them polymer property retention additives because they prevent the polymers from degrading and losing their properties.

But sometimes, merely stopping the polymers from degrading is not enough to prepare the base materials for consumer use. At these times, we add additives that offer more properties to the polymers. We call these other polymer additives functionalizing agents, and they make up the second classification of polymer additives.

As we go on, you may find that the line between the two classes isn’t so distinctive, as some additives may well fit into any of the two categories.

Polymer Stabilizer Additives

Polymer stabilizers help to prevent polymers from degrading during processing or consumer use. Some of the most common degradation processes that happen to polymers include thermal degradation, ozonolysis, oxidation, and the combinations of those. And when plastic or any other polymer degrades, you know by its change in color, appearance, and the diminishing in its strength and durability.

However, it is not enough to just pour just any kind of stabilizer into any kind of polymer. Instead, there are choosing processes depending on the polymer. The reason for this is that the factors that lead to degradation in polymers often vary. For instance, chlorine-containing polymers don’t degrade the same way as non-chlorine-containing polymers. It then makes sense to have different additives for either kind.

How Polymer Stabilizers Prevent Polymers From Degrading

To protect plastic from oxidative degradation, we have to hinder the radical reaction early in the degradation process before any destructive degrading happens. This involves abolishing every factor that could lead to degradation in plastic. And often, just one polymer stabilizer is not enough to do this job because one polymer can suffer from different degradation factors at the same time. That is why it is common to use more than one stabilizer type on a polymer to tackle whatever degradation factor the polymer may face.

For instance, phosphorus antioxidants and phenolic antioxidants are both used on polypropylene plastics to prevent thermal degradation and make the base material durable in different weathers.

Common Examples of Polymer Stabilizer Additives

These are some of the most common polymer stabilizer examples there are:

1. Antioxidants

When polymers react with the oxygen in the air, they tend to degrade in a process called autoxidation. Antioxidants combat this autoxidation process.

A good example of where antioxidants are put to work is in combating thermal oxidation in plastics. A lot of plastics are prone to degradation because of thermal oxidation, but their molding and casting processes involve the polymers being exposed to temperatures higher than their melting points. And at these temperatures, polymers react more rapidly with oxygen. And as a result, degradation of such plastic already starts from its processing stage.

But thanks to antioxidants, polymers can resist degradation long enough to make it past the processing stage and well into consumer usage.

2. Light Stabilizers or Photo Stabilizers

The degradation process that light stabilizers inhibit is photo-oxidation, which is degradation caused by the combination of light and heat.

3. UV Stabilizers

These prevent UV rays from degrading polymers through what we call the Photo-Fries rearrangement. Examples of polymers that are susceptible to UV degradation include polyurethanes, polycarbonates, and polyesters. So, what UV stabilizers do is that they absorb the energy from the UV rays and dissipate them as heat. Thereby, reducing the amount of UV the polymer itself absorbs, and ultimately slowing down the degradation process.

4. Quenchers

There are other times the impurities in a polymer trap light, causing the polymer to get excited and full of energy. And when oxygen at room temperature gets into the mix, it’s converted to extra-reactive singlet oxygen. In simpler terms, this is just another recipe for degradation. But with the use of quenchers, we can absorb the extra energy from the excitation process and dissipate it as fluorescent light at a lower frequency or heat.

5. Hindered Amine Light Stabilizers (HALS)

HALS are light stabilizers, but they also double as thermal stabilizers. As a result, the polymers they are added to have better weathering properties. Examples of such polymers are polyolefins, polyurethane, and polyethylene.

6. Heat Stabilizers

Heat stabilizers are used to hinder the degradation of polymers that are prone to thermal degradation. A common example of such a polymer is PVC. In these polymers, the degradation process begins at temperatures above 70 °C, and it leads to dehydrochlorination or loss of HCl. Examples of heat stabilizers are metallic soaps and the derivatives of heavy metals, such as cadmium and lead.

7. Acid Scavengers

Also known as antacids, acid scavengers help to neutralize the degrading effects of some acids, such as HCl, on the polymers. Apart from oxygen, light, and heat, acid impurities in polymers also lead to degradation. And besides reducing the thermal stability of polymers, these acid impurities may even corrode the polymer processing equipment.

8. Aldehyde Scavengers

This is another class of scavengers, and their most common applications are in PET (for making water bottles), polyacetals, and formaldehyde-synthesized polymers. Bits of acetaldehyde form during the processing of these polymers, which can influence the taste of water in PET bottles. And to reduce the formation of this acetaldehyde, we introduce aldehyde scavengers to the polymer matrix.

9. Biocides

Chemical reactions are not the only factors that lead to polymer degradation. Microorganisms can also degrade polymers. And to combat these microorganisms, we use bio-stabilizers, anti-microbials, and biocide polymer additives, such as isothiazolinones.

10. Metal Deactivators

Metals can also be responsible for the degradation of polymers, especially in those polymers that come in contact with metal, like in electric cables. The metal ions that are often the culprits are aluminum, copper, and titanium. But we can add metal deactivators to the polymers that are susceptible to this form of degradation to improve their stability.

Functionalizing Agent Additives

Functionalizing agents are additives you add to polymers to either improve the inherent properties of the polymer or add to them. The ultimate aim of using functionalizing agent additives is to make polymers more suitable for a wider range of applications.

