Document Jrwnz9dYL636j9ZzvJJNoKavZ

t UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION PLASTICS PRODUCTS DIVISION 270 PARK AVENUE* NEW YORK, N, Y. 10017 _ i *' ^ Ps4?d==~ -I-U pEPAT1^,, _..,,m TO Rr-^ VINYL CHLORIDE-ETHYLENE COPOLYMERS ' FORPACKAGING Robert J. Ireland PRODUCT ENGINEER -- Applications OUT DATED! RECE IVED DEC 1;> 1968 Bldg. LIBRARY Applications Research and Development Union Carbide Corporation Chemicals and Plastics Bound Brook, New Jersey This Information is offered solely for roar consideration, investigation and verification and is not to be construed ss a warranty or rsprseentation for which wc assume IsasI responsibility. In nsine these materials, you must establish for yourself the most suitable formulations, production methods, and control tactc to cnaure the uniformity and quality of your product. Nothing contained herein is to be understood as permission or recommendation to practice e patented invention without a license, and you should detarmine whether relevant patanta exist. ucc 057989 i? Polyvinyl chloride possesses some excellent characteristics for use as a packaging material. These include a combination of strength, rigidity and clarity, good chemical resistance, low perme ability to water, oxygen, flavor and odor essences. Of the common packaging materials shown in Table I, rigid PVC has the best combination of barrier properties. However, rigid PVC accounts for less than 6% of the total volume of plastics consumed in packaging in this country during 1967. Three factors have inhibited PVC's penetration of the packaging market: Limited heat stability Lack of FDA sanctioned additives Cost To better understand the nature of these limiting factors a look at PVC formulating and processing is in order. Table II is a simplified account of the ingredients common to impact grade rigid PVC formulations. The stabilizers (generally organometallics) provide thermal protection for the poly mer preventing discoloration, chain scission or cross linking. The process aids are to produce the hot strength necessary for even wall distribution and low parison sag in blow molding and drawability in vacuum forming. The flow aid also eliminates melt fracture and promotes efficient mixing in the extruder. The impact modifier gives the added toughness required for commercial containers. The lubricants prevent excessive heat generation from frictional working and polymer adhesion (stagna tion) to the processing equipment which would lead to thermal degradation. In order to overcome the cost limitations of present PVC formulations a minimization of the most expensive additives is necessary. Stabilizer costs can be further broken down by stabilizer- categories. The least expensive but also least effective type are the FDA approved calcium-zinc combinations ranging from $.50 - $ 1.00/lb. The octyl tins require extraction testing for food applications and are much more effective but cost over $3.00/lb. The most widely used stabilizers for rigids are butyl tins; these are very effective and cost from $1.75 -- $2.50/lb but lack FDA approval. .... Figure 1 illustrates the thermal stability of a food packaging grade (calcium-zinc) stabilized clear rigid PVC as a function of temperature. ,. The ordinate plots stock temperature in the rolling bank of a high speed mill while the abscissa plots time to yellowing of the polymer melt. The conditions of this test are felt to rep resent polymer history in the die section of blow molding equipment. This curve may shift for various shear rates (4500 sec.*1 in this case), different formulations and the presence or absence of oxygen but the trend is undeniable with higher temperatures causing faster yellowing. A given fabrication process requires a minimum residence time during which the polymer remains at an elevated temperature, this residence limits the maximum permissible stock tempera ture. As an example a 3 minute residence time requires a stock temperature of 365*F or lower. Figure 2 illustrates the effect of the PVC molecular weight (inherent viscosity) on melt viscos ity (here referenced by Brabender Torque*) and therefore on the stock temperature necessary to extrude sheet or blow mold. As expected the higher molecular weight resin with its greater melt vis cosity requires and develops higher stock temperature for extrusion. Continuing our example of a three minute residence time requiring a 365* F stock temperature, a PVC resin with inherent viscos ity of 0.70 or less must be used. It is now obvious that for a given stabilization system and a partic ular fabrication process the molecular weight of the PVC resin is limited below a certain level for adequate processability (i.e., absence of polymer