Plastisol

A plastisol is a physical mixture of a powdered thermoplastic polymer and plasticizer, and optionally fillers, blowing agents and additives.

The selection of the mixture is carried out in such a manner that the polymer in the plasticizer, although soluble, the dissolution rate at room temperature, however, extremely small precipitates. Only at temperatures above 100 ° C, the polymer starts (hereinafter also Plasticizer ) appreciably dissolve in the plasticizer. This process is referred to as gelation or gelling of the plastisol. The resulting solution is extremely viscous consistency at room temperature no longer flowing. The step of gelation is not reversible ( reversible).

In contrast, an unannealed plastisol at room temperature is still as liquid paste before and is castable, sprayable and brushable. Depending on the composition of the mixture over weeks or months storage stable without gelling. After heating for a few minutes at 160-180 ° C, typically it is a permanently tough-elastic plastic. The term plastisol is used for both the uncured mixture as well as for the finished product.

Plastisols can be prepared from different polymers. However, of major importance are PVC plastisols, also known as soft PVC, hot melt vinyl.

Plastisols can be found in a variety of applications: Liner, Hose, for the coating of different materials types, such as metals, or even for textile printing ( screen printing), textile coatings, wallpaper, toys, automotive underbody protection, even in expanded form as artificial leather.

The problem may be the slow exudation of the plasticizer and release to the environment. Many plasticizers are classified as harmful to health, such as dioctyl phthalate (DOP). Some industries - such as wallpaper or toys - therefore use higher boiling plasticizers such as 1,2- diisononyl cyclohexanedicarboxylates (also known as Hexamoll DINCH ). Major producers of PVC plastisols are Follmann and Opti Plast.

• Plastic