Functionalizing Agent Additives Examples

These are some of the widely used functionalizing agents there are:

1. Plasticizers

Plasticizers are additives you add to polymers to improve their flexibility, softness, viscosity, plasticity, and friction levels. Plasticizers make it easier to handle the polymers during processing, while also getting them ready for consumer use. There are various kinds of plasticizers that possess properties that equip polymers for a vast number of applications, including construction, electrical cabling, fabrics, and medical products. Phthalate plasticizers are a common example of plasticizers, and they’re popular because of their useful applications in PVCs.

2. Dyes and Pigments

Dyes and pigments are polymer additives that are used to change the colors of polymers.Dyes are preferred for transparent polymers despite their poor light and thermal stability. Pigments are often added to the polymers before the final products are molded, and they can be organic or inorganic.

Extra care has to be taken in choosing a colorant for a polymer because some pose health risks. For instance, synthetic dyes have to be flagged as safe by the right bodies before being used in consumer products.

3. Flame Retardants

Flame retardant polymer additives are called into action in polymers that have the potential of catching fire when they’re exposed to high temperatures. Examples of where you would find such polymers are in electric devices and electric cables. And adding flame retardants to these polymers does the trick.

Flame retardants have three common ways of preventing combustion in polymers. The first is the use of chemical reactions to prevent combustion. The second is by forming a barrier between the surface of the plastic and combustion agents like heat and oxygen. Finally, some flame retardants decompose into water and evaporate when they’re exposed to heat, lowering the temperature of the polymer in the process.

However, different polymers have different preferences for flame retardants, and so careful considerations must be in place while choosing one.

4. Anti-fogging Agents

Anti-fogging agent additives prevent water droplets from forming on the surfaces of the plastics. Polymers that need to retain their transparency are often the ones that use these additives. Some of the common areas of applications of anti-fogging agents are in greenhouse films and packaging films. And examples of anti-fogging agents include sorbitan esters, ethoxylated fatty alcohols, and glycerol esters.

5. Antistatic Agents

It is possible for polymers, which are generally good insulators, to get electric. This happens when static electricity builds up in the polymers. And many polymers are susceptible to this, with only a handful being inherently antistatic. Common examples of antistatic polymer additives are polyethylene glycol esters, amines, and ammonium compounds.

In addition to stopping static electricity from forming on the surfaces of polymers, antistatic agents often double as electromagnetic shields.

6. Nucleating Agents and Clarifying Agents

Some polymers specifically require these nucleating and clarifying agents. Crystalline polypropylene is an example of such a polymer. Adding a nucleating or clarifying agent to polypropylene boosts the mechanical properties of the polymer, making it more stable at temperatures that would have normally distorted it and giving it more transparency.

In addition to those, these functionalizing agents reduce the processing time of some polymers, cutting the production cost and increasing production efficiency. Examples of nucleating and clarifying agents include phosphate metal salts, metal carboxylates, and sorbitols.

7. Lubricants

The use of lubricants as polymer additives is more popular during the processing of polymers. Lubricants lessen the friction between the particles of the polymers and the machines processing them. Without these lubricant additives, friction could make the plastics less moldable, resulting in rough finishes. But with them, production efficiency increases, and the appearance of the molded plastic is smooth and clean.

Common examples of lubricant polymer additives include fatty acid amides (oleic acid amide, stearic acid amide, erucic acid amide, etc), hydrocarbon lubricants. Metallic soaps, fatty acids and higher alcohols, and esters.

8. Animal Repellents

Animals can also be a problem that requires the use of additives in polymers to solve. Have your pets ever gnawed at plastic materials that have no business being in their mouths? Or do those rats keep chewing up your electric cables and causing electrical problems for you? Adding animal repellent to the polymers you don’t want them getting close to solves this.

Animal repellent polymer additives are bitter (e.g. denatonium benzoate) or spicy (e.g. hot pepper) additives that pets, rodents, and other plastic-eating animals can’t stand. The strengths of some animal repellent additives could also be their unpleasant odors. While some make use of natural oils to repel birds.

9. Blowing Agents

Blowing agents are used in foam making. These agents go through thermal decomposition during processing, release gases, and take up the foam structure we’re familiar with.

10. Odor Maskers

Odor masking additives are pleasant smelling agents that are used to cover up the odor from degradation products or contaminants in polymers.

FAQs About Selecting Polymer Additives

Here are some of the frequently asked questions about the selection of polymer additives.

1.     Why do polymers discolor?

Discoloration in polymers happens for various reasons. The common causes of discoloration of polymers are additives, impurities, the environment, processing conditions, and catalysts and promoters. A good way to avoid discoloration of polymers is to first consider the environment where the polymer would serve as a consumer product and its processing conditions. Considering these factors helps you to understand the potential interactions and reactions the polymer could have, and also to use the knowledge to come up with the best polymer additives for such polymers. A common example of a degradation-preventing polymer is an antioxidant.

2.     How to avoid defective appearance in polymers

The common causes of defective appearances in polymers are dye-buildup, degradation, and extruded strands. For defects due to extruded strands, lubricant additives are best, since friction caused the strands in the first place. Removing insoluble compounds, adding compatibilizers, and fluorinated elastomers can often reduce dye buildup. And low molding temperatures help to ensure that the polymers are in not-too-high temperatures, thereby keeping degradation at bay.

But generally, using a phenolic antioxidant is usually a good way to prevent all kinds of appearance defects in polymers.

3.     How to prevent polymers from degrading quickly when exposed to high temperatures?

Plastics are most guilty of degrading when put to use under consistently high temperatures. But this isn’t something a combination of phenolic and thioether antioxidants can’t solve. However, extra care should be taken when using thioether antioxidants because the chemical may release acids.