degradation). To carry our first example to its conclusion the fixed resin molecular weight predetermines the physical properties of the fabricated item. Tha Bnbendtr Torque values won datermtnad on tha No. 6 bowl at 16fC jacket tompantun and 40 RPM with a J6.4 chart*. Tha nock t*mp*ritur*s an for a 3M"two iU|t axtrudar at 20 RPM. 2 ucc 057990 T Perhaps the most significant physical property for bottles is impact strength. Figure 3 shows the break resistance of 8 oz. bottles plotted as the height for 50% failure on the ordinate versus the inherent viscosity of the base PVC resin on the abscissa for 12% impact modifier. In our example the 0.70 inherent viscosity resin will limit impact to a 5 ft. height for 50% failure with the 8 oz. bottle. Let's consider what has been achieved; a food grade container with a fair impact strength but a relatively high concentration of impact modifier. Please remember that these values are rela tive since choice of stabilizer, lubricant, impact modifier and bottle design all affect impact strength. The selection of a three minute residence time may be optimistic or conservative depending on equipment. If greater impact strength is desired a potential solution would be the addition of more impact modifier. However, as impact modifier concentration increases several adverse effects occur as illustrated in Table III. In the interest of cost, clarity, permeability, heat stability and chemical resistance, it would be desirable to reduce the necessary impact modifier concentration, but use of increased molecular weight resin is prohibited by thermal stability. Another solution would be the use of a tin stabilizer which would provide better resistance to yellowing under heat. This approach is currently used in the general purpose bottle market but tins are more costly, can be odoriferous and require extraction testing. These limitations have hindered the penetration of rigid PVC in the packaging market. Copolymers of vinyl chloride and ethylene offer solutions to the restrictions of limited heat stability, use of FDA sanctioned additives and formulation costs that presently retard use of rigid PVC. Figure 4 shows the effect of the ethylene comonomer in reducing the melt viscosity and stock temperature necessary to fabricate containers for any given molecular weight of resin. It is important to emphasize that the selection of ethylene as a comonomer is important be cause it does not reduce the thermal stability of the resin as vinyl acetate does, for example. Another important reason for the selection of ethylene is that it does not subtract from the ability of the resin to respond to impact modifiers. A vinyl chloride-ethylene copolymer will provide as much impact per percent of added impact modifier as a homopolymer of equal molecular weight. Recall ing our example of a fabrication process with a three minute residence time which necessitated a stock temperature of 365 F or less, the use of a vinyl chloride-ethylene copolymer allows the selec tion of a 0,80 inherent viscosity resin instead of a 0.70 inherent viscosity homopolymer. In reviewing Figure 3 the use of a 0.80 IV resin will provide a 7 ft. height for 50% failure for the 8 oz. bottle. The homopolymer of equal precessability gave only a 5 ft. height for this same formulation. This pro vides two opportunities in the use of vinyl chloride-ethylene copolymers: 1.The ability to provide extra impact strength for equivalent concentrations of impact modifier. or 2. The ability to provide equivalent impact to the homopolymer system but using less impact modifier. The vinyl chloride-ethylene copolymer advantages are not confined to food grade formula tions. In the general purpose (butyl tin stabilized) powderblend market the same advantages of lower melt viscosity for a given molecular weight can be put to work. For example, consider the fabrication process with the 3 minute residence time once again, with the butyl tin stabilizers, per haps a stock temperature of 4208F can be tolerated. Referring back to the stock temperature at fabrication versus molecular weight curves this would allow use of either a 0.92 inherent viscosity homopolymer or a 0.98 inherent viscosity copolymer. The higher molecular weight copolymer would require less impact modifier for equal impact. Another approach would be the use of a 0.92 IV copolymer giving equal impact to the homopolymer at the same modifier concentration but fabricating at a lower temperature and thus requiring less stabilizer. 