Application of Styrene Maleic Anhydride Co polymer

Technical Consultant
Chandran.udumbasseri@gmail.com

1.SMA for Automotive parts.

Styrene and maleic anhydride in the presence of free radical polymerize to the co polymer
which has enhanced thermal properties. The resulting polymer has an alternating-block
structure, in which styrene units and maleic anhydride units alternate along the polymer chain.
Structure of the polymer is given below

The co-polymer contains 5 – 20% maleic anhydride and to increase impact resistance small
amounts of butadiene is added.This polymer finds use in automotive parts manufacturing.

2. SMA improving thermal performance and compatibilizer

Styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) is known as a polymer that enhances heat deflection of
polymers like PVC that are amorphous. SMA can also be used as compatibilizer in amorphous
thermoplastics and copolymers to improve thermal performance, surface polarity and miscibility
with other resins in blends and alloys. SMA, long established as a high performance
thermoplastic in its own right, is now finding increasing use as a functional additive and
compatibilizer in other amorphous and to some extent crystalline thermoplastics. SMA additive
increases value of ABS, PMMA by boosting thermal performance, paintability and compatibility
in multi-material systems.

3. SMA to change the polarity of base resin

Another useful property that can be improved in ABS and PMMA resins through the addition of
SMA additive is a change in the base resin's polarity. By increasing polarity or surface
reactivity/adhesion, molded parts are easier to paint, plate, print on, or bond with adhesives,
skins, foams, and other decorative or functional treatments. In fact, use of SMA additive can
often allow processers to skip the primer step in painting operations, saving both time and cost
to produce finished parts. This feature is especially attractive to processors supplying parts for
painted, metalised, in-mould decorated, or slush-moulded automotive-interior applications, or for
other industries with similar needs for high aesthetic and greater thermal performance on parts
requiring secondary-finishing operations. Yet another area of functional improvement in PMMA
and ABS base resins when SMA additives are used is compatibilisation with various
reinforcements and other polymers in multi-material systems. The broad miscibility and
adjustable polarity of SMA helps reduce phase separation and improves bonding between the
base resin and glass or natural fibers, rubber particles, thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs),
thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) and vulcanizates (TPVs) like styrene-ethylene/butylene-
styrene (SEBS), and polymers that normally are immiscible with PMMA and ABS, such as nylon
(polyamide (PA). Compounding can be done on most conventional equipment with good
temperature control. The best mixing will be achieved with a twin-screw extruder (TSE),
although a single-screw extruder (SSE) may also be used where lower per centages of SMA are
being compounded into the base resin. For typical extrusion-compounding conditions, feed-
zone temperature should be around 120°C (248°F) and the die should be around 220°C
(428°F), with an optimum melt temperature between 240-260°C (464-500°F).

4. SMA as paper sizing, powder coating, pigment dispersion, ink, leather re-tanning,
microelectronic fabrication, etc…

SMA® multifunctional resins are a family of low molecular weight resins which include
styrene/maleic anhydride, amic acids, imides, copolymer base resins, partial esters of the base
resins and aqueous ammonia salt solutions of the base resins and ester resins.
SMA® resins are used in diverse applications such as paper sizing, powder coating, pigment
dispersions, inks, over print varnishes, leather re-tanning, microelectronics fabrication and
processing, carpet/textile cleaners and floor care products. SMA® resins can function as
polymeric surfactants in dispersing and emulsifying applications, as high functionality cross-
linking agents or as chemical intermediates in the production of specialty polymers. SMA®
resins are well known for their high functionality, high thermal properties, low viscosities of high
solids, and as their salts, aqueous solutions, low color, and low VOC content.
Applications:
Application/Market Property
Overprint Varnishes, Ink Heat Resistance, Adhesion To Polymer
Films
Viscosity Stability
Powder Coatings Matting Agent
Paper making Surface Sizing Water Resistance
Paper Making – Wet End Stability in Cationic Systems
Paper Coatings for Ink Jet
Waterborne Ink, Paint Pigment Dispersion Stability, Color
Dispersion Development, Low Viscosity
Cationic Systems
Carbon Black
Metallics
Solvent Borne Ink, Paint Dispersion Stability, Color
Pigment Dispersion Development, Low Viscosity
Latex gloves – flame Stability of divalent ion
retardant/antioxidant dispersant containing fillers (calcium,
magnesium)
Emulsion Polymerization Particle size control and
stability, heat resistance
Carpet Treatment/Shampoos Stain/water resistance
Wax/Floor Polish Coating Leveling
Printed Wiring Boards Improved Dielectric Properties,
Heat resistance
Wax Emulsions Hydrophobicity, Particle size
control and stability
Leather Tanning Divalent cation stability
5. SMA as coating composition for panels,

SMA can be used as coating composition for articles such as panels, etc. This
composition comprises a low molecular weight co polymer of styrene and maleic
anhydride. The method comprises coating a substrate of a material such as wood,
metal or plastic with the composition, followed by curing the resulting film by air dry
ing at room temperature and/or baking to form a tough, high-gloss, continuous film on
said substrate. Metallic foil such as aluminum, tin, copper, etc., when coated with the
compositions of this invention and containing a pigment, result in highly colored films of
high gloss which are particularly suitable for the decorative trade.

