TITANATE COUPLING AGENTS

► Description:

Ezebond Titanate Coupling Agents are complex organo-inorganic compounds, which act as bridges between organic polymers and inorganic fillers and pigments. They provide an organic molecular layer around the filler surface, which couples the polymer to the filler. Ezebond Titanate Coupling Agents play a multi‑functional role including improvement of various mechanical properties at higher filler loadings, reduction in viscosity and improvement in dispersion and flow properties. They help in reducing costs while simultaneously giving considerable benefits in processing conditions.

Ezebond titanates can be used for a wide range of filled polymer systems like: Polyvinyl Chloride (flexible and rigid), Polypropylene, Polyethylene, Epoxy, Polyurethane, Polyester, Polystyrene, and Nylon systems. Ezebond titanates are effective with precipitated or micronised calcium carbonate, talc, clay, silica, red mud, aluminium trihydrate, mica, wollastonite, calcium or aluminium silicates, glass fibres, carbon black, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, barium sulphate, etc. 

► Grades: Two types of Ezebond coupling agents are available:

1.  Liquid Grade         ( M.S.D.S. )

2.  Powder Grade *   ( M.S.D.S. )

* Powder grades Ezebond are manufactured using in-house developed, proprietary technology.  Special grades of liquid titanates are uniformly dispersed over inorganic composition (trade secret).

► Advantages:

Incorporation of Ezebond in filled polymer systems can offer many advantages.  Typical improvements are listed below:

1. Increases physical properties like tensile and impact strength and allows higher filler loadings

2. Improves dispersion of fillers and pigments into polymer systems. End products with better gloss and homogeneity are obtained

3. Reduces melt viscosity and improves flow properties. Production is increased considerably

4. Reduces energy consumption

5. Imparts hydrophobicity

6. Acts as an adhesion promoter

7. Promotes catalysis process in many polymer systems

8. Pigments treated with suitable titanates disperse more rapidly and display better colouring streng 

9. Pre-coating of blowing agents like AZDC with a suitable titanate ensures increased evolution of nitrogen and helps control cell structure off foamed PVC products

► Suggested Dosage:

How much Ezebond to use? The exact dosage of Ezebond titanate required to obtain optimum performance depends on the processing equipment used as well as on the polymer‑filler system. Initial trials should be done with the dosages given below in Table 1.  Depending on the results obtained, the dosage should be increased or decreased till the optimum dosage is arrived at.

Table: 1

► Applications:

A1 How to coat Wet inorganic fillers with Ezebond

· Ezebond 412

EB 412 is either emulsified in water using 0.5% to 1% of non-ionic emulsifier or mechanically dispersed in water using a high-speed mixer. The emulsion/dispersion is used to coat wet ground/precipitated calcium carbonate. The coated filler slurry is filtered, dried and used typically in filled rigid PVC systems.          (Example: PVC pipes and sections)

A2 How to coat Dry inorganic fillers with Ezebond:

- Ezebond 816

- Ezebond 927

Liquid titanate needs to be properly coated on the filler surface to ensure good performance. Coating should only be done on untreated fillers/extenders. Coated or activated fillers should not be used.

1.    Ezebond is first diluted with equal weight of low boiling alcohol/ketone solvent.

2.    The untreated filler is charged in a high-speed mixer. The mixer is run at low speed for a couple of

       minutes to preheat the filler and remove absorbed surface moisture.        

3.    The diluted titanate solution is added slowly within a minute by spraying or pouring.

4.    The mixing is then increased to its maximum and mixing is continued for about 12 minutes until  

       uniform coating is achieved.

Filler coated with EB 927 can be used directly for PP and PE applications.

Filler coated with EB 816 or EB 412 can be used directly for rigid PVC applications.  

A3 How to use of EB 412A in Flexible PVC/Plastisols Systems:

Ezebond EB 412A is mixed with a small quantity of plasticizer and sprayed on the resin and untreated filler mix in a high-speed mixer or blender. After thorough mixing is achieved, other ingredients like stabilizers, pigments, lubricants, balance plasticizer, etc are added in the required sequence.

Applications: Film, sheeting, flooring, plastisols for slush moulding, casting gloves, tubing, coated fabrics etc.

A4 How to use of Powder Ezebond in Polymer Systems:

• Ezebond 1019 A

• Ezebond 1019 B

      Thermoplasts: (PP, HDPE, PVC)

1. The quantity of Ezebond 1019 A required is first calculated using Table 1

2. Mix Ezebond 1019 A with the filler in a high-speed mixer for 12-15 minutes. The filler used should be of untreated variety i.e. without any surface coating such as Stearic, Stearate etc.

3. Add the resin to the above mixture and blend thoroughly.

4. Add pigments and other additives as required and blend thoroughly. Extrude the blend using a mixing type extruder such as a twin screw extruder

     Thermosets: (PU, Epoxy, Polyester):

     Ezebond 1019 B is thoroughly mixed with the resin in which fillers are to be added. Fillers, pigments, additives, etc are then added and 

     dispersed as per usual  practice.

     Other Thermoplastics: (PS, Eng. Plastics)

     The procedure is similar to that followed for polyolefins.

► Performance Data:

A few examples based on customer feedback:

1. In 40% CaCO₃ filled flexible PVC sheeting, use of EB412A reduced gelling time by 30% and gelling torque by 25%. Tensile strength increased by 20%.

2. Impact strength of HDPE filled with 30% CaCO₃ coated with EB927 increased by 10% over that of the virgin HDPE

3. Processing of CaCO₃ filled PP film compounds with over 100% filler became very easy when EB 101 9A was used. Surface finish was greatly improved.

4. Use of titanate coated CaCO3 instead of stearic-coated CaCO₃ in rigid PVC formulations increased tensile strength by 20% and impact strength by 10%. Gelling time was reduced by 33%.