Sucrose-based additives with thermal stability above 250°C for polymers by DKS

Growing demand for biomass-derived content in plastics has increased interest in sugar-based polymer solutions. Against this backdrop, DKS reports that the MONOPET series built on a sucrose backbone has attracted strong interest from polymer manufacturers and plastic processors, and DKS is actively expanding its functionality and broadening its range of applications.

The MONOPET series addresses a structural limitation of sucrose fatty acid esters in polymer additive applications. The DK ESTER series, primarily used in food additive applications begins to decompose below 200°C, a behavior DKS attributes to its molecular design: hydroxyl (OH) groups of sucrose remain partially unesterified, reducing thermal performance under polymer processing conditions.

Developing formulations for engineering plastics? Learn how to choose additive systems that remain stable above 250°C

MONOPET SB, a benzoic acid ester, and MONOPET SOA, an acetic acid ester, both achieve a degree of substitution of 7–8, with nearly all hydroxyl groups of sucrose fully esterified. 

According to DKS, decomposition onset temperatures for both products exceed 250°C, above the melting temperatures of common resins enabling their deployment as polymer additives across standard thermoplastic processing conditions.

Compatibility across polymer matrices and glass transition temperature effects

Solution casting evaluations conducted by DKS demonstrate good compatibility between the MONOPET series and a wide variety of polymer materials, including commodity plastics, transparent plastics, and engineering plastics. DKS identifies this broad compatibility as one of the key advantages of the series.

DKS further confirms that this compatibility leads to a reduction in the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the host polymer.

Melt flow rate (MFR) evaluations comparing MONOPET SB with similar additives indicate that MONOPET SB improves resin flowability through an increase in MFR. According to DKS, formulators and processors can reduce molding pressure during plastic processing and achieve lower processing temperatures when incorporating MONOPET SB, the latter contributing to energy savings under production conditions.

As part of an ongoing expansion of sugar-based modification technologies, DKS has developed a MONOPET-type derivative based on trehalose, a naturally occurring, highly stable non-reducing disaccharide classified, like sucrose, as a non-reducing sugar. According to DKS, trehalose exhibits superior thermal and chemical stability compared with sucrose, a characteristic reflected in the derivative's processing behavior.

Under conditions designed to simulate actual melt compounding (200°C, 30 minutes), the trehalose-based derivative demonstrated significantly reduced discoloration compared with sucrose-based materials. DKS reports that the derivative suppresses both thermal degradation and discoloration under high-temperature molding conditions, making it suitable for engineering plastic applications that require elevated processing temperatures. Similar to the MONOPET series, the trehalose-based derivative is expected to be compatible with a wide range of polymers. DKS also indicates it is investigating applications in polymer systems containing plant-derived materials.

By leveraging decades of expertise in the synthesis and application evaluation of sugar derivatives, DKS continues to position both sucrose- and trehalose-based options as solutions tailored to specific polymers and plastic applications. DKS frames this development within a commitment to combining high performance with environmental responsibility.