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Let’s zoom in on PVC, the most commonly manufactured and widely used plastic in the world. This same PVC that’s used to make hard sewer pipes is also used to make your thin shower curtains. How do you think this is possible? 

Plasticizers. That’s what makes it possible.

What are Plasticizers?

Plasticizers are chemicals that are added to polymers to imbue them with the plastic properties you’re more familiar with. PVC, originally, is hard and rigid. Definitely not the polymer you would consider for use as a shower curtain. But when you add plasticizer to PVC, the material becomes the choice of coverage for showers in millions of homes in the world.

And if you’re a sucker for professionalism and chemical jargon, here’s your plasticizer definition:

Plasticizers are low volatility substances, solid or liquid, which we add to polymers like rubbers and plastics to make them more flexible, make them more likely to be molded into interesting shapes, and to reduce the friction. 

Common Classes of Plasticizers

There are many classifications of plasticizers, with the following seven being the most popular:

• Adipate plasticizers
• Benzoate plasticizers
• Bio-based plasticizers
• Energetic plasticizers
• Citrates plasticizers
• Phthalate ester plasticizers
• Trimellitate ester plasticizers

Each of these classes has unique properties that it most effectively imbues on polymers. For instance, phthalate ester plasticizers are best known for making plastics soft and flexible to make them suitable for use as our shower curtains. Some plasticizer classifications make plastic easier to mold into exciting shapes.

Where are Plasticizers Used

Plasticizers are used everywhere. There’s hardly any industry known to man where plasticizers aren’t of immense use. Examples of such areas of applications include:

• Automotive

Did you know that in your car, there are over 1000 plastic components? A significant percentage of those plastic components are PVC. And these components are wire harnesses, underbody sealants and coatings, exterior fittings and trims, among others.

• Building and construction

The uses of plasticizers in the building and construction industry are many. They range from PVC roofing and cladding to PVC flooring.

• Electrical

The electrical industry uses flexible PVC, a kind of PVC to make materials like coatings for copper wires. Even our computers, TVs, and other gadgets are made from PVCs.

• Fabrics and textiles

Tarpaulins, tents, and other industrial covers are made from PVC-coated polyester. Protective gear for firefighters also is also made from the same material.

• Medicine

Although under strict regulations and heavy restrictions, some plasticizers are used in some hospital materials, such as blood containers. 

• Food packaging

Food packaging is another industry that sees a significant use of plasticizers in PVCs. A common example is the thin, tear-resistant, PVC cling film. This material is cost-effective and serves as an effective food packaging material.

• Inks and paints

Inks also contain plasticizers to become more flexible, glossy, softer, and adherent. 

• Cosmetics and personal care

Plasticizers, such as DEP and DMP are safe, unlike many other plasticizer types. As a result, they are safe to use with materials that come in contact with the skin and other sensitive areas. As a result, the cosmetics industry makes use of these plasticizers in their products.

Sourcing Your Chemical Products at Chemstock

Chemstock is a leading supplier of all kinds of chemicals for all industrial applications. Regardless of the industry you belong to, we have the chemicals you need. And because we value you, your time, and your resources, we make it easy for you to browse through our catalog of affordable chemicals, buy them, and have them supplied to you with ease. 

You may contact us to get your affordable chemical products quotes today.

Solvents are those substances that cause other substances to dissolve. What you’re probably more familiar with are liquid solvents, such as water. But there are also solid, gaseous, and supercritical liquid solvents. 

Common Examples of Solvents

The number one example of a solvent is water. But what other solvents are there?