3 UCC 057991 These comparisons on paper sound good but what about proof in an actual comparison? For this purpose two powderblends were prepared using FDA approved stabilizers, impact modifiers, flow aids and lubricants. Based on our earlier hypothesis a homopolymer of 0.70 IV is used in one formulation with a vinyl chloride-ethylene copolymer of 0.80 IV used in the second. The aim is to produce systems of equal processability and impact strength and then compare properties. The co polymer formulation was also adjusted to account for the lubricity and hot strength provided by the ethylene comonomer. If the reduction in lubricant level is not made the copolymer based powderblend may be overlubricated resulting in melt fracture, less clarity and lower impact because of insufficient mixing. This illustrates that formulation must be tailored to obtain maximum benefits from the copolymer resin. Table IV summarizes the two formulations. Note that the copolymer system has 7 percent modifier as compared to 11 percent, one percent process aid compared to 1.5 percent and 0.45 per cent lubricant compared to 0.60 percent, but the stabilizer system is identical. The powderblends were fluxed on a two roll mill and subsequently compression molded. The specimens were found to have the properties listed in Table V. The copolymer system has slightly higher tensile strength, modulus and elongation. One sacrifice is made in using the copolymer and that is illustrated in the 2C lower heat distortion temperature, but this difference is not significant in most packaging applications. The powderblends were then characterized by Brabender and extrusion-blow molded on a 2V4" two stage extruder. Table V illustrates that the desired equivalence in processability was definitely achieved. The extrusion data confirms on a practical basis the Brabender Torque values. In powderblend extrusion the selection of screw design can have as great an effect on the processability and the properties of the fabricated item as does the formulation. The extruder per forms the mixing as well as the pumping in powderblend operation, and the matching of the formu lation to the proper screw design is essential in obtaining the desired level of mixing. This mixing provides the dispersion of the additives necessary for impact strength and clarity. The experiments described in this paper were performed on an extruder with the following characteristics: Diameter Length/Diameter Pitch Helix Angle Radical Barrel Clearance Section No. of Flights Feed Transition Metering Vent Metering 6 6 3 4 4 2.500" 26/1 2.500" 18 0.003" Channel Depth, inches 0.380 0.380-0.125 0.125 0.280 0.180 The extruder is equipped with a vacuum hopper-stuffer to exclude air and assure uniform feed. A blister tip is used on the front of the screw to provide adequate dispersion. The blister tip has a 0.2S0 inch land with a radial clearance of 0.035 inch. The two powderblends shown were formu lated to match the fusion and lubricity requirements of this equipment. In extruding rigid PVC powderblends, a compression ratio of 2.7 - 3.4/1 is recommended to develop sufficient mixing. If a crammer type feeder is not used, a compression ratio of 3.0 - 3.4/1 should be selected. 4 ucc 057992 bottles molded during the extrusion trial were filled to 95% level with tap water, aged 24 for*, at 73F and tested to find the minimum height at which any failure would occur for ? 00# down bottles dropped. The results exceeded expectation as the copolymer system proved not ^equivalent but superior.* (SeeTable V). N*5r'-The sample bottles blow molded in this experiment show the clarity and color achieved on an ffettruder designed for rigid PVC powderblend operation. The homopolymer based bottle is much yellower (beyond the limit of commercial acceptance for many applications) than the copolymer Kjjbttte in spite of equal concentrations of stabilizer and equivalent processing conditions. The Superior thermal stability of the copolymer under extrusion conditions provides more tolerance ' for regrind and better economics in tin stabilized formulations. ffi 51 Additionally, these deep draw vacuum formed samples show the superior hot strength of sheet prepared from the copolymer formulations compared to sheet from the homopolymer formulation, .fhe copolymer had more hot strength even though less flow aid was in the powderblend. This hot strength allows deeper draws and thinner walls in vacuum forming or more consistent wall distribuj,*tion and higher blow ratios in blow molding or forming at lower temperatures. 1 Summarizing the results of this comparison the copolymer showed: ; Lower additive concentrations necessary for better performance than a homopolymer of equal melt viscosity. : f 2. Superior heat stability f ^ 3. Superior hot strength The vinyl chloride-ethylene copolymers provide the opportunity for: vv A product of useful physical properties with calcium-zinc stabilizers. ' ` TThe ability to obtain "super" impact. 