Sunday 30 December 2012

Get to know two of the most important inorganic chemical compounds “Borates & Titanates”


The field of inorganic chemistry is very vast and consists of a number of chemical compounds. Let us have a look at two of the commercially most important and useful inorganic compounds:

Titanates – Titanium is a highly useful metal and exists in the nature in oxidised form. A chemical compound with titanium oxide in its structure is a titanate.
These are peculiarly white in colour and are insoluble in water. Apart from these properties, they are useful commercially because of their diamagnetic nature and high melting points.
Commercially, these are very important because of their various properties. Generally, these exist in two forms

  1. Orthotitanates – technically speaking, Orthotitanates have a general formula M2TiO4, where M stands for a divalent element.
  2. Metatitanates - these have the general formula MTiO3,

Titanates are prepared by treating titanium oxides with metal in a tube furnace.

Borates – these are also very popular chemical in a number of industrial processes. The most common one in the family is Zinc Borate or the borates of Zinc and is often used as a reference.
Physically, it exists as a crystalline solid, which is white in colour and is insoluble in water.
Some of the most important commercial uses of Borates include-

  1. Because of fire resistant properties, it is used as a flame retardant in plastic & textile manufacturing. It forms a porous structure that protects the underlying layer of plastics and thus protects it by acting as a flame retarding compound. For this purpose, they is used in combination with chemicals like red phosphorus and magnesium hydroxide.
  2. It is also used in the production of paints, adhesives, as well as pigments.
  3. Another major use is as an anti-dripping agent as it suppresses the afterglow in electrical components.
  4. Apart from the above mentioned uses, borates of Zinc are used as a wide spectrum fungicide (chemicals with antifungal activity for a vast variety of species), used in the protection of wood and plastics.
  5. Zinc Borate also holds an important place as a flux agent that is used in the manufacturing of electrical insulators in ceramic industry.
    The above mentioned information gives you a brief idea about two of the commercially most important chemical compounds in the field of organic chemistry.
    Both of these compounds are looked as very useful products in various industrial processes. These inorganic compounds are highly in demand amongst various commercial manufacturers because of the various useful properties that these offer.

     
    Royce international is looked as one of the best chemical suppliers in the country. Whether it is epoxy, diluents, compounds like borate & titanate or any other important commercial chemical; they provide the best quality for all of these.
     

Tuesday 18 December 2012

Epoxy resins - the perfect 'sticky tool' in the construction industry!



The construction industry is complex and requires many different types of resins and adhesives for the heavy duty work that work as perfect binders for various components of the material used in making residential buildings.

Kitchens are an integral part of homes and there is need to make sure that each component of your kitchen is well placed and built to perfection, with no scope for any sort of error in the strength and resilience and functionality of these components, Be it cabinets or countertops, there is need for such effective construction to be done that any of them are not loose or ill-fitting and don't slip out of their position for many years to come. This safety parameter needs to be paid attention to, in order to safeguard the people living in the home.

Countertops are usually coated with a thick layer of epoxyresins, which makes them not just glossy and attractive, but also well protected against the daily dose of hot or cold shocks that the countertops in kitchens might be subjected to. This increases the life of the shelf, protecting it and making it non-tarnishable and presentable.

Epoxy resin glues are one of the most commonly used adhesives in the construction industry. A few reasons for the wide use of the same are as follows:

Strength: It is one of the strongest glue forms and can be trusted for making bonds that are long staying and won't wither away after a couple of years of heavy duty use of the countertops or cabinets. This is the sort of strength you look for, when building the home of your dreams, because it is going to be an asset for you in the future.

Easy to use: Besides the strength factor, another important reason for the wide use of epoxy glues is the sheer ease with which it can be used. Be it a construction professional or an amateur, it can be used easily. Typical epoxy resin glue is used by mixing 1 part of hardener with usually 4-5 parts of diluent. This means it is isn’t something you will have to stock up on and can mix small batches of epoxy glues according to the different needs and requirements.

Cost affectivity: You will be surprised to know that despite being one of the most trusted and widely used glues in the construction industry, it isn't costly. You can easily procure sizable amounts of this glue without having to spend too much money.