• 1.1.1-Trichloroethane 
• Acetone
• Dichloromethane 
• Ethyl Acetate
• Hexane 
• Methanol 
• Methyl Acetate
• Methyl Ethyl Ketone
• Perchloroethylene 
• Petroleum Spirits 
• Toluene 
• Trichloroethylene 
• Xylene 

Applications of Solvents

Solvents are used in various applications and industries. Some of these industries include:

• Aerosols
• Adhesives
• Agrochemicals
• Automotive
• Construction 
• Cosmetics
• Dry cleaning 
• Engineering 
• Foodstuff 
• Footwear
• Inks
• Oil and Gas
• Paints
• Pharmaceuticals
• Plastics 
• Printing 
• Rubber 
• Textiles 
• Woodworking and Furniture

Get the Best Chemical Quality At Chemstock

Chemical supplies are what we do here at Chemstock, and we sure do it with as much effectiveness and efficiency as possible. What this means is that our chemicals are of the best quality, our timing is impeccable, our services are tailored to your specific needs, and our prices are fair.

What then are you waiting for? You may contact us if you have any inquiries, or request a quote if you’d rather get straight to business.

Specialty Chemicals are deliberately produced for their function or performance. 

When your clothes are dirty and you need to wash them. You need a cup of detergent, not a can of pesticides. When you find out that your home is infested with pests of all sizes, species, and colors, you buy pesticides, not a tube of adhesives. Your kids break their favorite plastic toy. You can fix it, but you need an adhesive to hold the parts of the broken toy together again. 

Detergents, pesticides, and adhesives are all specialty chemicals. And what do they have in common? They all have specific core functions. And out of the scope of those core functions, specialty chemicals have little use. Other names for specialty chemicals are performance chemicals, specialties, and effect chemicals.

Other common examples of specialty chemicals include surfactants, food additives, food flavors, cosmetic additives, paints, construction chemicals, fragrances, and many more.

Thanks to the narrowed applications of specialty chemicals, they are only produced in batches. Batch production is a way to control the production of these specialty chemicals so that they are just able to meet the demand for the products.

Secure Your Chemicals The Chemstock Way

ChemStock is one of the industry leaders of chemical suppliers. What this translates to for your business is that you have the best in the business supplying your chemicals. The best prices, the best chemical qualities, the safest packagings, the most efficient supply chain networks, and definitely the best services.

You may contact us and we’ll get back to you ASAP. And if you’d rather get straight to the point, you may request a quote and our experts will be quick to get back to you.

Acrylates possess certain characteristics that make them stand out from other chemicals. Such characteristics include flexibility, hardness, transparency, and many others. Thanks to this diverse range of properties, the chemical has found uses in various applications, including textiles, cosmetics, diapers, among others. 

Applications of Acrylates

Acrylates have many applications, thanks to their diverse properties. 

1. Diapers and Other Liquid Absorbent Applications

One of the unique properties of acrylates is their super absorbency. Acrylates are like sponges — they soak in a lot of water. Even as little as a gram of acrylate can soak up a cup of water. But unlike sponges, acrylates hold on to the water very tightly.  

Where else would you need such materials if not in baby diapers? The super absorbency means that baby urine and feces can be soaked in and trapped in the diapers immediately. And because the diapers can hold the water remarkably, our babies have lesser chances of getting rashes.

A particularly good example of an acrylate polymer that has this characteristic is polyacrylic acid. 

2. Cosmetics

The cosmetics industry also makes use of acrylates on huge scales. However, its use in this industry is being reduced because of the potential health risks some acrylates pose to the skin.

3. Polymer Manufacturing

Ethyl acrylate is another acrylate that is mostly used as a component in the manufacturing of polymers such as rubber and plastics. Another acrylate that does this same job is Hydroxyethyl methacrylate.

4. Other Applications

Many other types of acrylates have useful functions in various industries. Some are used in inks and coatings, while others are used in adhesives. Animal care products, such as horse urine odor absorbers, pet pads, and insect feeders also have traces of acrylates in them.

Sourcing Your Chemicals With Chemstock

We supply all kinds of specialty chemicals at Chemstock, but that’s not all we do. We also offer you the best chemical supply services to help you optimize your supply chain with ease. Such services include affordable quotes, high-quality products, and access to experts in the field.

Get in touch with us through our Contact Us page. Our experts are waiting on the other end of the page to answer your questions. And if you know what you want, you may jump straight to request a quote.