4 : ;A lower additive requirement. i The ability of vinyl chloride-ethylene copolymers** to further alleviate the problems which have limited the penetration of PVC in packaging should open wider the doors to the packaging .market for rigid PVC. , , ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ^^>irThc author gratefully acknowledges contributions to this paper by many colleagues and es- peci&Uy to W. P. Mayer for permeability measurements and interpretation and J. Gargiulo and : for technical assistance in making the many measurements and samples that were necessary. . ;C< . 'lapw mult* obtained hare era Ml comparable to tba reaults pmeented eartlar in Flpat 3 bacaoaa of different formulationi, **Ue *apa and botUt mim. j^jjr^OUotide-Ethylene copolymen an the tubject of food additive petition 8B-2275, which hw been filed with Food 4 Dni| ucc4.., 057993 ^ -d FIGURE t FIGURE l STOCK TEMPERATURE, * F j STOCK TEMPERATURE, FIGURE 3 MOLECULAR WEIGHT FIGURE 4 INHERENT VISCOSITY OF RES* MOLECULAR WEIGHT--------------- - MOLECULAR WEIGHT TABLE I COMPARATIVE BARBER PRQPERTES fermeabajty % LOSS* WATER10 OXYGEN* i-SEEK?" 3 MONTHS RIGID PVC (SKPACT GRADE) ACRYLIC MULTIPOLYMER STYRENE ACRYLONITRILE POLYPROPYLENE LDPE (0.92) HOPE (OSS) 3.0 12.0 13.0 0.97 I.BS 0.78 10 32 " -- 350 80 40 40 30 53 -- 7 45 45 34 82 -- 97 PERMEABILITY CONSTANT. GRAM MILS/IOO IN* DAY KT I00f/90%RH MEASURED AT STEADY STATE IN 4 OZ. BLOWN BOTTLES FILLED WITH DESICCANT. "DOW CELL OXYGEN PERMEABILITY ASTM DK34 CC (STP) MILS/IOO IN*. DAY ATM. "l04*F - 0.07X AQUEOUS METHYL SALICYLATE 6 ucc 057994 TABLE II IMPACT GRADE CLEAR RIGID PVC COMPOSITION AND COST RANGES PVC RESIN STABILIZER PROCESS AID IMPACT MODIFIER LUBRICANTS WEIGHT PERCENT 73 TO 91 1.0 TO 3.0 1.5 TO 3.0 5.0 TO 20.0 0.5 TO 1.5 COST. f/LS. .50 TO 3.50 .45 40 TO ,50 .20 TO .80 TABLE III EFFECT OF INCREASING IMPACT MODIFIER CONCENTRATION IMPROVES IMPACT STRENGTH INCREASES RAW MATERIAL COSTS REDUCES CLARITY ' INCREASES PERMEABILITY DECREASES HEAT STABILITY DECREASES CHEMICAL RESISTANCE INCREASES MELT VISCOSITY REDUCES TENSILE STRENGTH REDUCES MODULUS TABLE IV COMPARATIVE FORMULATIONS HOMOPOLYMER (0.70 IV) SYSTEM VINYL RESIN ACRYLIC IMPACT MODIFIER PROCESS AID CA-2N STABILIZER EPOXIDIZEO SOY BEAN OIL LUBRICANT TONER 82.72 11.00 1.50 2.14 2.00 0.60 0 04 100.00 COPOLYMER (0.80 IV) SYSTEM 87.37 7.00 1.00 2.14 2.00 0.45 0.04 100.00 TABLE V COMPARATIVE PROPERTIES PHYSICAL PROPERTIES HOMOPOLYMER COPOLYMER SYSTEM SYSTEM TENSLE STRENGTH, PSI TENSLE MODULUS, PSI ELONGATION. % SPECIFIC GRAVITY CAT DISTORTION TEMP. (264 PSI),*C 6240 335,000 130 1.31 63 6550 343,000 156 132 61 FABRICATION PARAMETER BRABENOER EQULIBRIUM TORQUE, M.G. EXTRUSION RATE (2 1/2") L&/HR./RPM STOCK TEMPERATURE, *F BOTTLE WEIGHT, G. 2275 32 375 37.6 2285 12 372 37.0 CONTAINER PROPERTES (IS OZ.ROUND SHOULDERED OVAL) MRACT STRENGTH 14 16 MINIMUM HEIGHT TO FAIL, FT. * A % ' -r A- ,i * ' /, / - - ` * -V i . ` J*-' : ".'T.-- -`4 * "V- > V if :i ' - W'* i .v 1 -L-M 4 THE DISCOVERY COMPANY UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION PLASTIC PRODUCTS DIVISION 270 PARK AVENUE, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10017 Atlanta, Georgia 30309 1371 Peachtree St., N.E. Boston, Massachusetts 02194 300 First Avenue, Needham Hts. Buffalo, New York 1422S 3343 Harlem Road Charlotte, North Carolina 2B202 201 South Tryan St. Chicago, Illinois 60606 ................... 120 South Riverside Plaza ................... Cincinnati, Ohio 4S227 West St. and Modisonville Rd. Cleveland, Ohio 44114 1300 Lakeside Avenue. N.E. Clifton, New Jersey 07012 . . .935 Allwood Rood . . 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(404) 892-7500 (617)444-5400 (716) 837-6450 (704) 377-6991 (312) 822-7000 (513) 272-0206 (216)621-4202 (201) 778-2900 (214)631-0010 (313) 341-3131 (203) 525-9345 (816) 221-2400 (213) 5833061 (901) 396-5375 (612) 927-4221 (609) 235-6200 (212) 551-4641 (412)922-5700 (314) 7264)324 (415)982-1360 CANADA: UNION CA11IIX CANADA LIMITIO Amherst, Nova Scetie P.O. Box 579 * 902-447.7241 Caigary, Alberta 440 12th Avenue. S.W. 403-263-8543 Loehine, P.Q. 2525 Jean Baptiste Oeschemps Blvd. 514-4364640 North Surrey, B.C 13221 74th Avenue 404-594-4257 Torente 12, Ontarie 123 Eglintoa Avenue, lest 416447-1311 Vancouver, B.C. 1175 Grant Street 4062554431* Winnipeg. Manitoba Waverty St. and Seal Avenue 2044533221 LATIN AMdiCAi UNION CAIBIDB INTUt-AMEtlCA, INC New York, N.Y. 10017, U.S>_ 270 Perk Avenue, 212-551-2345 WORlDWIOBi INTBRNATIONAL DfPARTMENT, CHEMICALS AND PLASTICS. UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION New Varfc, N.Y. 10017, U34L. 370 Park Avenue. 212-551-2345 P 42145 LWheemphed In US A. ucc 057996