Additives often used in plastic

Most polymers require chemical additives to make them of practical value. The additives industry is worth over $16billion/ annum.

Some of the types of additives are:

• Process Additives - lubricants, mold-release agents, and blowing agents
• Stabilizers - heat stabilizers, UV and visible light stabilizers, antioxidants, antimicrobial agents (preservatives)
• Plasticizer - a softening agent that is added to a polymer to facilitate processing or enhance physical properties. PVC (Polyvinyl chloride), for example uses 55% by weight of plasticizers. DINP (Diisononyl phthalate) is used as the softening agent in many pliable PVC toys.
• These plastic additives may potentially leach out of the plastics and cause environmental concerns. The effects of DINP in toys or DEHP in medical tubing/ products are a concern to the public.
• Compounding- the mixing of polymers with additives.

Read More about Resin Identification Code here