Question

Why do we need to add additives to polymers to make them commercially viable plastics? Some additives include flame retardants, colorants, fillers, reinforcements, and plasticizers. What are some of the things we need to consider when adding these materials to a polymer in order to create a viable plastic?

Answer 1

Polymers have a wide range of applications in our day-to-day life, starting from their use in utensils, to furniture, motor vehicle designs and so on. As the variety of applications increase, the ability to modify the polymers to suite their respective applications, also increases. (commercially viable)

The following list shows us how each of the additive added to the polymer, benefits the polymer's adaptability to its application:

1) Flame retardants: These additives are added in polymers that are used for electrical wires and building equipments. It prevents the spread of fire in case of an incident that breaks out and even makes them heat resistant.

2) Fillers: These additives are used to improve thermal stability, stiffness, durability in the polymer.

3) Colorants: These additives are used to improve the aesthetic value of polymers used for ornamental purposes, or in the case of polymers used in paints and colours.

4)Plasticizers: These additives are molecules that generate spaces between the polymer molecules on a microscopic level and thereby make the polymer softer and flexible. For instance, the polymer used to coat electric wires must be flexible and soft, but at the same time heat proof and shock proof (flame retardants).

Thus these additives are studied so we can add them accordingly to the right polymer to support its application and make it a viable plastic.

For example, plasticizers are not added in plastics that are used to make furniture (tables and chairs), since the polymer but be stiff and durable. Adding a plasticizer in this case would make the plastic soft and it would have no structure to form a piece of furniture.