| Target characteristic |
Keys to attainment
with Asahi Kasei Chemicals elastomer or Asaflex™ as modifier
|
Basic technical
data |
| Mechanical
strength |
Impact strength |
Virtually
every modifier imparts increased impact strength; optimum selection
depends on desired degree of increase, and on target product
stiffness, transparency, moldability, and other properties.
Modifier quantity requirement varies with grade.
Two or more modifiers in combination may further heighten performance
and quality. |
Impact
strength of extruded sheets from Asaflex™ blends
Low-temp. impact strength
of sheets from Asaflex™/SC blends |
Folding endurance
Hinge properties |
Blend in Asaflex™
or Tufprene™ to obtain folding endurance with GPPS and
other polymers ordinarily susceptible to fracture under folding.
Utilize superior hinge properties of Asaflex™ for transparent
cases, components, parts. |
Folding
properties of extruded Asaflex™/GPPS blends
Asaflex™ hinge properties |
Tensile strength
Elongation |
Modifier's tensile
strength and strain test values are influenced by the structure
of its companion polymers in the product; use modifier’s
intrinsic test value as basic predictor of performance enhancement
in target product.
Blend in Asaflex™ or Tufprene™ to obtain elongation
with GPPS and other polymers ordinarily lacking elongation.
|
Tensile
strength and elongation - typical
intrinsic test values
Elongation
of extruded sheets from Asaflex™/GPPS blends |
Flowability
Processing conditions |
The flowability
of the modifier is largely dependent on its MW, MW distribution,
styrene content, and polybutadiene-segment hydrogenation, and
on the phase-separation morphology which is characteristic of
the target product melt and the molding temperature.
Asaflex™ is often used in neat form and is amenable to
injection, T-die extrusion, blow, and other fabricating processes.
Appropriate temperatures vary with the process, as shown in
the Asaflex™
process conditions sampler, and care is necessary
to avoid gelation. |
Intrinsic
melt flow rate
- typical ranges
Asaflex™
process conditions sampler |
| Polymer-specific
effects |
Polystyrenes
(PS)
Polyolefins (PO) |
Modifiers available
with compatibilities specifically appropriate for PS- and for
PO- based formulations, and also for PS/PO compatibilization.
Modifier selection based on morphology (modifier
dispersion) in the PS or PO blend. |
Impact
strength
- baseline comparison
Typical Polypropylene Modification by Tuftec™ H1062
Typical Polypropylene Modification by Tuftec™ H1041 |
| Engineering plastics |
Modifier grades
in the Tuftec™ M series contain grafted acid anhydride
groups, for highly effective enhancement of PA, PBT, PET, and
other polymers containing polar groups.
Modifier grades in the Tuftec™ H series
are effective for non-polar polymers such as PPE.
The acid anhydride groups of these grades can
be utilized in chemical reactions to obtain special products
and product characteristics. |
Typical
Nylon 6 Modification by Tuftec™ M
PET Modification by Tuftec™ M
Effects of polycarbonate
modification by Tuftec™ M |
| Flexibility |
PP-based products
can be produced with flexibility ranging from the high stiffness
of bumpers to the soft, velvety “give” and feel of
instrument panels and other PVC-like products, through selection
of the appropriate modifier grade from the Tuftec™ H or
other series. |
Flexural
modulus range
in PP modified by Tuftec™ H1221 |
| Transparency |
Asaflex™
blends and PP/Tuftec™ blends provide outstanding transparency
together with specific combinations of softness or hardness
and other product characteristics.
Transparency of Asaflex™/PS blends varies with the Asaflex™
content and the Asaflex™ grade. Select the optimum grade
for desired results.
To obtain transparent blends of Asaflex™ and other clear
polymers, select component polymers with very closely matching
refractive indices.
Asaflex™ is lower in density than other clear polymers,
and thus facilitates weight reduction. |
Transparency
of Asaflex™/PS and PP/Tuftec™ blends
Transparency
of extruded sheets from Asaflex™ blends
Refractive
index of Asaflex™ and other clear polymers
Specific
gravity of Asaflex™/clear polymer blends |
| Low-temp. properties |
Low-temperature
performance requirements can be met
by elastomer selection based on its Tg, which is largely determined
by the soft segments in its polymer chain. Asahi Kasei Chemicals elastomers
provide a broad Tg selection, produced through advanced control
of the soft-segment and polymer-chain structures. |
Tuftec™, Tufprene™,
and Asaprene™- glass transition temp.
Enhancement of
PP low-temp. performance
by Tuftec™
|
| Thermal stability |
The
thermal stability of the modifier alone and in blends is largely
determined by the soft-segment structure within its molecular
chain.
Asahi Kasei Chemicals modifiers provide a broad selection of thermal stability
levels, to meet specific target product performance requirements.
The Asaflex™ i Series, with its heightened thermal stability,
is highly resistant to gelation even after a considerable thermal
history yet nearly matches other Asaflex™ grades in flowability.
The Asaflex™ i Series is resistant to thermal degradation
in air, and thus resistant to scorching. |
Thermal
stability
of three elastomer types
Thermal
stability of Asaflex™ i Series |
| Recyclability |
Because their
polymer chains are generally composed of two
chemically different blocks, Asahi Kasei Chemicals modifiers can provide
highly effective compatibilization of product constituents,
and
thus significantly enhance product recyclability. |
Reworkability
- HIPS/PP/Tuftec™ P2000 |
| Compatibilization |
With
their variety of block copolymer structures, Asahi Kasei Chemicals modifiers
are highly effective as compatibilizers for a broad range of
polymer types, enabling control and enhancement of product interfacial
adhesions and morphologies, and development of alloys
with performance characteristic levels and combinations
unattainable in blends. |
Tuftec™
H compatibilization of HIPS and PP |
| Adhesiveness |
Asahi Kasei Chemicals modifiers
are compatible with various types of tackifiers,
and effectively meet diversified adhesive requirements
with superior performance. |
Tuftec™
and Asaprene™ adhesive properties |
| Reduced asphalt
temperature sensitivity |
Addition of modifier
to asphalt for paving and construction,
enabling reduced temperature sensitivity, increased durability,
and other enhanced performance characteristics.
Quantity of elastomer addition and blending conditions influence
morphology and softening point. |
Characteristics
of Tufprene™ and Asaprene™ modified asphalt
Modified
asphalt morphology |
