ADC foaming agent was invented in the 1950s. It is widely used in the plastics and rubber industries and is known for its efficiency and affordability. Over the decades, ADC foaming agent has played a very important role in the foaming agent industry. However, with the growing emphasis on environmental protection, new competitors such as carbon dioxide and water-based blowing agents are challenging ADC's dominance.

This article will provide an in-depth comparison between blowing agent ADC and its competing products so that you can find the product that best meets your needs.

There are so many different types of blowing agents on the market that people who are not involved in the chemical industry have never even heard of them. For ADC, the main competitors are listed : As chemical blowing agents, ADC's competitors are dimethylethynedioic acid (DPT), Thiourea and its derivatives, and Peroxides; physically, ADC's rivals have calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), water-based blowing agent, carbon dioxide (CO2), and Nitrogen (N₂).

Let's start with chemical blowing agents.

AC/ADC Foaming Agent

About the main character this time - ADC, you can check the article: Introduction to ADC Foaming Agent & Advantages of ADC Foaming Agent. No more will be said here.

DPT

DPT’s chemical formula is C₅H₁₀N₄O₄. It is an organic compound containing several NO₂ and NH₂ groups.

Working Principle

DPT decomposes under heat, releasing gases (mainly N₂) that form bubbles in plastic or rubber.

Temperature

Its decomposition temperatures are generally in the lower range, allowing them to function at lower processing temperatures.

Applications

DPT is often adopted to make lightweight materials such as foam boards.

Advantages

Efficiency: DPT is able to release gases quickly and forms a very homogeneous foam structure.

Stability: DPT-generated foams are usually stable and long-lasting.

Disadvantages

The drawbacks of DPT are the same as those of many other chemical blowing agents. First, because of its chemical properties, workers need to avoid direct contact with its powder or inhaling its vapors. Manufacturing plants should be well ventilated, while workers should be equipped with safety precautions.

Secondly, DPT may release some harmful gases during its use. Enterprises should do a good job of follow-up treatment, otherwise it is harmful to the environment.

Thiourea and its derivatives (Here we focus on Thiourea)

The chemical formula for Thiourea is CS(NH₂)₂. One Thiourea molecule contains one sulfur atom and two NH₂ groups.

Working Principle

Thiourea decomposes when heated, releasing gases (e.g. NH3 and CO2) to form a foam structure indisde the material.

Temperature

Thiourea decomposes at lower temperatures, making it suitable for materials that are sensitive to high temperatures. 

Applications

In addition to being used to make rubber and plastic, Thiourea is adopted as an agricultural herbicide and fungicide, or as an additive in fabric dyeing and printing. (This may give you a new idea for your business.)

Advantages

Special temperature: It is ideal for materials which sensitive to high temperatures.

Low cost: Thiourea is relatively inexpensive and suitable for large-scale industrial applications.

Disadvantages

Same as above.

Peroxides

Peroxides is the name given to a group of substances that are compounds containing a peroxide group (-O-O-). Peroxides include organic and inorganic peroxides.

Working Principle

Peroxides are broken down under certain conditions, such as heat, light, or other catalysts. Typically it produces gases (e.g. oxygen) or free radicals, which form bubbles in the polymer matrix that ultimately become foam material.

Temperature

Due to the wide variety, the temperatures required for their decomposition vary. Not much description here for now.

Applications

Peroxides are used in many polymer materials, including polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, rubber, etc.

Advantages

Efficiency: Peroxides separate rapidly, generating large quantities of gas.

Controllability: The density and structure of the foam can be precisely controlled by adjusting the type, concentration and reaction conditions of the peroxide.

Disadvantages

Same as above.

However, it should be noted that peroxides are highly reactive and care should be taken to avoid high temperatures, sources of ignition and mechanical shocks when handling and storing them.

Next are some physical foaming agents.

Calcium Carbonate

The properties of CaCO₃ are often difficult to define when used in foaming. It's because it is not usually used as a foaming agent alone, but as a filler. Strictly speaking, CaCO₃ is closer to a physical filler than to a typical chemical or physical blowing agent. Since its own physical properties are more prominent, here we tentatively categorize it as a physical blowing agent.

Working Principle

By heating CaCO₃, it releases CO₂ gas, creating a porous structure in the material.

Temperature

CaCO₃ has a high decomposition temperature, usually above 800°C.

If you need to foam at lower temperatures, it is necessary to combine other foaming agents or additives to improve foaming efficiency.

Applications

In addition to being used in the rubber and plastics industries, CaCO₃ can also be used in the construction industry to make lightweight concrete and plasterboard.

Advantages

Environmentally friendly: CaCO₃ is a non-toxic and harmless natural mineral, which is in line with the requirements of sustainability.

Low cost: CaCO₃ is abundant on earth and therefore inexpensive.

Enhance performance: CaCO₃ can increase the rigidity, heat resistance and stability of other materials and reduce their density at the same time.

Disadvantages

High temperature: The decomposition temperature of CaCO₃ is high. It needs to be combined with other foaming agents or additives to reduce the decomposition temperature usually.

Poor dispersion: CaCO₃ is poorly dispersed in the polymer matrix, which can lead to uneven foaming effect.

Abrasion: CaCO₃'s high hardness may cause wear and tear on processing equipment, which requires regular plant maintenance and equipment replacement. On a quiet note, this may inadvertently increase costs.

