why choose NC foaming agents for PVC/TPR/PS

In the field of plastic processing, the choice of foaming agents directly impacts product performance, cost, and environmental sustainability. Among these, NC foaming agents stand out as the preferred solution for processing materials like PVC, TPR, and PS due to their unique chemical properties and application advantages.
 

 Core Advantages of NC Foaming Agents

NC foaming agents are chemical blowing agents primarily composed of nitrocellulose, modified through specialized processes. Their core advantages address the processing demands of PVC, TPR, and PS across three dimensions: processing efficiency, product performance, and environmental safety. This makes them the preferred choice.
 

 High Foaming Efficiency Reduces Production Costs

The decomposition temperature range of NC blowing agent aligns perfectly with the processing temperatures of PVC (160-190°C), TPR (150-180°C), and PS (160-200°C), enabling efficient foaming without additional equipment parameter adjustments. At equivalent addition levels (typically 1%-3%), NC foaming agents achieve gas generation rates of 200-300 ml/g—significantly higher than traditional AC foaming agents (120-150 ml/g). This enables more uniform cell structures with reduced usage, directly lowering raw material costs. Additionally, its rapid and stable decomposition reduces molding cycles by approximately 15%-20%, boosting production efficiency—making it particularly suitable for large-scale manufacturing.
 

 Uniform and fine cell structure enhances product performance

PVC, TPR, and PS products demand stringent foam quality—for instance, PVC foam sheets require both lightweight properties and compressive strength, TPR foam soles must ensure elasticity and abrasion resistance, while PS foam packaging needs cushioning capabilities. The gas produced during NC blowing agent decomposition exhibits excellent dispersion, forming uniform cells with diameters of 0.1-0.5mm. This prevents issues like reduced product strength and deformation caused by inconsistent cell sizes in traditional blowing agents. For example, PVC foam pipes using NC blowing agent demonstrate a 20% increase in compressive strength and a 15% weight reduction while maintaining excellent corrosion resistance.
 

 Environmentally Friendly and Safe, Compliant with Industry Standards

As global environmental regulations tighten (e.g., EU REACH, China GB 6675), plastic processing demands increasingly stringent environmental requirements for foaming agents. NC foaming agents contain no harmful substances like formaldehyde, heavy metals, or halogens. Their decomposition products are primarily harmless gases such as CO₂ and N₂, with no irritating odors, posing no risk to production environments or operator health. Additionally, their combustion performance meets UL94 V-0 standards, offering significant advantages in safety-critical applications like PS foam packaging and TPR children's toys.
 

 High Compatibility with Diverse Processing Methods

PVC, TPR, and PS involve diverse processing methods including extrusion, injection molding, and compression molding. NC foaming agent exhibits excellent compatibility with the resins of these three materials, preventing issues like separation or precipitation. It also adapts to the temperature and pressure requirements of different processes. For instance, in TPR injection-molded foamed shoe sole production, NC foaming agent decomposes stably at injection temperatures of 160-170°C. It synergizes with TPR elastomer components to ensure over 90% elastic recovery rate after sole molding. In PVC extrusion foaming sheet processing, it exhibits no adverse reactions with PVC plasticizers, stabilizers, or other additives, ensuring a smooth, flawless sheet surface.
 

Targeted Compatibility Advantages of NC Blowing Foaming Agent in PVC, TPR, and PS

Given the varying chemical structures and performance requirements of different plastic materials, NC blowing agent addresses industry pain points in PVC, TPR, and PS processing through its tailored compatibility, further highlighting its selection value.
 

 For PVC

 PVC inherently possesses high rigidity, but foaming often leads to reduced strength and increased brittleness, particularly in applications like architectural PVC foam profiles and decorative panels. NC blowing agent addresses this contradiction by balancing "foaming efficiency" and "strength":
 

1.  Decomposition temperature aligns with PVC processing: PVC typically processes at 160-190°C, while NC foaming agent decomposes between 165-185°C. This eliminates the need for additional foaming aids to regulate temperature, preventing PVC degradation from excessive heat and ensuring stable product performance.
2.  Enhanced Cell Wall Support: NC blowing agents leave trace cellulose residues upon decomposition. These residues form a "support structure" within PVC cell walls, improving deformation resistance. For example, PVC foam ceiling panels using NC blowing agents exhibit an 18% increase in elongation at break, reducing cracking during installation and use.
3.  Enhanced weather resistance: PVC products frequently exposed to outdoor environments require aging resistance and UV protection. NC blowing agents synergize with PVC's light stabilizers and antioxidants to slow PVC aging, extending the service life of outdoor PVC foam profiles by 3-5 years.

