Crompton Chemical Foaming Agents (Blowing Agents)

Foaming agents, or chemical foaming agents (CFAs), are sometimes referred to as chemical blowing agents (CBAs) and are used to foam plastics, rubber, and themoset resins to impart a cellular structure to the material. Chemical foaming agents decompose to release gas when heated to their activation temperature. Crompton has a broad line of Celogen, Expandex, and Opex chemical foaming agents with different activation temperatures, allowing selection of the correct foaming agent to match the processing conditions. Crompton also offers a line of kickers (activators or foaming agent catalysts) which may be used to activate the foaming agent to lower temperatures, thereby extending the use temperature range for a given CFA.

Foaming Agents for Rubber
Crompton foaming agents are used in butyl, EDPM, natural, Neoprene, nitrile, silicone and SBR rubbers. Crompton's broad line of Celogen chemical foaming agents allows the selection of the appropriate foaming agent to match cure temperature and speed, and to optimize cell size. Crompton chemical foaming agents can be cured using a variety of methods, such as hot air, fluid bed, liquid cure media, and microwave. For more information on chemical foaming agents for rubber and other rubber chemicals, see our page on rubber chemicals.

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Foaming Agents for Plastics and Resins
Celogen foaming agents are used to foam plastics to impart a cellular structure into the resins via processing techniques, such as injection or rotational molding, extrusion, or processing of vinyl (polyvinyl chloride or PVC) expanded materials. The main Crompton foaming agent products include Celogen AZ types and Celogen OT. These products may be used to reduce weight, improve softness and resilience, simulate the appearance and behavior of wood, and for cosmetic surface effects. The Celogen/Expandex product line covers a process temperature range of 284°F (140°C) and higher. See Celogen Applications in Plastics for a detailed discussion of the chemistry of foaming agents and processing methods used to produce foamed plastics.

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Kickers (foaming agent catalysts)
Kickers (activators or foaming agent catalysts) are used to activate chemical foaming agents to lower temperatures. The Actafoam products are lead-free high efficiency activators for Celogen AZ azodicarbonamide-type foaming agents. Mark zinc and potassium-zinc activators are also very effective with Celogen AZ type foaming agents. BIK-OT is a promoter for Celogen AZ in foaming SBR, butyl, EPDM (e.g. Royalene) and Neoprene rubbers.

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