4.     How do high temperatures affect plastics?

Thermo-oxidative degradation happens when plastics are exposed to high temperatures. In fact, the process speeds up when the plastic reaches high temperatures. Usually, the combination of HALS and thioether antioxidants is good enough to prevent thermo-oxidative degradation processes in plastics. But the downside is that this combination decreases the weatherability-improving property of HALS.

5.     How to prevent degradation of plastics exposed to agricultural chemicals

Agricultural chemicals often tend to reduce the weatherability of plastics, as they have acidic substances in them. The curing catalysts in paints are also guilty of this. And in the case of greenhouse agriculture, these chemicals can even render the HALS in polyolefin incapable of providing effective weatherability. The best way to combat this is to use HALS that have low basicity, as these additives are reluctant to react with the acids.

6.     What are bleeding and blooming in polymers?

Bleeding and blooming happen in polymers when the additives, especially plasticizers, float to the surface of the polymer as liquids or solids. Blooming refers to the solid discharge while bleeding refers to the liquid discharge. Both of them cause aesthetic defects to the polymers and they often happen when the polymer additives used are not compatible with the polymers themselves. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the additive choice for a polymer is compatible with it. Using additives that also suit the environments where the polymers would serve as consumer products.

7.     What is fogging in polymers?

Fogging happens when additives in polymers volatilize from their polymers and stick to walls or glass while causing aesthetic defects in the polymer products. Additives with high molecular weight and low volatility are often great at preventing situations like this.

How to Ship Polymer Additives

Polymer additives are majorly industrial materials, and any shipping that concerns them is often in bulk. So, the best way to ship polymer additives in bulk is by land through tanker trucks.

And since many polymer additives are Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT), personnel handling the chemicals must go through appropriate and regular training. Because without regular training, it could be hard to keep up with the constant updates that regulatory bodies, such as the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), make to the regulations that bind HAZMAT transport.

Keeping the chemicals in the right conditions during transit is also another important factor in the transport of polymer additives in bulk. The list of polymer additives we have is almost endless, with each of them having its peculiar properties. Some of these chemicals don’t do well under agitation, so only the right sizes of tanker trucks must carry them. Some other additives are very reactive and must never be transported with some other chemicals.

It is for these reasons and many more that you can’t afford to entrust your bulk polymer additives transport to incompetent hands. Your company could pay in expenses and reputation for it. What you need is the perfect mix of expertise and experience, and you’ll find them both in Total Connection Logistics Services.

Transporting Your Bulk Polymer Additives With Total Connection

Total Connection is a third-party logistics company that dedicates itself to the effective, efficient, and personalized servicing of your logistics needs. We ship all kinds of industrial chemicals, including polymer additives, and still ship some more.

In addition to our expertise and experience, we offer you something many other logistic companies can’t: flexibility. At Total Connection, we tailor our services to the specific needs of your company down to the littlest details. Our services are not so generic that some companies receive the short end of the stick. Instead, we satisfy your logistics needs in the best possible way that suits your business, its capacity, and its needs.

We already have hundreds of companies who can testify to the effectiveness and efficiency of our services. You can join them by filling out the brief quote form below to initiate the shipping of your polymer additives. Our experts will reach out to you shortly to discuss solutions for your logistics needs.

What are Fats and Oils?

Fats and oils are substances that comprise molecules we call triglycerides. These triglycerides are made up of three fatty acid units which are linked to glycerol. If you don’t understand that definition, don’t bother (especially if you aren’t studying for an exam😉). Here’s a simpler definition of fats and oils:

Fats and oils are organic compounds that supply your body with essential fats and calories which aid in your body’s absorption of some vitamins, such as vitamin A, D, E, and K. Fats and oils mostly mean the same thing, with the major difference between them being that fats are solid at room temperature while oils are liquid. 

Types of Oils and Fats

There are various ways to classify fats and oils. You could classify them by their source or their saturation levels. In terms of saturation, oils and fats could be saturated, monounsaturated, or polyunsaturated. And the major sources of fats and oils are animals, fishes, and vegetables. 

Animal fats are what we call oils from animals. Examples of animal fats are butterfat, lard, and tallow. A popular example of fish oils is cod liver oil. And examples of vegetable oils, the most common of the three, are palm oil, groundnut oil, canola oil, and cottonseed oil.

List of Fats and Oils

Here is a list of some of the most popular fats and oils:

• Animal fats

The most common examples of animal fats are butterfat, lard, and tallow. Butterfat is gotten from cow milk. This fat is rich in vitamin E, but it’s more popular because of its yellow color. Butterfat can be used as a table spread, but its use is no longer common. It is being replaced by margarine due to health factors and margarine’s inexpensiveness. However, it is not uncommon to find butterfat in some dairy products, such as ice cream, milk, coffee cream, whipping cream, and cheese. Tallow, another example of animal fat, is gotten from beef cattle while lard is gotten from a pig’s fatty tissues.

• Coconut oil

Coconut oil is gotten from copra, the dried coconut meat on the coconut tree. This oil is solid at room temperature and has a very high amount of lauric acid, more than any other oil. And because of its high saturated fatty acid content (90%), coconut oil does not readily oxidize under normal conditions. Its low molecular weight also makes it more susceptible to foaming and reluctant to mix with other oils.

The ease of digestion of coconut oil makes it a reliable oil for sports and infant foods. You can also use coconut oil as a non-dairy creamer and as a frying oil.

• Corn oil

The source of corn oil is maize germ. It is also rich in polyunsaturated fatty acid but with low levels of linolenic acid. One of the best things about corn oil is its pleasant flavor. And because it doesn’t smoke easily, it makes a suitable oil for deep frying. But apart from its culinary uses, corn oil has useful applications in industries, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. 