Wednesday 12 December 2012

Make your own cleaners and detergents this festive season!



With the festive season round the corner we all try hard to clean our homes and make them 'spic and span'. Cleaning the garage, the kitchen, even the attic, mowing the lawn, or for that matter trying to clear away the snow from the backyard, you have got tons of chores to take care of! And with this bucket-load of work comes a lot of expenditure! You are going to have to spend tons of money on cleaners of all grades- light and heavy, for different sorts of uses at your home and the vicinity.


An easier way out is to try and innovate and form cleaning agents at your own home! It's not as difficult as it may sound and you will save on a lot of money. Besides saving money you can also be sure of the fact that the quality of the agents being used isn't compromised as in case of ready made products.

Below is an easy 'recipe' for making an easy toilet cleaner!
  • A gallon of water
  • Nonyl Phenol about 60ml
  • A liter of Hydrochloric acid
  • A preferred scent

How much easier could it be? You wouldn't have to buy any more costly cleaning agents because you can make them on their own. Using things right out of the kitchen is also a great idea. Vinegar and lemon juice are the two best cleaning agents for stains on clothes and for general; cleaning. You need to be sure you don't use them in too much quantity however, because that might tend to harm the quality of the cloth and make it weaker in the warp and weft. Using it in the right amount can help you make the clothes speck-less clean and that too without having to spend oodles of money on costly detergents.

However handling these chemicals at home, in their crude form is not child's play and you need to be really careful about it. Keep them labeled and at a sensible place, away from any sort of tampering possibilities! Keeping them in a cool and dry place in boxes with lids is also very important. This way you can be sure that these chemicals don't pose a threat to you or your family, in the least possible manner. So just pick up your brooms and aprons and cleaners and get marching towards a cleaner, brighter and warmer home this festive season.

Wednesday 5 December 2012

What do you really need to look for, when buying skin care products?



Skincare is an inevitable ritual for everyone these days. So much so that men are as worried about their skin as the ladies and everyone is cautious while choosing skin products. There are however a few guidelines that need to be followed to make your selection better, so that you don't end up wasting money over the wrong sort of products for your skin type and still get no results.

Choosing products according to your skin type is essential and you need to actually read the ingredients. We know how you feel when you enter a supermarket and see stashes filled with lucrative, color, glossy covered, attractive creams, lotions, astringents and make-up products! They literally scream at you for attention and you innocently submit to the best looking and most seemingly promising packs! You are doing fatal mistakes for your skin here! Keep your eyes open for certain names on the ingredient list of the products you buy, so that you can avoid harmful ones and buy the ones that are actually worth.

Read on these few pointers below that can actually help you in making wise choices:

Alcohol: It is a widely used ingredient in many skin care products. We usually might mistake it for good alcohol, which can act as a cleansing agent for the skin. However there are a few types of alcohol types that you need to lookout for such as benzyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol. It's because these agents might be a little too harsh even for the coarsest skin types and might result in overly drying skin and making it rough.

Parabens: This is a very widely used component in skin creams, especially in anti aging products. You however need to choose against it. It's because this is such as substance which is basically used for increasing the shelf life of the products and can tend to have a lot of side effects on the skin due to them, starting from minor ones such as rashes and redness to something as serious as skin cancer.

Anti-oxidants: These are a desirable content, when it comes to skin care products. You need to choose such skincare products that have anti-oxidants in them, because they give the skin a youthful, beautiful and natural look. It is one of the few things that actually improve the health of the skin.

Choose your skincare products wisely and avoid the use of harsh chemical products to have fresh and healthy skin for long.

Thursday 29 November 2012

Are Epoxy resins useful in all areas?



Before starting with epoxy resin uses and its manufacturer(s), let us first discuss what is epoxy resin? Epoxyresin also known as polyepoxides, is made up of bisphenol-A andepichlorohydrin. It was made in 1920 in the United States and has been in use until now!

The word “polyepoxides” seems to be very technical but its uses have been there in our daily lives like in soft drink cans (used in lining of cans to protect the flavor), protecting our beds, garden chairs, office furniture and bicycles etc so as to protect them from being damaged with time.


