Structuromechanical properties of plastic powder mixtures containing a carboxymethylcellulose plasticizer

Conclusions

• 1. A study was made of the structuromechanical properties of plastic powder mixtures containing a 30% aqueous solution of CMC. It was established that structuromechanical constants sharply fall with a rise in plasticizer content, from their maximum values at the minimum amount of CMC (lower limiting content) to values corresponding to the constants of the plasticizer (upper limiting content).

• 2. Structure formation in a plastic powder mixture is the result of adhesion forces acting between the powder particles and the plasticizer and of molecular attraction forces (van der Waals-London forces) acting between the powder particles through a layer of the plasticizer in regions with excess surface energy.

• 3. Storage alters the structuromechanical properties of a powder mixture containing a 30% aqueous solution of CMC, the most marked increase being shown by the viscosity of the mixture. Remixing restores almost completely the initial properties of the mixture (indicating that the latter exhibits thixotropy).