Activators

Market names: PEG 4000, Polyglycol, Polyethylene oxide, urea
CAS no: 25322-68-3
Description: It is a water-soluble and odorless chemical that forms a bond between accelerators and curing agents (sulfur), increasing the rate of vulcanization and cross-link density. It is especially used with non-black fillers such as silica and clay. PEG 4000 also acts as a processing aid in rubber compounds that may be difficult to process, being particularly effective in EPDM-based compounds. Lastly, it can be used as a mold release agent for foam and molded products.
Function: Vulcanization accelerator, processing aid, mold release agent
Appearance: White flakes
Applications: Rubber production, cosmetics, paint, agriculture, ceramics, cement
Packaging: 25 kg bags
Storage: Store in its original packaging in a dry, cool, and well-ventilated place. Avoid exposure to high heat or direct sunlight. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture.

Urea

Activators are classified into different categories, and one of them is urea. Urea as an activator has its own unique areas of use. We can examine detailed information and applications of urea as an activator.

Appearance: White granules
Chemical Formula: (NH2)2CO -- CH4N2O
Packaging: 50 kg bags
Applications:
Known as carbamide, urea is an organic compound with the chemical formula CO(NH2)2. This amide has two -NH2 groups joined by a carbonyl (C=O) functional group.

Urea plays an important role in the metabolism of nitrogen-containing compounds and is the primary nitrogen-containing substance in the urine of mammals. It is a colorless, odorless solid that is highly soluble in water and almost non-toxic. When dissolved in water, it is neither acidic nor alkaline. The body uses it in many processes, most importantly in the excretion of nitrogen. The liver forms it by combining two molecules of ammonia (NH3) with one molecule of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the urea cycle. Urea is widely used as a nitrogen source in fertilizers and is an important raw material for the chemical industry as an activator.

Urea is an important activator in chemistry. It can be produced at a significant conceptual milestone in chemistry. This marks the first known time that a substance, which contradicts the widely held doctrine that a substance could be synthesized in a laboratory without being a biological starting material, is considered a byproduct of life.

Applications:

• Urea is a raw material for producing two main classes of materials: urea-formaldehyde resins and urea-melamine-formaldehyde used in marine plywood.
• Urea can be used to form urea nitrate, a highly explosive compound used industrially and in some improvised explosive devices. It is a stabilizer in nitrocellulose explosives.
• More than 90% of the world's industrial urea production is destined for use as nitrogen-release fertilizers.
• Urea has the highest nitrogen content of commonly used nitrogen fertilizers. Therefore, it has the lowest transportation cost per unit of nitrogen nutrient.
• Due to the high nitrogen concentration in urea, ensuring even distribution is crucial. Application equipment must be accurately calibrated and properly used.
• Due to the risk of germination damage, urea should not be drilled in contact with or close to seeds.
• Urea dissolves in water for use as a spray or through irrigation systems.
• In grain and cotton crops, urea is often applied just before or during the last planting. In areas with high rainfall and sandy soils (where nitrogen can be lost through leaching) and when good rainfall is expected, urea can be side- or top-dressed during the growing season. Top-dressing is also popular for pasture and forage crops. In sugarcane cultivation, urea is side-dressed after planting and applied to each ratoon crop.
• For irrigated crops, urea can be applied to the soil in dry form or dissolved and applied through irrigation water. Urea dissolves in its weight in water, but as concentration increases, dissolution becomes increasingly difficult. When urea is dissolved in water, it is endothermic; the solution temperature drops as the urea dissolves.

How is Urea Produced as an Activator?

The starting materials for urea production are liquid ammonia and carbon dioxide. In a stirred tank, ammonia and carbon dioxide are reacted at a specific mixing speed. As a result of the reaction, ammonium carbamate decomposes to form water and urea. The mixture is then crystallized for purification.

Factors Affecting the Prices of Urea as an Activator:

Among the most important factors determining urea prices are ammonia prices. If ammonia prices rise in the global market, the prices of this chemical will also increase. Urea prices vary depending on the stocks of the companies producing this chemical and the continuous operation of the production system. If the manufacturer's stocks decrease and there is a halt in the production system, prices will rise. The stocks of the companies selling this compound also have a decisive influence on prices. If stocks decrease, prices will rise.