6. SMA as stress reliever for PVA products like films…

Polyvinyi alcohol (PVA) and cellulosic ethers have several shortcomings in package
film manufacture. These shortcomings include, for instance, cracking under Sudden
Stress at low temperatures, low elongation before breaking, and slow solubilization in
90 F. water, poor heat sealability, and poor film release from glass or metal surface
These disadvantages can be alleviated by adding a small amount say, 40% of styrene
maleic anhydride co polymer. These materials are highly compatible with PVA giving
good gloss and transparancy.
The resinous copolymers of styrene and maleic anhydride having about 1 to 4 moles of
styrene per mole of maleic anhydride, and preferably about 1 to 3 moles of styrene per
mole of maleic anhydride are used for producing this type of application. Equimolar
ratios are often most preferred composition for this application.

7. SMA to suppress electrostatic charges

It is well known that articles manufactured from synthetic resins have a tendency to
accumulate electrostatic charge especially under friction conditions. Certain synthetic
resins manifest this tendency to a degree much greater than others. The problem of
static electricity in synthetic resins is very serious and much effort has been devoted to
eliminating or reducing the magnitude of accumulated electrostatic charges. The
problem is manifested in contamination and dust accumulation on articles made from
the synthetic resins and in annoying shocks and sometimes dangerous sparks from
articles formed from the synthetic resins. These difficulties arise not only in the service
life of the formed synthetic resin compositions, such as sheets, cast and molded
articles, but also during the manufacture of such articles which can result in a slowdown
in production, waste and hazards of explosions
Articles comprising synthetic resins tend to accumulate electrostatic charges during
manufacture, treatment and use. These accumulated electrostatic charges are
troublesome in that not only do they render the articles more difficult to handle during
manufacture and treatment, but also in that they greatly increase the tendency of the
finished articles to accumulate unwelcome dust in use.
A polystyrene composition with 0.05% to 0.5% of styrene-maleic anhydride co-
polymer having styrene to maleic anhydride ratio of 1 to 4:1 and molecular weight
about 700 to 8000 can suppress accumulation of electrostatic charges
8. SMA for cold water resistant adhesives

A mixture of starch, styrene maleic anhydride resin, peptizer, water and alkali to a pH 8-
11 is used as cold water resistant adhesive composition. This exhibits an optimum
balance of cold water resistance and removability when employed for labeling of bottles
which will be used under conditions of extreme humidity.

9. SMA as fluidity improver

It has now been found that liquid hydrocarbon compositions can be provided improved
fluidity characteristics by incorporating therein relatively small amounts of esters of
styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers having at least 20 carbon atoms in the alkyl
portion. These esters can be effectively employed in the liquid hydrocarbon
compositions as pour point depresents and fluidity improvers at 0.001 percent to 1
percent by weight, of the total weight of the liquid hydrocarbon composition. Preferred
esters are those which have from 20 to about 24 carbon atoms in the alkyl portion.

10. SMA as Pour Point Depressant

The ability of a lubricant to flow under low-temperature, low-shear conditions is crucial to the
operation of engines and equipment expected to run in cold climates. Without the proper
selection and treat rate of a pour point depressant, a mineral oil lubricant formulation will exhibit
poor low-temperature properties, leading, in the worst case, to lubrication “starvation” and
equipment failure.
Virtually all paraffinic mineral oil base stocks contain small amounts of waxy materials. As the
temperature of the oil is decreased, some of the waxy components come out of solution as tiny
crystals, and the solution begins to appear hazy to the naked eye. The temperature at which this
occurs is called the cloud point. As additional wax precipitates, the crystals grow into plates
and, finally, if the temperature is decreased far enough, the plates will grow together to form a
three-dimensional network that totally immobilizes the oil.This solidification process is
sometimes referred to as gelation. The lowest temperature at which the oil is fluid is called the
pour point.
Pour point depressants do not in any way affect either the temperature at which wax crystallizes
from solution or the amount of wax that precipitates. Rather, when wax crystals form, pour point
depressants co-crystallize along with the wax species present in the oil and modify the growing
pattern of wax crystal structures. Additionally, the wax crystals are kept apart from each other by
the PPD backbone, and as a result of this steric hindrance, the wax crystals are no longer able
to form three-dimensional structures that inhibit flow. Prevention of gelation is aimed at ensuring
the oil’s pumpability (from an overall perspective). The oil can be expected to still exhibit a wide
range of behavior, from complete fluidity to borderline gelation. Total fluidity is obviously more
desirable, but this can only be achieved if the pour point depressant structure ensures optimum
interaction, such that the wax exists only as a stable dispersion of tiny crystals.

11. SMA as Wax dispersant

Two problems encountered with hydrocarbon lubricating oils are visible wax particles
and the need for pour point improvement. Wax particles in lubricating oil can cause
blockage of filters and delivery lines on equipment and engines, thus interfering with the
flow of oil to moving parts. Wax particles in lubricating oils also cause the oil to look
hazy. This is especially a problem in those oils such as automotive oils, turbine oils and
the like which are desirably bright and clear in appearance at room temperature. These
oils typically include fractions taken from paraffinic or naphthenic crude oils or crude oil
blends
An additive should ideally perform more than one function so that fewer different
additives have to be blended into the lubricating oil. Effectiveness in all viscosities and
being liquid for ease of use are also desirable attributes in an additive.