Guide to Stabilizers

Stabilizers

Improved performance is an idea every business strives to achieve. In a corporate setting, it can mean adjusting the structure or function of a department or adding more staff to a particular team. This same idea can be applied to material science — by adjusting or adding to a substance, you can improve the overall functionality of a material. One of the ways to accomplish this is by adding stabilizers.

While many materials work well by themselves, the needs of an application may require slight alterations to improve performance. For many applications, this can be accomplished through the use of a stabilizer. From industrial plastics to ice cream cones, stabilizers are found throughout industry, improving the chemical and physical properties of a substance and preventing degradation.

In this article you will learn:

What is a stabilizer?

At its most basic, a stabilizer is any substance that is used to preserve the physical and chemical properties of a material and prevent degradation. At a chemical level, these stabilizers work by inhibiting chemical reactions. Stabilizers assist in extending the useful life of materials and preventing premature failure.

There are many types of stabilizers, and they vary based on the property being preserved and the industrial purpose of the stabilizer. From metal corrosion and polymer aging to oxidation in fuel and food, stabilizers can help a range of industries.

: These stabilizers deactivate metal ions by forming chelate complexes around them, preventing them from being oxidized.

: These stabilizers protect materials such as plastics from UV degradation. UV absorbers, for example, are light stabilizers that absorb damaging UV radiation.

: These chemicals wok to reduce the rate of corrosion in materials prone to certain environmental factors.

: Emulsifier stabilizers help stabilize emulsions by enhancing the solubility of chemical compounds.

: These chemicals prevent undesired oxidation of materials, including foods and plastics.

: Acid scavengers, also known as antacids, neutralize acidic impurities that could be damaging for polymers.

: Heat stabilizers, also known as thermal stabilizers, prevent chemical changes that typically occur at higher temperatures, allowing the material to maintain structural integrity when exposed to high heat situations. Similarly, flame retardants can be added to polymers to improve their resistance to fire.

How stabilizers work

Stabilizers are functionally the opposite of catalysts — while catalysts and enzymes work to increase the rate of a chemical reaction, stabilizers work to hinder these reactions. Stabilizers work at a molecular and chemical level, preventing or altering reactions like corrosion, oxidation, or separation. For many of these stabilizers, their activity focuses on inhibiting the function of a catalyst or enzyme.

Stabilizers that act on catalytic reactions work by either preventing the formation of the catalyst-substrate complex or by modifying the catalyst's active site. Stabilizers can also do both simultaneously. Regardless of how it works, stabilizers degrade the effectiveness of the catalyst, preventing the enzyme from facilitating reactions.

Stabilizers can be grouped into one of two categories — irreversible agents and reversible agents. Irreversible agents act by catalyst poisoning, where a catalyst's activity is permanently destroyed or altered, preventing the reaction from ever occurring in that catalyst. Reversible agents, however, work by forming a non-permanent complex with the catalyst that prevents the reaction from occurring. When removed, reversible agents allow the catalyst to return to its original functionality.

Worker levels a floor cement mortar. Equal floor. Repair of the house.

Reversible agents are split into two types

Competitive inhibitors: With these inhibitors, the stabilizer binds to the active site of the catalyst, preventing the substrate from binding there. As the concentration of the substrate increases, however, catalyst function returns. The total inhibition percentage is determined by the ratio between inhibitor and substrate, not the total concentration of the inhibitor.
Non-competitive inhibitors: With non-competitive inhibitors, the agent binds to sites besides the active site, causing the catalyst to stop functioning without directly binding to the active site. In this case, the concentration of the inhibitor determines the total inhibition percentage in the substrate.

As with any chemical, different stabilizers will work using different chemical mechanisms. They will also have different outcomes based on the amount of product, the point of dispersion, and surrounding environmental factors.

At present, the essential stabilizers are calcium, lead, and tin-based stabilizers. Liquid and light stabilizers are also common, while cadmium-based stabilizers are rarely in use due to health and environmental concerns.

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The purpose and benefits of a chemical stabilizer

The primary purpose of a stabilizer is to prevent a substance from degrading over time. However, that is not the only benefit of using a stabilizer.

Some of the additional benefits of using stabilizers include the following:

Increase functional life: Products with stabilizers have longer useful lives than products without them. This means that food has a longer shelf life, and materials can function for longer without needing repair or replacement.
Maintain structural integrity: Environmental factors can cause the chemical structure of a substance to change over time. For example, heat can cause foods to separate and plastics to melt. Chemical stabilizers can help prevent this by protecting the substrate from heat stress.
Maximize and improve functionality: Many substances work wellin a specific application but may need a slight adjustment to function at optimal levels. Stabilizers can help improve the functionality of substrates by improving their stability in certain chemical and environmental situations.

Industries using chemical stabilizers

Between these benefits, the wide variety of stabilizers, and their efficacy at low concentrations, stabilizers are extremely popular in a range of industries.

Stabilizers are used across several industries for a variety of specific purposes. While all of these stabilizers are used to protect the substrate from degradation over time, different types of stabilizers are used based on the requirements of the specific industry.

Food stabilizers function the same as other stabilizers but must meet additional requirements. Namely, these requirements are that the stabilizer is safe for human consumption and is pleasant to the human palette.

Food stabilizers don't just serve to increase the shelf life of food by preventing degradation. On top of this function, food stabilizers help to improve the functional stability and overall texture of food. For example, food stabilizers are commonly used to add viscosity and body to food mixtures, which helps create a better mouthfeel and flavor release for more liquidy foods.

At one time, gelatin was the most common food stabilizer in the industry, used to help stave off degradation in a variety of foods. However, this animal protein has mostly been replaced with plant-based products to reduce costs. Today, the majority of food stabilizers are plant-derived polysaccharide food gums.