Zinc Oxide

Another commonly preferred type of activator is zinc oxide. The usage areas and details of zinc oxide as an activator are as follows:

Appearance: Odorless white powder
Chemical Name: White zinc, calamine
Chemical Formula: ZnO
Properties: It is available in two types: white and gold seal. Gold seal is pharmaceutical grade.
Packaging: 25 kg bags

Applications:
Zinc oxide is an activator type with the inorganic compound formula ZnO. ZnO is a white powder that is insoluble in water and is widely used as an additive in numerous substances and products, including paints, ointments, adhesives, sealants, pigments, rubber, plastics, ceramics, glass, cement, lubricants, food, batteries, ferrites, flame retardants, and first aid tapes. Although the mineral zincite occurs naturally, most zinc oxide is produced synthetically. Pure ZnO is a white powder, but naturally occurring zincite is rare and often contains impurities, such as manganese, that give it colors ranging from yellow to red. Zinc oxide is an amphoteric oxide. It is almost insoluble in water but dissolves in most acids, such as hydrochloric acid:

ZnO + 2 HCI → ZnCl 2 + H 2 O

Solid zinc oxide also dissolves in alkalis to give soluble zincate:

ZnO + 2 NaOH + H 2 Na → O 2 [Zn (OH) 4 ]

ZnO reacts slowly with fatty acids in oils, such as oleate or stearate, to produce the corresponding carboxylates. When mixed with a strong aqueous solution of zinc chloride, ZnO forms cement-like products best described as zinc hydroxychloride. These cements have been used in dentistry.

ZnO also forms a cement-like material when treated with phosphoric acid; related materials are used in dentistry. The zinc phosphate glue produced by this reaction is an important component of Hopeite, Zn3_33​(PO4_44​)2_22​·4H2_22​O.

ZnO decomposes into zinc vapor and oxygen at around 1975°C under standard oxygen pressure. In a carbothermic reaction, heating with carbon converts the oxide into zinc vapor at a much lower temperature (approximately 950°C).

ZnO + C → Zn (Buhar) + CO

Zinc oxide can react violently with aluminum and magnesium powders; heating with chlorinated rubber and linseed oil can pose fire and explosion hazards. It reacts with hydrogen sulfide to form zinc sulfide. This reaction is used commercially.

Applications

Zinc oxide as an activator has very widespread applications:

• Paint Industry: Used as a white pigment in watercolors. Besides being a white pigment, it is a chemically reactive substance with thickening properties. It protects the paint from ultraviolet light, delaying fading, adds hardness to the paint layer, and has mold-preventing effects.
• Ceramics and Glass Industry: Increases resistance to thermal and mechanical shocks and enhances the brightness of materials. Improves the optical properties of glass.
• Textile Industry: Acts as a filler material, providing whiteness, durability, elasticity, and protection against mold and bacteria.
• Metal Coating Industry: Used in the coating of various metal surfaces and for protection against corrosion. It also increases electrical resistance, making it suitable for the surface coating of electrical appliances.
• Matches, Batteries, and Chemical Smoke Production: Utilized in these applications.
• Rubber Industry: Used as an activator. It acts as an accelerator in the vulcanization of rubber, increasing flexibility and resistance to abrasion and tearing.
• Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Industry: With antiseptic and drying properties, it helps in cell regeneration. Found in some over-the-counter ointments, it prevents water loss from the skin when applied as a thin layer. It protects against sunburn in summer and cold burns in winter.
• Baby Care: When used in small amounts on areas where diapers are worn, it can prevent redness and irritation on the skin.

What are the Factors Affecting Activator Zinc Oxide Prices?

Zinc oxide price is directly dependent on the prices of chemicals used in its production. As the reserve in zinc mines decreases, prices will rise. In addition, as the price of sodium carbonate and sulfuric acid used in its production increases, prices will increase.

As zinc oxide distributor companies increase their stocks, prices will experience a short-term decline.

Companies selling zinc oxide are responsible for the distribution of this chemical. Prices increase as the distance to the production site increases.

Zinc Oxide Sales

Chemical substances are packaged with packages determined in international standards. These are sold starting with the lowest packaging to the largest packaging or by bulk method with tanker. These can be 1 gram packaging, 1 tonne big bond packaging, the lowest drum packaging, or unpackaged sales with tankers. In other words, activator zinc oxides have different pricing and packaging forms according to their quantities.

Polyethylene Glycol (PEG 4000/PEG8000)

Polyethylene glycol is the most preferred activator type. It is a type of activator that is divided into different sections within itself. The most widely used activator types of Polyethylene Glycol activator types are peg4000 and peg8000;

Appearance : White

Chemical Name : Polyethylene Glycols / PEG

Chemical Formula : C2nH4n+2On+1

Packaging Type : In barrels - in bags

Definition and Uses :

The production of polyethylene glycol activator was first reported in 1859. Both AV Laurence and Charles Adolphe Wurtz independently isolated the products with polyethylene glycols. Polyethylene glycol is produced by interaction with ethylene oxide, water, ethylene glycol or ethylene glycol oligomers. The reaction is catalysed by acidic or basic catalysts. Ethylene glycol and its oligomers are preferred as a starting material over water, as they allow the production of polymers with low polydispersity (narrow molecular weight distribution). The polymer chain length depends on the ratio of reactants.