Water-based blowing agents

A water-based blowing agent is a foaming agent that uses water as the main ingredient or solvent. It also has many types.

Working Principle

Water-based foaming agents allow air to form stable bubbles in water by reducing the surface tension. This is usually achieved with the aid of surfactants, such as soaps, detergents or specific chemical additives.

Temperature

There is generally no specific temperature requirement in water-based blowing agents. However, too high a temperature may lead to too rapid evaporation of water, affecting the stability of the foam, while too low a temperature may cause a decrease in the solubility of the surfactant, leading to inadequate foaming.

Applications

Except for the construction industry, the two areas where water-based blowing agents perform best are fire protection and cleaning. Foam fire extinguishers cover the surface of burning materials, insulating them from air and preventing them from burning.

They can also be used to add foam to cleaning products, improving the cleaning effect and users' experience.

Advantages

Eco-friendly and low toxicity: The main component of water-based blowing agent is water, which reduces the use of organic solvents and is more friendly to the environment and human health.

Low cost: It is relatively low cost, with simple manufacturing and application process.

Easy to handle: It is easily soluble in water, easy to clean after use, and no residue.

Disadvantages

Weak stability: Water-based foams are susceptible to environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, contaminants), resulting in decreased stability.

Low efficiency: Compared with high-efficiency chemical blowing agents, the foaming efficiency of water-based blowing agents is low, requiring manufacturers to optimize formulations and techniques.

Application limitations: Water-based blowing agents are not as effective as other types of those in certain applications where high strength or specific properties are required.

Carbon dioxide

CO₂ blowing agent is a technology that utilizes CO₂ gas as a foaming medium. The physical foaming method is involved here.

Working Principle

CO₂ is first dissolved in the base material under high pressure, and when the pressure is released, it rapidly expands to form bubbles. This method involves no chemical reaction and is mainly used for foaming polymers such as PE, PP and PS.

CO₂ in its supercritical state (having both gas and liquid properties) is also widely used for physical foaming. Due to its high solubility and low surface tension, it is capable of creating uniform bubbles.

Temperature

Physical foaming with CO₂ does not require high temperatures, usually between 20°C and 80°C.

Applications

Similar to other blowing agents.

Advantages

Eco-friendly: CO₂ is non-toxic, odorless, non-flammable and harmless to the environment and human. CO₂ comes from everywhere and can be obtained by recycling and reusing industrial waste gases, thus reducing carbon emissions.

Low cost: The CO₂ foaming process is simple, inexpensive and suitable for large-scale industrial production. Especially in the supercritical state, CO₂ has high solubility and low viscosity, which helps to foam uniformly and reduce raw materials.

Controllability: By controlling the pressure and temperature, the CO₂ foaming process can be precisely adjusted to obtain your desired foam structure and density.

Disadvantages

Equipment: Specialized high-pressure equipment and control systems are required to ensure the safety and stability of the CO₂ foaming process. Moreover, supercritical CO₂ foaming requires complex equipment and operating conditions, so the initial investment is higher.

Weak stability: In some applications, the stability of CO₂ may not be as good as that of other chemical blowing agents. You need to add stabilizers.

Nitrogen

N₂ blowing agent is a technology that utilizes nitrogen as a foaming medium in a completely physical way.

Working Principle

Under high pressure, N₂ can be dissolved in a polymer melt or solution. When the pressure is lowered, the N₂ is released from the dissolved state to form bubbles.

N₂ can be injected directly into a liquid or molten material to form a foam structure.

Under high temperature and pressure, N₂ can be in a supercritical state, having the properties of both gas and liquid. In this state, nitrogen is better able to dissolve in the material and produce uniform foams.

Temperature

Depending on the specific application and foaming process, the required temperature varies considerably.

Applications

Similar to other blowing agents.

Advantages

Safety: Nitrogen is non-toxic, colorless, odorless, non-combustible and very friendly to the environment and health.

Low cost: It is relatively cheap and easy to obtain.

Good Quality: N₂'s foaming performance allows it to produce uniform foam, which is suitable for  lots of needs.

Stability: Foams formed with N₂ are usually well stabilized, maintaining the foam structure over a long period of time.

Disadvantages

Manufacturers need specialized equipments to generate high-pressure nitrogen and control the foaming process, so the costs are high.

In addition, workers need to precisely control the pressure, temperature and injection rate of N₂ to ensure the quality of the foam.

I don't know if you have found that gas blowing agent needs to be strictly controlled from the equipment to the technology to the production, and these aspects all require a lot of investment in capital, material and manpower.

I bet you may be giddy now.

We've created a special table to succinctly compare these foaming agents: 

(more black circles = higher index)

In this table, it is easy to see that, as a traditional blowing agent, AC foaming agent is balanced in all aspects, a wide range of reaction temperatures, better controllability, high foaming efficiency, great stability, and moderate cost...... It's an option that doesn't really go wrong.

The battle between AC foaming agent and its competitors symbolizes the clash between traditional industry and sustainability. AC foaming agents offer undeniable advantages in terms of efficiency, temperature and versatility, but the environmental benefits of CO₂ and water-based blowing agents are also pushing the market.

Your final choice should depend on balancing these factors to meet specific industry needs and sustainability goals.

More about AC/ADC foaming agent, blowing agent AC/ADC:

Advantages of ADC Foaming Agent: Your Practical Choice

Introduction: What Is ADC Foaming Agent?