• Olive oil

We get olive oil from olives, the fruits of the olive tree, with the olives being pressed to squeeze out the oil. The most popular use of this oil is for cooking and frying. But apart from these, olive oil is also used in cosmetics, soaps, pharmaceuticals, and even as fuels in some oil lamps. The major composition of olive oil is oleic acid. And extra virgin oil, the purest form of olive oil, has a good number of health benefits that make it most suitable for culinary purposes. 

• Palm oil

Palm oil was one of the most globally produced oil crops in 2014. This oil is so widely used that its use has led to some environmental concerns, as forests in some countries were cleared to create space for growing oil palm. Despite these environmental concerns, however, palm oil remains one of the most widely used oils.

This edible vegetable oil is obtained from the reddish pulp of oil palm fruits. And its areas of application are in beauty products manufacturing, food manufacturing, and as biofuel. Palm oil is also used in some places for wound care. 

• Peanut oil

Other names for peanut oil are groundnut oil and arachis oil. The neutral-flavored oil is gotten from peanuts. However, its aroma and flavor can be strengthened when the oil is gotten from roasted peanuts. This roasted peanut-derived oil is then preferred for cooking purposes where its flavor is needed. Other uses of groundnut oil are as massage oil and in the making of soap.

• Rice bran oil

The source of rice bran oil is rice husk, the hard outer layer of rice. This oil is a popular cooking oil in East Asian countries, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, and some other countries. Thanks to its high smoke point and light flavor, rice bran oil is well suited for high-temperature cooking. Another popular area of application of rice bran oil is in the making of rice bran wax. This rice bran wax can then be used as an alternative to carnauba wax in polishing compounds, cosmetics, shoe creams, and confectionery.

• Soybean oil

The seeds of soybean produce soybean oil, one of the most widely used cooking oils globally. Although the most popular use of soybean is in the kitchen, the oil finds usefulness in other industrial areas. The residue from the process of extracting oil from the seeds does not go to waste, as it can also be used as animal feed.

Shipping Edible Oils and Fats

The shipping of oils and fats can be quite tricky. It’s quite easy to order and get a few bottles of any vegetable oil. But things get a little more complicated when you have to transport more. There are challenges you have to avoid, some safety standards you have to keep up with, and a lot of planning to do. The goal isn’t just to transport the oils and fats to their destinations, but also to deliver them in the safest and best conditions possible. So, how do you ship edible oils and fats?

It all depends on the intended use and quantity you plan to transport. Generally, you can transport oils in bottles, barrels, or in bulk. The bottles are best for personal use or retail sales. But imagine you owned a big restaurant, buying oils in bottles wouldn’t be your smartest money decision. So, you may go for the barrels. A van can handle any of these two for you. 

But if you need the oil for industrial purposes, your best bet is with bulk transport. And it is in this bulk transport that things get very tricky. Because then, you would need more than a van. You would need edible oil tankers. And you would need to consider some factors, such as temperature, deterioration risks, storage designs, choosing a suitable freight partner, and so much more.

How to Ship Oils and Fats in Bulk

Before drawing any design plan for the storage tank where you intend to keep your oil or making any transportation plan, there are some factors you need to consider. We call them deterioration risks.

Bulk Oils and Fats Deterioration Risks

There are three major deterioration risks you have to consider before attempting to store or transport edible oils and fats. After considering them and putting measures in place to tackle them, you can then proceed with other plans.

1. Oxidation

Oxidation can be a major problem from vegetable oils, and it happens when the oils come in contact with oxygen in the air. Leave oils to oxidate and you would be struggling with major quality downgrade as a result of chemical anomalies. Even when you try to resolve this issue, it costs a lot of money.

2. Hydrolysis

It is always important to store oil in clean tanks. Although hygiene is a very good reason to do this, hygiene would be the least of your problems when you allow your oil to hydrolyze. Hydrolysis breaks down the fats in the oil into fatty acids, rendering the organic compound completely useless for any cooking purpose.

3. Contamination

The oil in a tank also runs the risk of being contaminated when the previous content of the tank was not properly cleaned before loading the oil. And as far as contamination is concerned, there are a lot of opportunities for it to happen. It could happen during the loading or unloading of the oil from the tanker into the tank or anywhere else. 

Storage and Transport Tank Designs for Shipping Oils and Fats

Now that we know the three quality-threatening, expense-consuming deterioration risks that we have to avoid, we can now decide which tanks and transport systems are best to ship these precious cooking liquids. 

1. Land storage tanks

These are the large circular tanks that you often find in industries. They are preferred for their effectiveness in storing oil while keeping their content safe from water, air, or any other source of contamination. Land storage tanks are often cylindrical with dome-shaped tops and sloped bottoms. Their sloped bottoms make it easy to drain the tanks.

2. Ship tanks

As far as the bulk transport of oil is concerned, ship tanks are one of the most efficient options. The capacities of ship tanks often range from 200 tonnes to about 2500 tonnes. And with this capacity, a single vessel is usually dedicated to transporting them from place to place.

3. Rail and road tanks

These are the tanks we use to transport the oils on land. They are also made of mild steel, or in some cases, stainless steel. Other storage and transport container options for transporting oil include bulk tankers, parcel tankers, coasters, and container vessels.

4. Choice of materials

The choice of materials used in building the tanks and other equipment that’ll come in contact with the oil cargo must also be carefully considered. For instance, all of these materials must be inert to substances like oils and fats, and they must also be cleared for use in food processing. This is the reason stainless steel is preferred as the construction material for tanks that hold sensitive substances like oils and fats. 