HOCH 2 , CH 2 , OH + n (CH 2 CH 2 O) → HO (CH 2 CH 2 O) n + 1 'H

• Depending on the nature of the catalyst, the polymerisation mechanism can be cationic or anionic. The anionic mechanism is preferred because PEG can be obtained with low polydispersity. Ethylene oxide polymerisation is an exothermic process. Overheating or contamination of ethylene oxide with catalysts such as alkalis or metal oxides can cause excessive polymerisation which can lead to an explosion after a few hours.
• Polyethylene oxide or high molecular weight polyethylene glycol is synthesised by suspension polymerisation. It is necessary to keep the growing polymer chain in solution throughout the multiple condensation process. The reaction is catalysed by magnesium, aluminium or calcium organoelement compounds. Trimming additives such as dimethylglyoxime are used to prevent the polymer chains from dissolving.
• Alkaline catalysts are used to prepare a low molecular weight polyethylene glycol, such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH), potassium hydroxide (KOH) or sodium carbonate (Na2C03).

Usage Areas of Polyethylene Activators

• Since PEG is hydrophilic molecule, it is used to passivate microscope glass slides to prevent non-specific adhesion of proteins in single molecule fluorescence studies.
• Polyethylene glycol has low toxicity and is used in various products.
• The polymer is used as a lubricating coating for various surfaces in aqueous and non-aqueous environments.
• Because PEG is a flexible, water-soluble polymer, it can be used to create very high osmotic pressures.
• Polyethylene glycol is widely used as a polar stationary phase for gas chromatography as well as a heat transfer fluid in electronic test equipment.
• PEG is frequently used in mass spectrometry experiments, with its characteristic fragmentation pattern allowing accurate and reproducible tuning.
• PEG derivatives such as narrow-domain ethoxylates are used as surfactants.
• PEG has been used as the hydrophilic block of amphiphilic block copolymers used to form some polymers.
• PEG is the basis of a number of laxatives. Whole bowel irrigation with polyethylene glycol and additional electrolytes is used for bowel preparation before surgery or colonoscopy.
• PEG is also used as an excipient in many pharmaceutical products.
• When bound to various protein drugs, polyethylene glycol allows the transported protein to be slowed down in the blood.
• PEG is commonly used as a crowding agent in in vitro experiments to mimic highly crowded cellular conditions.
• PEG is commonly used as a precipitating agent for plasmid DNA isolation and protein crystallisation. X-ray diffraction of protein crystals can reveal the atomic structure of proteins.
• PEG is used to fuse two different types of cells, mostly B-cells and myelomas, to form hybridomas.
• Polymer fragments derived from PEG polyols impart flexibility to polyurethanes for applications such as elastomeric fibres (spandex) and foam cushions.
• In microbiology, PEG precipitation is used to concentrate viruses.
• Gene therapy vectors (such as viruses) are protected from inactivation by the immune system by coating them with PEG, and can remove them from organs and prevent them from being targeted where they may exert toxic effects.
• Nitrate ester-plasticised polyethylene glycol is used in solid rocket fuel for the Trident II submarine-launched ballistic missile.
• Dimethyl ethers of PEG are the key component of Selexol, a solvent used by coal combustion, integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plants to remove carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide from the gas waste stream.
• PEG has been used as a gate insulator in an electric double-layer transistor to induce superconductivity in an insulator.
• PEG is also used as a polymer host for solid polymer electrolytes. Although not yet in commercial production, many groups around the world are conducting research on solid polymer electrolytes containing PEG with the aim of improving their properties and allowing the use of other products in batteries, electrochromic display systems and other products in the future.
• PEG is injected into industrial processes to reduce foaming in separation equipment.
• PEG is used as a binder in the preparation of technical ceramics.
• PEG is the basis of many skin creams (as cetomacrogol) and personal lubricants (often combined with glycerine).
• PEG is used as a dispersant in a number of toothpastes. In this application, it binds water and helps xanthan gum to remain evenly distributed throughout the toothpaste.
• PEG is also being investigated in body armour and tattoos used to monitor diabetes.
• In low molecular weight formulations (e.g. PEG 400), it is used in Hewlett-Packard design jet printers as an ink solvent and lubricant for print heads.