Although PVC has been replaced by other plastics now considered commodities, it has remained resilient in industries such as construction, electrical, and hardware, among others. This is mainly due to its low cost, formulation versatility, and ongoing innovations to meet new international regulations. Among these new solutions is the Calcium Zinc One-Pack for PVC piping, which combines the thermal stabilizer and necessary lubricants into a single product for PVC pipe manufacturing.
Previously, calcium zinc, as a dual-purpose compound acting as both a lubricant and a heat stabilizer, was a rather expensive option compared to the methyl tin heat stabilizer. Today, after the pandemic, coupled with the rising cost of tin metal due to the risk of shortages in Asian mines, Calcium Zinc package for PVC pipe It presents us with an interesting alternative for the future.
In Chemical Additives of Mexico We offer these lubrication packages for pipes PVC At an excellent price and with technical support to ensure you can operate it for extended periods without machine downtime and minimize waste. It's important to note that the grades we offer are suitable for both pipe extrusion and injection molding of fittings.
4 main advantages of using Calcium Zinc package for PVC pipe
- The first advantage we would like to mention is that manufacturers are always looking for ways to simplify their mixing operations to avoid errors, waste, and rework. With the conventional method of formulation PVC pipe, The manufacturer must add thermal stabilizer, external and internal lubricants, where any calculation problem results in significant costs for the production process. With the Calcium Zinc package for PVC pipe, We reduced the number of ingredients to resin, fillers, pigment and the pigment itself, thus simplifying the mixing process.
For manufacturers with a closed, automated powder feeding system, this solution is perfectly suited because it eliminates the need for liquid products, such as tin thermal stabilizer, which can cause handling complications. - The second advantage is that the Calcium Zinc complex has been preferred by organizations such as the PPI (Plastic Pipe Institute) for being more consumer-friendly metals and exhibiting very low odor (compared to methyltin). In fact, these metals within thermal stabilizers are gaining increasing acceptance, starting with the medical and food industries and expanding into markets such as toys, footwear, and others. Additionally, consumers have shown a preference for low-odor plastics, as higher odor can generate distrust, even when experts confirm there is minimal risk. This trend is reflected in the steadily increasing demand for Calcium Zinc as a PVC additive in recent years.
- As mentioned earlier, the third advantage of Calcium Zinc pipe fitting kit, That's the cost, because after the pandemic many PVC additives They became quite expensive, prompting PVC pipe manufacturers to explore more viable alternatives. This, combined with new advances in calcium zinc alloys, has made it possible to manufacture white pipes with a good finish and mechanical properties that meet the standard requirements. Calcium Zinc package for PVC pipe It allows passing tests for fusion, chemical attack, impact resistance, finish, etc.
- Finally, for inventory and supply purposes, it is better to manage a smaller number of ingredients, as the absence of any one component can halt production. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the fragility of the supply chain, so having a simplified raw material plan offers financial advantages and reduces the risk of shortages. Consolidating lubricants and thermal stabilizers into a single product also reduces logistics costs, allowing larger quantities of a single SKU to be purchased without the concern of excess inventory (reducing the bill of materials).
How does the Calcium Zinc package for PVC pipe work?
Understanding the Calcium Zinc complex It's somewhat complicated, since beyond neutralizing HCl as a conventional stabilizer, it relies on lubrication to reduce friction during extrusion and thus prevent yellowing of the pipe. Because these metals, primarily zinc, do not form strong chemical bonds with chlorine, these bonds break down quickly under the high processing temperatures of extrusion. Therefore, by reducing the shearing effect of friction, we can lower the temperature of the material being plasticized within our equipment and thus slow down heat degradation.
It is important to highlight that this package consists of a mixture of stearates, synthetic waxes, calcite, boosters (zeolite), pigments, and antioxidants, which the producer of the Calcium Zinc package The PVC pipe compound has been specifically designed for a particular process and pipe size. We could say it's a material, to some extent, tailor-made, so that the compound can withstand extreme friction conditions (such as those encountered with a twin-screw extruder) at high temperatures.
Another important point is that, although this Calcium Zinc One-Pack for PVC piping was designed for this specific product, its application can actually be extended to rigid PVC in general. Of course, the peculiarities of each formulation should be reviewed, as there is no guarantee that all ingredients required for every application are included in this pack.
What are some disadvantages?
One disadvantage is that these packs—although now standardized so that a single product can work for multiple clients—depend heavily on the equipment specifications, the pipe schedule being manufactured, and the final application, which requires adjusting the lubrication capacity. To clarify, the level of lubrication needed for a sanitary pipe is not the same as for a higher-schedule hydraulic pipe. For this reason, it may happen that with Calcium Zinc One-Packs for PVC piping, the manufacturer needs to compensate by adding other lubricants, such as those offered by Chemical Additives Mexico, to produce a smooth, white, and glossy pipe.
It should also be noted that the main disadvantage of a Calcium Zinc One-Pack for PVC piping is that the formulator loses the ability to adjust the formulation, as everything is already concentrated in a single product with an unknown exact composition. Additionally, over time and with equipment wear, the pack usually requires an update or screw maintenance to ensure that the product continues to perform correctly, as it did initially.
However, if you are looking to avoid formulating or lack the mixing equipment for this task, in Chemical Compounds offers PVC compounds. These compounds are tailored to your needs and machine specifications to deliver a top-quality product. Don't hesitate to contact one of our expert technicians.