Another construction material option is mild steel. The complication with mild steel is that they have to be properly coated with a protective coating. Otherwise, the body could corrode and contaminate the oils. Also, the protective coating has to have been approved to be safe for coming in contact with edibles. 

In addition, copper and its alloys should not come in contact with the oils and fats at any stage or during any process.

Other Factors to Consider 

Some other factors that you should implement in designing your storage or transport tank for edible oils include:

• Heating

The installation of heating systems in the tanks (storage or transport) is non-negotiable because of the differing nature of oils. Some oils are quick to turn to fat when their temperature falls close to room temperature. Imagine how frustrating it would be to load and unload solidified oil. Also, the heating coils on the heating system must be made of stainless steel.

• Maintenance

An edible oil transport or storage facility must be maintained regularly and effectively. This maintenance routine should involve checking steam supply pipelines, steam pressure valves, tank coatings, gauge meters, and weighing equipment. Without having these regular checks in place, it might be hard to guarantee the integrity and quality sustenance of bulk oils in the facilities.

• Cleaning

This factor is put in place to tackle any form of contamination of bulk oils and maintain their qualities. Some measures to take here include making sure that edible and non-edible oils are not even mixed. And when steam, water, or any other chemical is used to clean the tank, it should be completely drained to avoid hydrolysis.

Challenges of Shipping Bulk Oils and Fats

Even when you have every transport measure nailed down and ready, there are still some challenges you may need to be on the lookout for. Not taking these challenges into account could undermine all your efforts and lose your company a lot of money. Some challenges of shipping bulk oils and fats include:

1. Condition of the Oils and Fats Before Transport

Some oils and fats are not refined until they get to their final destination. The reason for this is that refined edible oils are more susceptible to loss of quality during transit. And as a result, the shippers prefer to have the oils in crude forms so that they can refine them to meet their specifications. However, the rate of transport of refined edible oils has been on the rise in recent times.

2. Acceptable and Banned Immediate Previous Cargoes

Oils and fats are used globally, but not all countries produce these liquids. So, there is the need to ship the oils in bulk from the producer countries to the user countries. As a result, user countries may not have tanks dedicated to the shipping of oil cargoes alone. The challenge here arises when these tanks have previously shipped some chemical cargo that could affect the integrity of the oil cargoes.

To tackle this challenge, FOSFA International has lists of acceptable and banned immediate previous cargoes. FOSFA is the Federation of Oils, Seeds, and Fats Associations, and the body overlooks everything that concerns the international trade of all sorts of oils and fats.

The acceptable immediate previous cargoes do not expose the oil cargoes to significant risks of contamination. But the banned immediate previous cargoes are banned because they could be toxic or carcinogenic. And sometimes, these bans span across two to three cargoes before the edible oil cargo transportation.

3. Edible Oils and Fats Contracts

The transport of bulk edible oils and fats involves drawing up contracts that contain details of the oils being transported. Some details include the specific oil being shipped, the agreed quantities and specifications being shipped, analytical properties of the cargo at loading and unloading, standards for the shipping tanks, and many more. These contracts are there to ensure that there is an efficient, effective, and risk-free transport of the bulk oils from the supplier to the receiver. 

But because there are a lot of oils that could be possibly shipped, and each has varying properties that make a generic contract impossible, there has to be a contract for each oil. And this is why FOSFA has a long list of contract templates that can be used for any edible oils and fats being transported. 

4. Shipping and Storage Conditions

The shipping and storage conditions of edible oils and fats could also pose a challenge to the transport of these cooking oils. As mentioned earlier, proper tank coatings, spotless cleaning, and equipping the tanks to sustain the quality of the oils are important factors to never compromise.

5. Edible Oils and Fats Cargo Maintenance

Thanks to the vastly varying properties of the various oils and fats, a standardized edible oils and fats cargo maintenance system can’t work. For instance, oils like coconut and palm oils are quick to turn to fat in ambient temperatures. Castor oil, though maintaining its liquid state in ambient temperature, requires heating before efficient uploading is possible. These oils require heating. But at the same time, the heating has to be done slowly and steadily. Rapid heating could lead to the increase of the acid value of the oils, ultimately leading to the deterioration of the oils. 

These non-standardized shipping and storage conditions have prompted the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to release a temperature regime for the transport, storage, loading, and discharging of bulk edible oils and fats.

Temperatures during storage, transport, loading, and discharge.

	Storage and bulk shipments	Loading and discharge
Oil or Fat	Min °C	Max °C	Min °C	Min °C
Castor oil	20	25	30	3
Coconut oil	27	32	40	45
Cottonseed oil	Ambient	Ambient	20	25 (3)
Fish oil	20	25	25	30
Grapeseed oil	Ambient	Ambient	15	20 (3)
Groundnut oil	Ambient	Ambient	20	25 (3)
Hydrogenated oils	Various			– (1)
Illipe butter	38	41	50	55
Lard	40	45	50	55
Linseed oil	Ambient	Ambient	15	20 (3)
Maize (corn) oil	Ambient	Ambient	15	20 (3)
Olive oil	Ambient	Ambient	15	20 (3)
Palm oil	32	40	50	55
Palm olein	25	30	32	35
Palm stearin	40	45	60	70 (2)
Palm kernel oil	27	32	40	45
Palm kernel olein	25	30	30	35
Palm kernel stearin	32	38	40	45
Rapeseed/low erucic acid rapeseed oil	Ambient	Ambient	15	20 (3)
Safflower oil	Ambient	Ambient	15	20 (3)
Sesame oil	Ambient	Ambient	15	20 (3)
Sheanut butter	38	41	50	55
Soybean oil	Ambient	Ambient	20	25 (3)
Sunflower oil	Ambient	Ambient	15	20 (3)
Tallow	45	55	55	65

6. Bulk Oils and Fats Cargo Damage

The damage of bulk oils and fats cargos is always something to be wary of during transit. The damage could be caused by the poor temperature management of the oils and fats, hydrolysis, or contamination. Other possible causes include adulteration, which involves the deliberate mixing of low-quality oils to mimic the properties of a more expensive oil; and admixture where two bulk oils being transported on the same ship must come in contact with each other.