 Furthermore, in soft PVC applications (e.g., PVC foam mats), NC blowing agents blend well with plasticizers, ensuring mats maintain softness and elasticity while emitting no odors, meeting indoor environmental standards.
 

 For TPR

 TPR is a material combining rubber elasticity with plastic malleability, widely used in soles, seals, sports equipment, and other applications. Its core requirements are "high elasticity" and "uniform foaming." NC blowing agents perfectly meet these two demands in TPR processing:
 

1.  Ensuring Elastic Recovery: TPR's elasticity relies on the cross-linked structure of elastomer molecular chains. Traditional blowing agents (such as AC blowing agents) may disrupt these chains during decomposition, leading to reduced elasticity. NC blowing agents decompose gently without affecting TPR's crosslinked network, maintaining elastic recovery rates above 85% in foamed TPR products. For example, TPR-foamed athletic shoe soles exhibit no permanent deformation after repeated bending when using NC blowing agents.
2.  Adapting TPR hardness adjustment: TPR hardness (Shore A 30-90 degrees) can be regulated by adjusting the rubber-to-plastic ratio. NC blowing agents achieve uniform foaming across TPR formulations of varying hardness. For instance, in a TPR foam seal with Shore A 50° using NC blowing agent, foam cell uniformity reaches 95% and sealing performance improves by 15%. In a TPR foam handle with Shore A 80°, the foam cell structure balances slip resistance and comfort.
3.  Improved processing flow: TPR melt flow significantly impacts foaming results, with poor flow leading to uneven cell distribution. NC foaming agents exhibit plasticizing effects, increasing TPR melt flow rate (MFR) by approximately 10%-15%. This ensures uniform gas dispersion during injection molding and extrusion, preventing defects like "short shots" and "bubble agglomeration."

 For PS

 PS material offers low density and ease of processing, but pure PS exhibits high brittleness. After foaming, it is crucial to enhance cushioning and impact resistance, particularly in applications like electronic packaging and foam food containers. NC foaming agents address core challenges in PS processing through the following advantages:
 

1.  Low Foam Density with High Cushioning: NC foaming agent's high foaming rate reduces PS foam density to 0.03-0.05 g/cm³, achieving lightweighting. Its uniform cell structure effectively absorbs impact energy. For example, PS foam used in electronic device packaging achieves a 25% increase in impact resistance with NC blowing agent, withstanding 1.5-meter drops without damaging internal components.
2.  Improved PS Brittleness: PS inherently exhibits high brittleness and tends to shatter after foaming. The residual cellulose components from NC blowing agent decomposition form "flexible connections" within PS cells, enhancing foam toughness. Elongation at break increases from 2% in pure PS to over 8%, resolving the traditional "shatter-upon-impact" issue of PS foam.
3.  Suitable for PS extrusion molding: PS extrusion foaming processes (e.g., EPS foaming) demand high dispersibility of blowing agents. NC blowing agent mixes thoroughly with PS resin, extruding uniformly with the melt during extrusion. This produces PS foam sheets with smooth surfaces and no sink marks, eliminating the need for secondary processing and reducing production costs.

 

 Comparison of NC Foaming Agent with Other Mainstream Foaming Agents

 Common foaming agents in plastic processing also include AC foaming agent (azodicarbonamide) and OBSH foaming agent (4,4'-oxydibenzosulfone hydrazide). Comparing NC with these agents highlights its unique value in PVC, TPR, and PS applications.
 

 Compared to AC Foaming Agent: Superior Environmental Performance and Efficiency

 AC blowing agent is a traditional, commonly used blowing agent, but it has significant drawbacks:
 

1.  Poor Environmental Performance: AC foaming agents may release small amounts of irritating gases like formaldehyde and ammonia during decomposition, failing to meet the restrictions on hazardous substances under the EU REACH regulation. This limits their use in export-oriented PVC, TPR, and PS products. In contrast, NC foaming agents emit no harmful gases and fully comply with environmental standards.
2.  Low foaming efficiency: AC foaming agents yield only 120-150ml/g of gas. To achieve equivalent foaming effects, their addition rate must reach 3%-5%, exceeding NC foaming agents' 1%-3% range, thereby increasing raw material costs. Additionally, AC foaming agents decompose slowly, requiring extended molding cycles and impacting production efficiency.
3.  Impact on Product Performance: Residual substances from AC foaming agent decomposition may cause yellowing in PVC products and reduced elasticity in TPR products. NC foaming agents leave no residual contamination, preserving the original color and performance of products. For example, white PVC foam sheets using AC foaming agents tend to yellow, while products using NC foaming agents maintain stable whiteness for over one year.

