By: Tony Martin

Foaming agents, also known as chemical blowing agents or (CBA), can be used in all conventional plastics processes including extrusion, calendering , injection molding, coatings, rotational and slush molding and many others. One of the advantages of foamed plastics are the reduction in density, savings in material costs, improved thermal and electrical isulative properties, increased strength to weight ratio and the elimination of shrinkage, warpage and sink marks in injection molded parts.

ChemCeed offers Azodicarbonamide, a widely use chemical blowing agent in both the plastics and rubber industries. This material is a yellow-orange powder which decomposes exothermically at 400degrees F, its 220cc/g of gas is released accounting for about 30% of weight of the agent. The gas comprised of 65% nitrogen and a mixture of other gases dissolved into the polymer matrix to form a foamed product. Azodicarbonamide is approved for use by the FDA for several food contact uses including sealing gaskets under 21 CFR 175,300, 177,210, 177,2600 and 178,3010, it is use as a food maturing agent under 21CFR 172,806. Factors in the proper AZO particle size selection are very important in order to best match the decomposition temperature to the polymer processing range. The average particle size diameter of AZO measured in microns can range from 2 to 20 microns and plays a key role in the polymer to be foamed as well as the process to be used. A fine particle AZO (2 microns) decomposes at lower temperatures than a coarser material (15 microns), medium particle size AZO (3 microns) is the most widely use for the majority of the applications. AZO can be activated to release its gas at lower temperatures, and ChemCeed can discuss with you various additives available for this purpose.

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Anthony Martin is the founder of ICOD Associates LLC, a company he formed after retiring as Vice President of Sales-Northeast for Harwick Standard Distribution Corporation in 2007. His 39 year career experiences in the plastics and rubber industry range from Technical Sales positions to Management and International Marketing activities while at Olin Chemical and Uniroyal Chemical. He holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from Boston University and lives in Mullica Hill, New Jersey with his wife Maria. He is an experienced executive with a proven record of accomplishments in sales, marketing, business development and strategic planning. ChemCeed is delighted to have him as our sales agent.