Natural Polymers
Natural Polymers are derived from living plants and organisms. As with all living things, plants and organisms are complex and variable. Before one can harness the power that Mother Nature has provided, characterization and purification processes must occur.
JLK Industries provides its customers with natural polymers to fit their needs. With experts on staff, we are able to modify or formulate our polymers for functionality and ease of use. Please contact us to assist you with your requirement.
JLK’s Natural Polymers include:
Xanthan
Xanthan gum is a naturally produced hydrocolloid that finds application in many industries. Its main use is as a rheology modifier or thickener. Typical applications include mineral slurries, paints, clearers, cosmetics, water based lubricants, pigments, dyes, metalworking fluids and highly alkaline aqueous systems.
Guar
Guar gum derives itself from the ground endosperm of the guar plant. The guar plant produces a drought resistant legume (or bean). This bean was brought to the United States in the early 1900′s. The word guar means, “cow food” in Hindi. Just as the name suggests, its historical use in the Asian sub continent was to feed cattle. Guar prefers a hot, dry climate and thrives in area receiving less than 30-inches of annual rainfall. When there is a lack of moisture, guar will stop growing but it will not die. Guar is tolerant of soil salinity and alkalinity but grows best in sandy loam.
Guar is a plant that historically has been grown in India and Pakistan. However, in recent years guar is being grown in large quantities is the semi-arid regions of the United States such as west Texas, southwestern Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona.
In the past, guar crop yield was dependent on the amount of rainfall during monsoon season. Too much or too little rain would reduce the size of the crop and therefore negatively affect the supply and price. This phenomenon was mainly due to the fact that the planting of guar occurred in “non-irrigated” fields.
By having domestic US sourcing that has planted guar a crop of guar that grows on irrigated fields in the off-season. This crop will not be affected by seasonal monsoon rains and has a more predictable yield. We believe that we are the only major guar manufacturer who has taken this step to guarantee supply to our customers. The guar bean is made up of 36% endosperm (gum) and 54% protein (germ) with the remainder as hull fiber (husk). The endosperm is the “active” material in the guar bean.
The endosperm consists of long branching polymers of mannose and galactose. The molecular structure is very similar to that of cellulose.
Guar is a cold-water soluble polysaccharide. It has broad uses in food and in many heavy industries. Guar’s main value its ease of hydration in aqueous systems producing high viscosity solutions at low gum concentrations. Its main industrial uses other than food include, but are not limited to, oil and gas drilling, textile, carpet, personal care, fire foam, explosives, water treatment, hydro mulching, erosion control and papermaking. In many of these industries the guar backbone is modified by derivitization or depolymerization to fine-tune the product’s performance characteristics.
- Anionic Guar
- Amphoteric Guar
Synthetic Polymers
JLK markets two major types of synthetic polymers, Polyacrylamides and Polyacrylates.
Chemical Properties
Polyacrylamides are long chain polymers modified via synthesis to yield cationic, anionic and non-ionic polymers. The molecular weight of polyacrylamides range from about 1 million to over 5 million. These products are supplied as dry powders, emulsions and solutions (if the viscosity permits).
Polyacrylates are shorter chained polymers derived from acrylic acid. These products are normally anionically charged. The molecular weight of polyacrylates range from about 2000 to 10000. Polyacrylates have excellent colloidal thermal stability and perform effectively over a wide pH range. Thermogravimetric analysis of these polymers shows no degradation up to 300°C.
Applications
Polyacrylamides
Polyacrylamides are used in numerous industrial applications, including, but not limited to, these applications:
- Erosion Control
- Paper Mills & Paper Making
- Secondary Fiber Recovery
- Industrial Waste Water
- Municipal Waste Water
- Industrial Laundries
- Food Processing
- Metal Plating and Finishing
- Dairy Plants
- Meat Packing
Polyacrylates
Polyacrylates are used in many industries primarily for their dispersing and antiscaling properties. Major industrial uses include:
- Pigment and Clay Slurries
- Boiler and Cooling Water Treatment
- Household and Industrial Cleaners (Builders)
- Dishwash and Laundry Detergents (Phosphate replacements)
Please contact JLK Industries for product information and availability.