Shipping Your Bulk Oils, Fats & Tallow With Total Connection

Total Connection logistics company is all about servicing your logistics needs when you need them and just how you need them. With well over two decades of experience shipping all sorts of bulk chemical cargo, we have optimized our logistics system for food-grade transportation. And when you ship your cargo with us, we offer you flexible services that aren’t generic, but tailor-made for the specific needs of your company, and at the most reasonably affordable costs.

Irrespective of what your company wants, be it shipping of corn oil in bulk, bulk transport olive oil, or any other food shipping needs, Total Connection has got you covered. Some of the bulk foods and edible oils and fats we regularly transport at Total Connection include:

• Animal oils
• Coconut oil
• Corn oil
• Olive oil
• Palm oil
• Peanut oil
• Rice bran oil
• Soya bean oil
• Sugar syrup
• Sweeteners
• Syrup concentrate
• Vegetable oil

And the first step you need to take to set up your bulk food or oil and fats transport is by filling out the brief quote form below. We’ll take it from there.

Green is the color of the earth. At least, that’s what people, governments, and industries are trying to achieve. Everyone is making efforts to reduce their carbon footprints by reducing how much damage they do to the earth. Governments are enforcing industries to steer clear of chemicals that have debilitating effects on the earth while encouraging them to embrace eco-friendliness.

Similarly, more consumers are welcoming eco-friendliness, with 61% of individuals from the age of 22 to 35 willing to even pay more for eco-friendly products according to this study. All hands are undoubtedly on deck in the fight for sustainability of the planet, including those of the protective coating industry.

The Impact of Protective Coatings on the Society

There is hardly any industry that can do without protective coatings, even in large quantities. As long as there are structures made of metal, concrete, or wood, there’ll always be the need for protective coatings.

Protective coatings are chemicals that are applied on substrates, like metals, to protect them and extend their lifespan. Paint is one of the most common examples of protective coatings. Tar, plastic, and bitumen are other examples of protective coatings.

The magnitude of the importance of protective coatings is most obvious when you consider the various areas of applications where we use protective coatings. For instance, any piece of metal you see around you most likely has at least one layer of protective coating on it. Ships and airplanes have protective coatings on them. Machinery used across various industries, including oil and gas, agriculture, power generation, or the marine industry all have protective coatings on them. Your painted walls have protective coatings on them. Everywhere you look, there are protective coatings.

This huge market only means one thing: The demand for protective coatings is high. And with this high demand, the supply of protective coatings must rise to meet it. As a result, if any non-environmental-friendly materials or practices are being used in the manufacture of these protective coatings, their effects are going to be just as colossal.

How Protective Coating Companies are Ensuring Sustainability

The protective coating industry can play a major role in sustainability in two main aspects: The packaging of their coating and the contents of their coatings.

Packaging has always been one of the biggest issues of sustainability. For instance, product packagings, like plastics, are not easily biodegradable. But they are widely used across various industries.

Similarly, the contents of the coatings can affect environmental sustainability, especially when it comes to how hazardous the contents are.

How then is the protective coating industry handling sustainability?

1.     Replacing plastic with paper

The technology of paper packaging in the place of plastic packaging is being explored. Paper is more easily biodegradable than plastic because it is more porous and easily attracts water. Also, the paper has a renewable source (trees). Plastics, on the other hand, often have non-renewable sources. Therefore, the switch to paper packaging makes it easy to reduce the reliance on plastic packaging in the industry.

2.     The use of composite packaging

The formation of composite is one of the ways to enhance sustainability. However, some packages compost very slowly because their contents have chemicals that interfere with compostability. This problem plagued the protective coating industry for a long time until the development of novel resin and additive technologies that don’t block compostability.

3.     Easing reusability

One of the ways the protective coating industry handles sustainability is to make it easy to recycle its packaging. For instance, protective coating companies use labels an end-user can easily and cleanly remove, thereby making it easy to reuse the packaging for other purposes. The alternative to this would be to dump the packaging at landfills, which is a far from friendly practice on the earth. A hefty point for easily removable labels.

4.     Reduction in the use of hazardous materials

For a long time, the protective coating companies relied on materials that are hazardous to the environment as ingredients for their coatings. Examples of such hazardous chemicals are VOCs. But with the advancement of coating technology, new and more sustainable alternatives have been found to many of these hazardous chemicals. Now, for instance, we have zero-VOC and low-VOC products and UV-cure coatings.

5.     Better waste disposal

It is impossible to eliminate manufacturing waste in any industry. However, these wastes can be controlled and minimized. And the key to this is in the three Rs — Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle.

One of the ways protective coating companies go about controlling their manufacturing waste is by developing systems that make them reintroduce reusable materials into their production processes. Also, they recycle all recyclable products, such as wooden pallets, metal drums, and cardboard boxes, rather than dumping them on landfills.