Further its usage have not just limited to these areas its contribution is in all major industries such as aircraft, automobile, electronic, food and beverages, construction and engineering and many more.


However, before trying it certain precautions needed to be taken like wearing goggles for protection of your eyes, wear gloves; keep the chemical away from flames and use of chemical in ventilated area.


Further described below are some uses of epoxy resin in various fields:

  • Used as paints and coating: its usage in our homes and buildings in form of paints due to its quality of resistance, waterproof coating, resistant to oil, non-toxic ability and moreover it dries quickly like other ordinary paints.
  • Adhesives: it include structural or engineering adhesives (that comprise of polyurethane, acrylic, and other chemicals) which are used for high performance and high strength bonds for marine, automobile, bicycles and other applications. Thus, resins can suit any type of application and such adhesives could be made of wood, metal, glass and even of some plastics.
  • Industrial tooling: epoxy resin is used in industrial application like molds, casting, fixtures, laminates etc due to its durability and temperature bearing strength. Further, this tooling has improved the efficiency and lowers the cost of traditional materials such as wood and metal.
  • Electronics: These excellent electrical insulators protect electrical components from short circuit, dust and moisture. Often you would find epoxy resin in motors, switchgears, insulators and transformers.
  • Civil engineering: this synthetic resin is used in construction adhesives that helps to a make floors, roads and runways with best resistant quality.
  • Art: one can used this in art as painting medium.
  • Aerospace application: epoxy is reinforced by fiber that includes glass, carbon and boron. They are used as glue in various materials like wood to give high durability.
Visit http://www.royceintl.com/ to know details of epoxy resin and other efficient products.

Thursday 15 November 2012

What Is Epoxy Resin And Where Can It Be Used?


Epoxy or epoxy resin is a chemical compound that is composed of two components, a resin and a hardener, which is also called activator. The resin part generally consists of monomer units with an “epoxy group” at either end. On the other hand, the hardener consists of polyamine monomers like TETA (Triethylene Tetraamine). When these two components are mixed together, a chemical reaction between the amine groups of the hardener and the epoxide group of the resin takes place, which gives a heavily cross-linked polymer known as epoxy resin.

Epoxy finds huge application in a number of industries. In fact, you can find epoxy resin used in almost every second thing that surrounds you. Its various uses include:

1. Surface coating agent: Because of its property of water resistance, epoxy finds great application as a surface coating agent. Add to that, the chemical resistance that this genius material offers, it has become the first choice to be used in labs as table coverings. Apart from that epoxy is also used as a coating material for ships and other marine equipments because of its water & rust resistance. It is generally mixed with paints used in automobile industry as well to provide the rust protection to body of the vehicle.

2. Insulating material: Epoxy is a popular material used in electrical industry. As it is an electrically insulating material, hence it is used as an enclosing material for electronic components like condensers, capacitors, transformers and other electrical components.

3. Adhesives: Epoxy resin offers great bonding strength. Hence, it has been used across many industries like flooring, road & bridge constructions, automobile manufactures and aircraft industry as well. Not only that, Epoxy is also used in by artists that make ceramic sculpture. Epoxy holds importance as dental bonding agent as well.

4. Plastic products: epoxy is used in combination with vinyl and PVC to manufacture products like vinyl gloves, spectacle frames, handbags, and plastic jewelry to name a few.

5. Flooring material: Durability, afford-ability and visual beauty, these 3 factors have made epoxy a top contender to be used as a flooring material in domestic as well as commercial buildings.

Looking at these amazing properties and the wide range of uses that the resin offers, it does not come as a surprise that epoxy holds such an important place in the chemical industry as an effective material.No wonder it is considered as a chemical wonder!

Sunday 11 November 2012

Pick Your Whacky Halloween Contact Lens Made With Special Effect Colorants And Have Fun!



There are different sorts of ways to experiment with your looks at Halloween. People come up with all sorts of crazy ideas about clothes and hair and accessories. There are some, who follow the clichés whereas some like to break the bonds of what has already been done and actually try something new and innovative.

