Abstract: A chemical blowing agent for foaming a thermoplastic polymer, for example PVC plastisol or a polymer resin in an extrusion process, said chemical blowing agent comprising a functionalized particulate bicarbonate containing at least one additive, preferably excluding an exothermic blowing agent. The additive may be selected from the group consisting of rosin acids, any derivative thereof, and salts thereof; or any combinations thereof, such as comprising abietic acid, dihydroabietic acid, neoabietic acid, a rosin acid ester, or mixtures thereof. The particulate bicarbonate may be preferably functionalized by spray-coating, extrusion or co-grinding with at least one additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may comprise 50 wt % to less than 100 wt % of the bicarbonate component, and 0.02-50 wt % of the additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may further comprise 0.1-5 wt % silica. A foamable polymer composition comprising such chemical blowing agent.

Abstract: A chemical blowing agent for foaming a thermoplastic polymer, for example PVC plastisol or a polymer resin in an extrusion process, comprising a functionalized particulate bicarbonate containing at least one additive, preferably excluding an exothermic blowing agent. The additive may be selected from the group consisting of polymers; inorganic salts; oils; fats; resin acids, any derivative thereof, and salts thereof; amino acids; fatty acids; carboxylic or polycarboxylic acids, soaps; waxes; derivatives thereof; salts thereof; or any combinations thereof. The particulate bicarbonate may be functionalized by spray-drying, coating, extrusion or co-grinding with at least one additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may comprise 50 wt % to less than 100 wt % of the bicarbonate component, and 0.02-50 wt % of the additive. A foamable polymer composition comprising such chemical blowing agent.

Abstract: A chemical blowing agent for foaming a thermoplastic polymer, for example PVC plastisol or a polymer resin in an extrusion process, said chemical blowing agent comprising a functionalized particulate bicarbonate containing at least one additive, preferably excluding an exothermic blowing agent. The additive may be selected from the group consisting of polymers; inorganic salts; oils; fats; resin acids, any derivative thereof, and salts thereof; amino acids; fatty acids; carboxylic or polycarboxylic acids, soaps; waxes; in derivatives thereof (such as esters); salts thereof; or any combinations thereof. The particulate bicarbonate may be functionalized by spray-drying, coating, extrusion or co-grinding with at least one additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may comprise 50 wt % to less than 100 wt % of the bicarbonate component, and 0.02-50 wt % of the additive. A foamable polymer composition comprising such chemical blowing agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a formulation comprising an alkali metal salt selected from the group consisting of alkali metal bicarbonate salts, alkali metal carbonate salts, alkali metal sesquicarbonate salts and combinations thereof, wherein said process comprises the step of extruding a paste-like composition comprising a functionalizing agent and the metal salt. The invention furthermore relates to a formulation obtainable from said process and to the use of this formulation in various applications such as in plastic foaming or in food and feed leavening compositions.

Abstract: A chemical blowing agent for foaming a thermoplastic polymer, for example PVC plastisol or a polymer resin in an extrusion process, said chemical blowing agent comprising a functionalized particulate bicarbonate containing at least one polyoxyalkylene additive, preferably excluding an exothermic blowing agent. The polyoxyalkylene additive may be selected from the group consisting of polyoxyalkylenes, any derivative thereof, salts thereof, and any combinations thereof. The particulate bicarbonate may be preferably functionalized by spray-coating, extrusion or co-grinding with at least one polyoxyalkylene additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may comprise 50 wt % to less than 100 wt % of the bicarbonate component, and 0.02-50 wt % of the additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may further comprise 0.1-5 wt % silica. A foamable polymer composition comprising such chemical blowing agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a formulation comprising an alkali metal salt selected from the group consisting of alkali metal bicarbonate salts, alkali metal carbonate salts, alkali metal sesquicarbonate salts and combinations thereof, wherein said process comprises: (a) dissolving a functionalizing agent in a solvent; (b) mixing the alkali metal salt with the solution comprising the functionalizing agent that a paste-like composition is formed; (c) extruding the paste-like composition to obtain filaments or granules; (d) at least partially removing the solvent from the filaments or granules. The invention furthermore relates to a powder, filaments and granules obtainable from said process and to the use of the powder, filaments or granules in various applications such as in plastic foaming or in food and feed leavening compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a formulation comprising an alkali metal salt selected from the group consisting of alkali metal bicarbonate salts, alkali metal carbonate salts, alkali metal sesquicarbonate salts and combinations thereof, wherein said process comprises the step of extruding a paste-like composition comprising a functionalizing agent and the metal salt. The invention furthermore relates to a formulation obtainable from said process and to the use of this formulation in various applications such as in plastic foaming or in food and feed leavening compositions.

