Stearic Acid → Zinc Stearate

Reaction equation

[C:1]([OH:20])(=[O:19])[CH2:2][CH2:3][CH2:4][CH2:5][CH2:6][CH2:7][CH2:8][CH2:9][CH2:10][CH2:11][CH2:12][CH2:13][CH2:14][CH2:15][CH2:16][CH2:17][CH3:18].C([O-])(=O)C.[Zn+2:25].C([O-])(=O)C.[OH-].[Mg+2].[OH-]>>[C:1]([O-:20])(=[O:19])[CH2:2][CH2:3][CH2:4][CH2:5][CH2:6][CH2:7][CH2:8][CH2:9][CH2:10][CH2:11][CH2:12][CH2:13][CH2:14][CH2:15][CH2:16][CH2:17][CH3:18].[Zn+2:25].[C:1]([O-:20])(=[O:19])[CH2:2][CH2:3][CH2:4][CH2:5][CH2:6][CH2:7][CH2:8][CH2:9][CH2:10][CH2:11][CH2:12][CH2:13][CH2:14][CH2:15][CH2:16][CH2:17][CH3:18]

Participants

Reactant 3

HCID 5281Stearic Acid2×

HCID 11192Zinc Acetate3×

HCID 73981Magnesium Hydroxide

Product 1

HCID 11178Zinc Stearate

Procedure

32.5 grams of a formulated Sulfo-EPT composition, 17.5 grams of HDPE, and 8.1 grams of stearic acid were blended in a Brabender mixing head for 13 minutes at 160° C. and 50 rpm. This blend was placed in a rubber mill and 2.6 grams of zinc acetate were added over a one minute time period while milling at 160° C. After the zinc acetate was completely added, the total blend was milled for an additional 31/2 minutes at 160° C. The Sulfo-EPT composition used in this experiment contained 30 milliequivalents of acid groups, and had been neutralized with 3 equivalents of magnesium hydroxide prior to blending. The amount of zinc acetate and stearic acid was sufficient to yield 3 equivalents of the preferential plasticizer zinc stearate.