Ten Questions about Molecular Sieve Powder

Question 1: What are the raw materials and manufacturing process of molecular sieve powder?

Answer: The main raw material of molecular sieve powder is molecular sieve raw powder (i.e., silicoaluminate). 3A molecular sieve is sodium potassium aluminosilicate, 4A molecular sieve is sodium aluminosilicate, and 5A molecular sieve is calcium sodium aluminosilicate. The main production method is that the raw powder is activated at high temperature to make molecular sieve powder.

Question 2: What is the main function of molecular sieve powder (what is the difference from defoamers)?

Answer: Molecular sieve powder is used to absorb excess moisture in the system. The main function of defoamers is to eliminate foam without absorbing moisture. The principle of defoamers is to disrupt the balance of foam stability, thereby causing the foam cells to rupture. Molecular sieve powder absorbs moisture to prevent the reaction with it from generating gas, and at the same time adsorbs other gas molecules to defoam.

Question 3: What factors determine the price of molecular sieves, and why is the price of 4A the lowest?

Answer: The price of 4A molecular sieve is the lowest because 3A and 5A are replaced by 4A.

Question 4: What is the difference between activated molecular sieve powder and raw powder?

The difference is that the original powder is the raw material for molecular sieve  powder. The original powder has no activity and cannot absorb moisture.

Question 5: Which types of glue are suitable for using molecular sieve powder?

Answer: Any glue with trace amounts of moisture that may affect the product's properties can be used.

Question 6: What is the approximate temperature that molecular sieve powder can withstand in glue?

Answer: Below 500℃. Molecular sieve raw powder will lose its crystalline water when calcined at 550℃. When the temperature drops to room temperature, it will gradually absorb moisture and recover. When the theoretical calcination temperature is 900℃, the crystal structure is destroyed and cannot be restored, thus losing its hygroscopicity. Therefore, the activated powder can withstand temperatures below 500℃.

Question 7: What is the recommended addition amount of molecular sieve powder?

Answer: The addition amount of molecular sieve powder is determined based on the trace amount of water to be removed in the system. Static water adsorption at 24 means that under ideal conditions, the amount of water that the molecular sieve powder can absorb is 24% of its own weight. The specific addition amount still needs to be analyzed based on different raw materials.

Question 8: Will molecular sieve powder affect the viscosity of the glue?

Answer: Molecular sieve powder does not have the effect of increasing viscosity, and its influence on the viscosity of the system is only after the addition of other inorganic materials.

Question 9: Can molecular sieve powder be added to polyols?

Answer: The A component of two-component polyurethane is generally polyester polyol and polyether polyol, and molecular sieve powder is usually added to the A component as well.

Question 10: Will the molecular sieve powder spit out water, such as when placed in ink?

Answer: No. Activated powder is also a type of molecular sieve, belonging to static molecular sieves and cannot be regenerated in the system. The adsorption and desorption of molecular sieves are both conditional. Desorption requires high temperature and low pressure. In the customer's use, the molecular sieve powder forms a uniform substance with the resin and does not have the desorption conditions. This is also the reason why the powder cannot be regenerated. Resin is one of the materials for some inks.

CHEMXIN has engaged in Molecular Sieve since 2002, over 23 years of experience in manufacturer, development and installation guidance. Let’s share more cases and study together.