A Win For Mother Earth Is A Win For Us

Thanks to the sustainability efforts of the protective coatings industry and other industries, we are slowly reclaiming the original green of the earth. New coating production materials are being introduced to improve eco-friendliness. And new packaging technologies are also supporting the fight for sustainability.

However, packaging issues in sustainability would be significantly reduced when you ship your protective coatings in bulk. A tanker loads the protective coatings in large quantities and unloads them into appropriate containers. That is why at Total Connection logistics company, we dedicate ourselves to the safe, efficient, and effective shipping of protective coatings of all kinds.

By filling out the quote form below, you would be taking your protective shipping supply chain to a new level where efficiency, affordability, and flexibility are the heroes.

The metals we use in the construction of the structures, when exposed to environmental conditions, can quickly deteriorate and lead to structural failure. One of the major issues that affect metals is corrosion. And the cost of corrosion is often very high. According to the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE), half of all corrosion costs could have been prevented, and one of the most effective ways is through the use of protective coatings. In fact, 85% of the various ways to prevent corrosion involves the use of some sort of protective coating.

But what are protective coatings? How do these formidable corrosion resistors work? What protective coating types do we have? And how would you ship them in bulk?

What are Protective Coatings?

Protective coatings, such as paints, are layers of solid materials that we apply to substrates to protect the substrates from corroding. A protective coating could be liquid, mastic composition, or liquefiable before use. But as soon as they are applied, they dry up and solidify to form a film that protects or decorates the application surface. Application options for protective coatings include spray, welding on, applying through hand tools, or plating on.

With the use of protective coatings on metals, we can significantly reduce the slow, but catastrophic, effects of corrosion. A common example of a protective coating is paint. Other examples include bitumen, tar, plastics, and pitch. And each of these coatings is used in various applications, such as infrastructure, water treatment, commercial architecture, power generation, marine, industrial maintenance, and oil and gas exploration.

Although corrosion is one of the major reasons we use protective coatings, protective coatings help to resist:

• Chemical attack
• Fire damage
• Physical damage, and
• Thermal degradation

Usually, we apply a protective coating after we are done with construction. And the number of layers of coatings to use depends on the constructor and the environmental demand on the coating. However, some metal pieces have to be primed by the manufacturer from the factory before they ship them to their final destinations to be used. There, the constructor installs the metals and gives them a final layer of coat.

The use of protective coating is non-negotiable because of the importance of the structures they protect. For instance, you wouldn’t want to risk using a metal pillar without a protective coating. And this is why protective coatings are generally valuable and expensive.

How do Protective Coatings Work?

The ways protective coatings protect the surfaces they are applied on are quite intuitive. They either prevent the corroding process from happening, inhibit the coming together of corrosion prerequisites, or redirect the process of corrosion so that it has no adverse effect on the material they are applied on. These three methods of operation help us to classify the protective coatings into inhibiting coatings, barrier coatings, and sacrificial coatings.

Inhibitive Coatings

Inhibitive coatings, often found among primers, are the ones that stop corrosion from happening at all. By interfering with the electrolytes that the corrosion process needs before it begins, inhibitive coatings ensure that corrosion is not even a problem in the first place.

For a long time, red lead was the perfect example of an inhibitive coating. However, when the harmful effects of lead came to light, its use has been regulated and reduced to a minimum.

Barrier Coatings

As the name suggests, barrier coatings form a wall that prevents corrosion requirements from coming in contact with the application surface. Although we can’t completely stop water and other corrosion ingredients from touching the substrate with barrier coating alone, the barrier coating still makes sure to rid the water of a significant amount of ions. So that even if corrosion was to happen, there aren’t enough ions to initiate a significant corrosive effect.

A lot of protective coatings fall into this category to some extent, if not completely. Thermal barrier coatings are a good example of barrier coatings. And they are often used to prevent corrosion on metals that are exposed to high temperatures during their lifespans.

Sacrificial Coatings

Sacrificial coatings are protective coatings that often contain metal, such as zinc, that corrodes faster than steel. When you apply a sacrificial coating to the surface of a metal, the coating does the corroding instead of the metal. And by doing so, protects the metal beneath it by forming a barrier of corroded zinc between the environment and the underlying metal. You could liken sacrificial coatings to the heroes who save the day in the movies but die in the process.

The Types of Protective Coatings

As you might expect, protective coatings are not all the same. Their areas of application are so wide that it is impossible to have just one protective coating for all purposes. Also, there are many materials we can use to make protective coatings, and each has its strengths and weaknesses. Consequently, we have various types of protective coatings for different purposes.

1.    Two-Part Epoxy Coatings

The best thing about the two-part epoxy coating is that it contains a resin and a hardener. And with this combination, we can derive various coating properties, depending on how we manipulate the components. For instance, using bisphenol A as a resin for the two-part epoxy would yield different chemical and physical properties than using phenolic novolac. As a result of their property flexibility, epoxy coatings are used in heavy-duty industrial applications on iron and steel.

What might be a downside to epoxy coatings is that they are limited in their aesthetics properties. For instance, you shouldn’t rely solely on epoxy coatings to have excellent gloss retention or look striking. Fortunately, you can layer epoxy coatings on other types of protective coatings to get the best of everything. However, their functional effects are irresistible. Their chemical, water, and abrasion resistance properties are remarkable.