 Compared to OBSH blowing agents: Superior cost-effectiveness and compatibility

 OBSH blowing agent is a low-temperature blowing agent with a gas generation rate of approximately 140ml/g, but its application has limitations:

1.  High cost: OBSH costs 2-3 times more than NC blowing agents, significantly increasing production costs in large-scale applications. Its cost-effectiveness is notably lower than NC agents, especially in low-value-added products like PVC pipes and PS packaging.
2.  Poor Temperature Compatibility: OBSH decomposes at 140-160°C, below PS processing temperatures (160-200°C), causing premature decomposition and cell collapse during PS processing. NC foaming agent's decomposition temperature aligns with PVC, TPR, and PS, eliminating process adjustments.
3.  Compatibility limitations: OBSH blowing agents exhibit poor compatibility with rubber components in TPR, often causing phase separation that compromises product quality. NC blowing agents demonstrate excellent compatibility with all three materials, avoiding such issues.

 Comparison Summary: Comprehensive Advantages of NC Foaming Agent

 

Comparison Dimensions	NC Foaming Agent	AC Foaming Agent	OBSH Foaming Agent
Gas Yield (ml/g)	200-300	120-150	Approximately 140
Decomposition Temperature (°C)	165-185 (suitable for three materials)	Approximately 140	140-160 (on the low side)
Environmental Friendliness	No harmful gases, compliant with EU standards	Contains irritating gases, restricted	More environmentally friendly, but higher cost
Material Compatibility	Excellent (compatible with PVC/TPR/PS)	Average (PVC prone to yellowing)	Poor (TPR prone to delamination)

 
 The comparison demonstrates that NC blowing agents achieve "comprehensive balance" across gas generation capacity, temperature adaptability, environmental friendliness, compatibility, and cost. They are particularly suitable for large-scale processing requirements of PVC, TPR, and PS. Practical Application Cases and User Feedback for NC Blowing Agents
 

 Selection and Usage Considerations for White NC Foaming Agent

 To maximize the advantages of NC foaming agent in PVC, TPR, and PS, scientific selection based on actual requirements is essential, along with attention to usage details to avoid performance issues due to improper operation.
 

 Selection Recommendations: Match Models to Materials and Processes

 NC blowing agents are categorized into multiple grades (e.g., NC-101, NC-202) based on particle size and decomposition rate. Selection should consider the following two points:

1.  Material Characteristics: - For rigid PVC products (e.g., profiles), select finer particle size (100-200 mesh) NC blowing agents to ensure uniform dispersion. - For soft TPR products (e.g., shoe soles), choose medium particle size (80-100 mesh) models with slightly slower decomposition rates to preserve elasticity. PS products (e.g., packaging) may use grades with 50-80 mesh particle size to enhance foaming efficiency;
2.  Processing Techniques: - For extrusion processes (e.g., PVC pipes), select grades with stable decomposition rates to prevent uneven cell formation caused by excessive speed. - For injection molding (e.g., TPR handles), choose grades with good flow properties to meet injection pressure requirements.

 Usage Precautions: Ensuring Effectiveness and Safety

 

1.  Homogeneity: Thoroughly blend NC foaming agent with resin and additives. Use high-speed mixers (1000-1500 rpm) for 5-10 minutes to prevent agglomeration from localized over-dosing.
2.  Temperature Control: Although NC blowing agents offer strong adaptability, processing temperatures must be strictly controlled. For example, PVC processing temperatures should not exceed 190°C to prevent excessive decomposition of the NC blowing agent.
3.  Storage Conditions: Store NC foaming agent in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight and high temperatures (storage temperature ≤30°C). Keep away from fire sources to prevent safety incidents.
4.  Dosage Control: Adjust dosage according to foaming requirements. Typically, add 1%-2% for PVC products, 1.5%-3% for TPR products, and 1%-2.5% for PS products. Excessive addition may reduce product strength.

 
NC Foaming Agent: The Preferred Solution for PVC, TPR, and PS Processing

 Overall, NC foaming agents address the pain points of traditional foaming agents—environmental non-compliance, inconsistent performance, and high costs—through their core advantages of "high foaming efficiency, uniform cell structure, environmental safety, and strong compatibility," coupled with targeted adaptability for PVC, TPR, and PS. Practical applications demonstrate that they not only enhance product quality and production efficiency but also reduce costs, helping enterprises boost market competitiveness.

 For PVC, TPR, and PS processing enterprises, selecting NC blowing agents represents more than just choosing a raw material—it signifies adopting a highly efficient, eco-friendly, and cost-effective production solution.