Toagosei Annual R&D Report “TREND” – Issue No. 5

ARUFON UP Series is a liquid, low-molecular-weight acrylic polymer produced by Toagosei's Uniform Functional Oligomer (UFO) bulk process. Compatible with thermoplastic resins, it can serve as a plasticizer, processing aid, resin flow modifier, or dispersant for inorganic fillers in PVC, ABS, PMMA, transparent ABS, transparent HIPS, and polyolefin compounds.

As a plasticizer for PVC, UP-1021 showed the highest plasticization efficiency among grades, reaching 1.1-1.2 relative to DOP. The series resisted bleeding, heat-induced weight loss, weathering, and migration and showed high volume resistivity. These results support use as an acrylic plasticizer for PVC and durable acrylic plasticizer, including as an acrylic option for formulators seeking a non-phthalate plasticizer alternative. In ABS resin, UP-1010, UP-1061, and UP-1070 improved flexibility, while higher loading improved transparency. UP-1010 produced soft PMMA without loss of transparency, supporting use as a plasticizer for ABS resin and a plasticizer for PMMA resin.

As a transparent resin processing aid, additions of UP-1021 or UH-2160 reduced melt viscosity in transparent ABS and transparent HIPS without reducing transparency or impact resistance. UP-1021 improved the melt flow of rubber-containing PMMA while maintaining transparency, helping improve moldability in thin-film extrusion. These findings support use as a processing aid for PMMA, a processing aid for transparent ABS, and an acrylic oligomer for plastic modification where improved moldability without loss of transparency is required.

ARUFON promotes filler dispersion in polyolefin. In PP/calcium carbonate compounds, UP-1020 eliminated agglomerates, dispersed inorganic filler near primary-particle level, improved elongation, and prevented warping and bleeding in an aging test. In highly filled EEA/magnesium hydroxide compounds, it improved flexibility and reduced melt-processing torque; similar elongation improvement was confirmed in PP/magnesium hydroxide systems. It is useful as a filler dispersant and additive for polyolefin compounds.