A latest trend suggests that many people like to experiment with their eyes on this celebration. They apply different sorts of eyelashes and shadows, to form an entirely different look and stand out of the crowd on Halloween. The next big thing these days is contact lens. People experiment with the color of their eyes, in the most innovative manner these days. There are so many different sorts of looks one can sport, just by changing the color of the eyes. Contact lens are no longer just a fancy substitute for spectacles, they are much more. They are a way of experimenting with the personality without having to change too much.

These days there, so many different types of options you will get in the market for special effect colored lenses that you will be spoilt for choice. Want to look like a vampire, werewolf, and a zombie? Whatever you wish can be provided for you. There are special effect colorants used by contact lens manufacturers and this is why one has an option to choose from a whole range of colored lens. From red lens that give you bloodshot eyes, to milky white to completely black eyes that give you the ‘dead’ look, you can have it all.

Halloween can be a great hit when you experiment with your style statements and choose to with some of the most intriguing colors, patterns and prints that will make you look outlandish and strangely mystical. These lenses are made with the most hygienic process of color compounds and this is why they are safe for use. However, you might want to consider wearing normal lens if you have too much of a vision problem, because due to the extraordinary color in the lens they might tend to become opaque. However if you are looking to wear them on the big Halloween night out, or just another night at the club, it’s okay, because most people don’t mind being a little uncomfortable at the cost of beauty.

The only thing you need to be sure about is the fact that the lens that you choose are from a good brand, that is reputed for their quality and is safe for use because you might want to wear them for long hours.

There is a host of variety that one can find in contact lens of different colors and effects on the internet, and in local shops. So just, go ahead, play with colors, and make this Halloween the best you have ever had. Read more

Friday 9 November 2012

Zinc Borate – in Things that Saves Life, Saves Property and Protects Our World



Fire, when erupts and spread uncontrolled causes severe losses of lives and properties. Be it the nature or things that surround us, fire damages and turn to ashes whatever comes in between. Since ages, people have been continuously working to find ways to control the fire and developing materials that are fire resistant. We often see, when the fire break out, there are fire-fighters trying to control it and suppress it with variety of methods, tools and compounds. Among those, a chemical known for its unique properties and is widely used in equipments meant for flame retarding and suppressing of smoke is Zinc Borate.

Denoted by the chemical formula 2ZnO.3B2O3.3.5H2O, this specialty chemical is EPA approved. Borate Flame Retardant or ZB2335, a Boron-based chemical is actively used as ingredients in paints, pigments, adhesives and ceramic. Due to its typical chemical composition and properties, the application of this Boron-based chemical is preferably used as a preservative, fungicide and corrosion inhibitor.

This compound, complex in nature, is utilized by several industries for variety of purposes and needs. It is widely popular for its use as a fire retardant in PVC, Polyolefin, Elastomers, Epoxy Resins and Polyamides. This chemical is also used in Halogen-containing systems in conjunction with Antimony Oxide, whereas in Halogen-free systems, it is used in combination with Alumina Trihydrate, Red Phosphorous and Magnesium Hydroxide.

So when we talk about its uses in our everyday life, this Boron-based chemical is used to serve the needs of various products and objects that are manufactured in the industries. As in most of the polymer compounds like canvas tents, Zinc Borate diffuses water of hydration at temperatures above 554 degrees Fahrenheit to restrict fire and suppress smoke.

In furniture industry, it serves as an excellent chemical for the treatment and protection against termites and other corrosive insects in lumber, wood, hardwood and plywood. Thus constitutes in the longer life of wood due to its preservative properties. At the present time, borates based chemicals have become an important ingredient in different kinds of ceramic tiles and enamel glazes to enhance durability and improve luster.

Due to such amicable and revolutionary properties, borates-based products are now required in almost every industry for assorted reasons and needs. As a result, companies have now ventured in to producing such chemicals and clays that increases output and decreases energy consumption of manufacturing industries. They supply these Boron-based chemicals to their clients with optimum quality and industry standards.

Companies are supplying Zinc Borate under Specialty Chemicals as per the needs of their customers.

Thursday 1 November 2012

Sodium Hydrosulfite, The Chemical Workhorse!