Advantages of two-part epoxy coatings

• Excellent corrosion resistance properties
• Resistant to friction
• Resistant to corrosive fluids
• Effective in extreme temperature applications
• Retains its properties when submerged
• Can be manipulated to derive various coating properties

Disadvantages of epoxy coatings

• Poor aesthetics properties
• Exposure to UV light chalks it

Applications of epoxy coatings

• Excellent for interior tank linings
• Marine conditions, such as bridges, hydroelectric facilities, offshore oil platforms
• Oil and gas pipelines
• Automotive applications (because of their resistance to heat)

Polyurethane Coatings

The strengths of the polyurethane coatings lie in their durability and their high abrasion resistance. Another remarkable property of polyurethane coatings is their excellent aesthetic property, which is more pronounced in the aliphatic polyurethanes, a category of polyurethane coatings. The aliphatic polyurethanes also manage to pull off an impressive performance under sunlight, which makes them suitable for coating exterior surfaces.

Aromatic polyurethanes, on the other hand, can’t boast of this sunlight-resistant performance. In fact, sunlight chalks them. However, use aromatic polyurethanes in marine applications and you’ll get the best from them. Generally, polyurethane coatings are preferred as topcoats over other layers of coatings.

Advantages of polyurethane coatings

• Excellent abrasion resistance
• Remarkable aesthetic properties
• The aliphatic polyurethanes are suitable for use on surfaces exposed to sunlight
• The aromatic polyurethanes are suitable for submerged surfaces

Disadvantages of polyurethane coatings

• Polyurethanes are more expensive than epoxies
• The presence of isocyanate (-NCO) makes it a harmful carcinogenic
• Requires skilled workers wearing protective gear to apply

Applications of Polyurethane coatings

Polyurethane coatings are mostly used as topcoats in

• Marine applications
• Nuclear power plant coatings

Polysiloxane Coatings

Polysiloxanes have the excellent abrasion resistance of the other protective coating types. They also exhibit excellent weather resistance and aesthetics. But where polysiloxane coatings beat the others is when they’re combined with epoxies to form epoxy polysiloxanes coatings.

Epoxy polysiloxane coatings offer the best of epoxies and polysiloxanes. As a result, the combination provides unbeatable weather, abrasion, UV, corrosion, and chemical resistance. This combination makes up the master combination for various coating needs and applications. In addition to their versatility, epoxy polysiloxanes are easy to apply and more durable.

The only critical disadvantage of epoxy polysiloxane is that they are very expensive when compared to other protective coating types.

Advantages of Polysiloxane coatings

• Excellent abrasion and weather resistance
• Great aesthetics
• They make two-coat applications possible (polysiloxane and a zinc primer), as opposed to the more popular three-coat application involving zinc, epoxy, and polyurethane. The result is a reduction in labor costs
• Excellent performance under UV light
• More resistant to high temperatures than the other coating types

Disadvantages of polysiloxane coatings

• They are expensive

Applications of polysiloxane coatings

• The versatility of epoxy polysiloxane makes them suitable for most applications.

Zinc-rich Coatings

Zinc-rich protective coatings are often sacrificial coatings. That is, they corrode in the place of the substrate they are applied on. This galvanic protection of substrates has proven to be very effective for various applications. Zinc-rich coatings also double as barrier protective coatings, as they form a wall between the environment and the substrate as they corrode.

The two types of zinc-rich coatings are organic and inorganic coatings. While the organic zinc-rich coatings contain polyurethane or epoxy binders, their inorganic counterpart contains silicate binders. And though the latter offers more effective abrasion resistance and galvanic protection, the former does not require extreme surface preparation before application.

The strong galvanic protection property of zinc-rich coatings makes them most suitable for applications where corrosion is the main villain.

Advantages of zinc-rich coatings

• Excellent abrasion resistance
• Very durable
• Suitable for steel coating, as it offers both barrier and galvanic protection.
• Zinc-rich coatings have high UV resistance
• They are easy to apply, as long as the substrate surface is clean

Disadvantages of zinc-rich coatings

• Zinc-rich coatings need to be top coated
• The surface of the substrate needs to be well cleaned before applying inorganic zinc-rich coatings

Applications of zinc-rich coatings

Zinc-rich coatings are well suited for highly corrosive environments, such as:

• Marine applications
• Water treatment plants
• Architectural applications
• Pumps and compressors

How to Ship Protective Coatings in Bulk

Protective coatings are best shipped in trailers. These trailers must have had their interior linings covered with protective coatings themselves to prevent their chemical content from damaging their walls.

Another important factor to put into consideration is the hazardous nature of some chemicals that are present in some protective coatings. When wrongly handled during transport, these chemicals could spill out and cause bodily harm to anyone closeby. In addition to that, this could lead to penalties from regulatory bodies, such as the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), which are in charge of the transport of hazardous chemicals.

These same regulatory bodies have laid down an eternally long and ever-increasing list of regulations as regards the bulk transport of hazardous materials. And some protective coatings fall under this category. Failure to comply with every single one of these regulations is risking the ire of the unforgiving regulatory bodies.

How Total Connection Eases Your Bulk Protective Coatings Shipping

You could try to ship your bulk protective coatings all on your own, making sure to avoid breaking any of the regulations while still keeping up with updates on these regulations. Of course, that’s assuming that you have the right trailers to ship them and enough well-trained labor to handle the shipping and paperwork. Or you could leverage the expertise and experience of Total Connection logistics company in shipping bulk protective coatings. And you would be saving your company a lot of stress, expense, and unnecessary labor.

Total Connection is a third-party logistics company that prides itself in helping you tighten up your supply chain by offering affordable, efficient, and flexible services. Let us know what you would like us to ship for you by filling out the quote form below and watch us take it over from there.