Abstract: A chemical blowing agent for foaming a thermoplastic polymer, for example PVC plastisol or a polymer resin in an extrusion process, said chemical blowing agent comprising a functionalized particulate bicarbonate containing at least one polyoxyalkylene additive, preferably excluding an exothermic blowing agent. The polyoxyalkylene additive may be selected from the group consisting of polyoxyalkylenes, any derivative thereof, salts thereof, and any combinations thereof. The particulate bicarbonate may be preferably functionalized by spray-coating, extrusion or co-grinding with at least one polyoxyalkylene additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may comprise 50 wt % to less than 100 wt % of the bicarbonate component, and 0.02-50 wt % of the additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may further comprise 0.1-5 wt % silica. A foamable polymer composition comprising such chemical blowing agent.

Abstract: A chemical blowing agent for foaming a thermoplastic polymer, for example PVC plastisol or a polymer resin in an extrusion process, said chemical blowing agent comprising a functionalized particulate bicarbonate containing at least one additive, preferably excluding an exothermic blowing agent. The additive may be selected from the group consisting of rosin acids, any derivative thereof, and salts thereof; or any combinations thereof, such as comprising abietic acid, dihydroabietic acid, neoabietic acid, a rosin acid ester, or mixtures thereof. The particulate bicarbonate may be preferably functionalized by spray-coating, extrusion or co-grinding with at least one additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may comprise 50 wt % to less than 100 wt % of the bicarbonate component, and 0.02-50 wt % of the additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may further comprise 0.1-5 wt % silica. A foamable polymer composition comprising such chemical blowing agent.

Abstract: A cleaning agent for cleaning polymer processing equipment, a method for producing such cleaning agent and the use of such cleaning agent for cleaning polymer processing equipment or any component thereof. The cleaning agent comprises i) a thermoplastic resin and ii) a foaming agent selected from alkali metal and ammonium bicarbonates.

Abstract: A chemical blowing agent for foaming a thermoplastic polymer, for example PVC plastisol or a polymer resin in an extrusion process, comprising a functionalized particulate bicarbonate containing at least one additive, preferably excluding an exothermic blowing agent. The additive may be selected from the group consisting of polymers; inorganic salts; oils; fats; resin acids, any derivative thereof, and salts thereof; amino acids; fatty acids; carboxylic or polycarboxylic acids, soaps; waxes; derivatives thereof; salts thereof; or any combinations thereof. The particulate bicarbonate may be functionalized by spray-drying, coating, extrusion or co-grinding with at least one additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may comprise 50 wt % to less than 100 wt % of the bicarbonate component, and 0.02-50 wt % of the additive. A foamable polymer composition comprising such chemical blowing agent.

Abstract: A reactive composition comprising between 60% and 98% by weight of sodium bicarbonate, between 1% and 40% by weight of sodium carbonate and between 0.02% and 2.0% by weight of ammonia, expressed in the form of ammonium ions NH4+, and comprising from 0.01 to 5% by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, fatty alcohols, fatty acids, and fatty acid salts.

Abstract: A cleaning agent for cleaning polymer processing equipment, a method for producing such cleaning agent and the use of such cleaning agent for cleaning polymer processing equipment or any component thereof. The cleaning agent comprises i) a thermoplastic resin and ii) a foaming agent selected from alkali metal and ammonium bicarbonates.