Thermal characterisation of metal stearate lubricant mixtures for polymer compounding applications

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Authors

Phillips, Justin
Weldhagen, Michelle
Mhlabeni, Thobile Lillian
Radebe, Lucky
Ramjee, Shatish
Wesley-Smith, James
Atanasova, Maria T.
Focke, Walter Wilhelm

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Publisher

Elsevier

Abstract

Metal stearate blends are potential lubricants and filler dispersants in polymer compounding. Therefore, the thermal phase behaviour of binary blends of calcium stearate and magnesium stearate with zinc stearate was investigated. Cooling curve studies indicated lower melting temperatures in both systems. X-ray diffraction studies revealed that this was due to the formation of solid solutions of variable composition rather than to eutectic formation. Rheology measurements showed that true fluidification only happened well above the apparent melting points established from cooling curves. Calcium carbonate filled polyethylene containing metal stearate mixtures showed lower melt viscosities than were achievable using only calcium- or magnesium stearate as the lubricant. These results suggest that metal stearate blends, in combination with a judiciously selected wax component, may offer advantages in lowering compound melt viscosity and facilitating better particle dispersion.

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Keywords

Metal stearate, Lubricant, Dispersant, Thermal analysis, Filler

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Citation

Phillips, J., Weldhagen, M., Mhlabeni, T. et al. 2021, 'Thermal characterisation of metal stearate lubricant mixtures for polymer compounding applications', Thermochimica Acta, vol. 699, art. 178906, pp. 1-8, doi : 10.1016/j.tca.2021.178906.