Sodium Hydrosulfite, which also referred to as Sodium Dithionate, is crystalline compound that is white in color and has sulfurous odor because of the sulfur content in it. Chemically it is a sodium salt of dithionous acid, and hence the name Sodium Dithionate. The name Sodium Hydrosulfite is in fact a commercial name for products that have Sodium Dithionate, Na2S2O4, as a chemically active ingredient. Pertaining to its versatile chemical properties, the chemical finds wide application in various industries. Paper, textile, leather goods, metal recoveries, wine industry, are a few that can be named where Sodium Hydrosulfite is used.

If we talk about the chemical properties of the compound, then it is a water-soluble chemical and can be used as a reducing agent in aqueous form because of its electron donating nature (a compound is said to be reducing if it donates an electron). What makes it even more effective is the fact that because of its reducing nature, it eliminates any excess dye, unwanted pigments as well as any residual oxide, thus improving the overall quality of the textile color.

Because of its water soluble nature is one of the preferred chemicals to be used in fabric dying industries, where if any water insoluble dye, if used, can be reduced to a water-soluble alkali metal salt. The reducing nature also makes it a useful compound to be used in processes like water cleaning, gas purification to name a few.

When used in any chemical reaction, Sodium Hydrosulfite has this tendency to lose its sulfur and add it to the other compound in the reaction. So, it is used as a sulfonating agent in chemical industries.

The compound is also used in iron extraction processes. As dithionate ion has a strong affinity as a chelating agent for bi and trivalent cations, therefore when used in extraction process it increases the solubility of iron. Because of which the extracted iron is free of impurities and is called as “Free Iron”.

Acting as a cation source, i.e. someone who donates a positive ion (which in this case is sodium), Sodium Hydrosulfite is used as chemical agent for environmental improvement, water treatment and gas purification processes.
The best thing about the chemical is the fact that it has a very low toxicity range, and hence is not harmful as compared to other chemicals that are used for similar purposes making Sodium Hydrosulfite such a useful and versatile compound.
Royce international has been a renowned chemical supplier for various chemical industries.

Monday 22 October 2012

You Name It, It Colors It – The Amazing Plastic Dye


Color, the most important part of the lives of humans since generations and ages is once such thing that gives meaning, existence and separation of one thing from another. Nothing in this world can be called as beautiful and attractive without the presence of colors, be it the nature, living beings, objects or things, color imparts distinctiveness to feel their existence or presence around us. Same lies true when we color our world with paints or apply color to different things through man-made, industrial methods and resources.

Earlier,
application of paints to make an object attractive has been done from several years in conventional methods and procedures, which includes stages like sanding, priming and then coating the surface with the respective coloring agent. However, the drawback of using these coloring methods and colorants on plastic products deteriorates plastic under the favorable conditions. To overcome such disadvantages, one such resource is plastic dye that is used to impart color to several different things that are commercially manufactured for our use.

In
the fast developing technological world, dyes and pigments are the two revolutionary colorants that had been discovered to render excellent finish and luster to all kinds of materials. These dyes are predominantly used in the plastic industry all across the world because of their exclusive benefits like durability, heat resistance and transparent capability.

These
types of colorants are followed by amalgamation and dispersion processes in order to yield bright and lustrous appearance to the respective objects. In number of industries and numerous applications, these dyes are used for coloring wide range of materials like nylon, polyester, acrylics, acrylics, polystyrene, styrene monomers, PVC, PETP as well as PMMA. For coloring plastics, the most commonly used dye is plastic dye.

The
unique advantage of plastic dyes is that the color seeps deep into the layers of the material, providing uniform coloring to it from within. As a result, it gives long life to the color aspect that cannot be scratched or peeled away.

In
order to achieve desired results, there are steps to be followed while selecting on the type of colorant to be used with the product, such as -

  • The surface is cleaned properly with soap and warm water, sanding and priming in not required
  • The dye is tested on a small piece of object that has to be colored to ensure the quantity of application
  • The colorant is sprayed in a well-lit and sufficiently ventilated area
  • While using these coloring dyes, appropriately filtered facemask and safety gloves are always used


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