Effect of Erucamide on the Development of Surface Tack in Automotive Scratch and Mar Systems

摘要

Many TPO automotive components are manufactured with slip agents, such as erucamide, to reduce the coefficient of friction atthe surface. However, in some instances, the scratch and mar;system incorporated into the polymer can cause the surface to become tacky. In this investigation, we examine the possible causes that may lead to the development of surface tack. Our results indicate that erucamide degrades on exposure to UV light generating a number of by-products that become sticky. The evidence also suggests that UV additives provide a stabilizing effect that prolongs the surface tack while unstabilized erucamide formulations lose their tackiness relatively quickly. Exposure to moderately elevated temperatures does not produce the same effect Finally, a scratch and mar solution is proposed which does not become tacky on exposure to UV light.