Some of these are listed below:

Locust bean gum: Also known as carob bean gum, this soluble fiber is derived from the endosperm of specific African trees.
Guar gum: This gum is derived from the endosperm of the guar bush bean, which is an Indian legume commonly grown in Texas. It is soluble at cold temperatures, making it a good choice for frozen foods.
Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC): This stabilizer is derived from the bulky components of plant materials, also known as pulp cellulose.
Xanthan gum: This popular stabilizer is produced in culture by the microorganism Xanthomonas campestris.
Sodium alginate: This stabilizer is an extract of seaweed and brown kelp.
Carrageenan: Another sea-derived stabilizer, Carrageenan, is extracted from Irish Moss and other red algae from the coasts of Ireland, Chile, and the Philippines. It is often used as a secondary stabilizer to help reduce food separation.

Each of these food stabilizers has unique characteristics that can be used individually or in combination to improve the overall effectiveness of the final product.

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Unpaved roads make up a large portion of total constructed roads, often used for temporary purposes and rural access. While these roads are common, they often have serviceability issues due to high traffic demand and environmental conditions that negatively affect the underlying soil. As a result, the transportation industry often uses chemical stabilizers in the underlying soil to improve mechanical performance and reduce maintenance costs.

Chemical stabilizers are added to the soil through a blend of water and chemical additive. This chemical either improves the load-bearing capacity of the soil or decreases permeability — some chemical mixtures will do both. The three primary types of chemical stabilizers used in transportation are as follows:

Asphaltic: These stabilizers use an asphalt emulsion as a base and typically work best on more granular soil types.
Enzymatic: These stabilizers are based on organic elements like proteins. They are bio-degradable, making them ideal for temporary applications. However, these stabilizers take longer to set and require fine, organic soil with medium plasticity.
Polymeric: Polymer-based stabilizers are applicable for all types of soils, though they work best in dry soils with clay and silt.

The efficacy of these chemicals depends on how well the chemical interacts with the soil at a microscopic level. However, when these chemicals are applied appropriately to their optimal soil types, they can double the overall strength of the soil. This improved strength means that the soil can stand up against daily wear and tear more effectively, in turn reducing overall road maintenance costs.

Medical equipment and devices are increasingly being made with plastics for their weight, cost, and performance. However, many of these parts are put in environmental conditions that may degrade the plastic over time. Most specifically, imaging equipment that uses gamma rays and electron beams can damage plastics over time, resulting in expensive replacements and repairs. To prevent damage from these sources, medical device manufacturers use stabilizers.

Many plastic medical device developers use stabilizers to mitigate the negative effects of gamma and electron beam rays on plastics. This is typically done using two types of stabilizers, described in more detail below:

Radiation stabilizers: Also known as “antirads,” radiation stabilizers are primarily used to mitigate the effects of gamma rays on plastics. While many polymers with aromatic ring structures are naturally more resistant to radiation, antirads can further improve this protection.
UV stabilizers: UV light is another potential degrading factor for plastics as it can initiate oxidation. Exposure to the outdoors or UV-radiating lamps are common causes of degradation in plastics and can occur in hospitals. These effects can be prevented using UV stabilizers.

These stabilizers are often used to help preserve medical equipment over time, reducing maintenance needs and equipment costs.

: An elastomer is defined as a polymer with both viscosity and elasticity as well as weak intermolecular forces. The name elastomer is even derived from the term "elastic polymer." The name that most people know this substance by, however, is "rubber."
Elastomers are primarily used for adhesives, seals and molded flexible parts like tires, shoe soles, and insulating components. However, elastomers are very susceptible to oxidation and UV radiation, especially in the presence of heat. As a result, UV and thermal stabilizers are often added to elastomers to help improve their performance in real-world applications.

Get to know our stabilizers

Stabilizers are essential ingredients in the development of plastic, elastomer, and food products, helping improve performance for a range of products across various industries. From UV and heat protection to corrosion and oxidation resistance, stabilizers prevent degradation in many ways. However, to achieve top-quality results, you need top-quality chemical stabilizers. We can help.

We are the global leader in chemical and ingredients distribution, serving all major markets with our comprehensive portfolio of products. From the food industry to the oil and gas industry to the plastics industry, we serve customers of all types and sizes, connecting them with leading chemical manufacturers around the world.

For over 100 years, we have committed to quality in chemical distribution, helping us become a top specialty and chemical distributor trusted by hundreds of companies worldwide. Our commitment to quality means that you will receive only the best options in chemical supplies. Even better, our company has 190 distribution locations, so you can quickly connect and secure the materials your business needs.

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: This document is for informational purposes only. You accept sole responsibility for reading and complying with the Safety Data Sheets (SDS’s), as well as any other safety information, relating to the products listed herein. The information contained herein is based on Brenntag’s knowledge at the time of publication or release and not on any publications, independent studies, empirical evidence or other form of verification. You should not use or rely on any statements contained herein as a basis for any representations or warranties to your customers or end users as to the safety, efficacy or suitability of any product or for purposes of ensuring your compliance with any laws or regulations. Brenntag makes no warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained herein or as to fitness of any product for any particular purpose. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as an authorization to use or an inducement to practice any patent, trade secret or other intellectual property right. Before producing and distributing any product, it is your sole responsibility to adequately test and document the performance of the product and acquire any required intellectual property rights. You assume all risks for failing to do so and Brenntag shall not be liable (regardless of fault) to you, your employees, customers or end users or any third party for direct, special or consequential damages arising out of or in connection with the furnishing or use of this information. Please contact your local Brenntag representative if you have any questions about this information.

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