Azodicarbonamide, is also called ADCA, ADA, or azo(bis)formamide, is a chemical compound with the molecular formula C2H4O2N4.^[1] It is a yellow, odorless, and crystalline powder.

Synthesis

It is prepared in two steps via treatment of urea with hydrazine to form biurea, as described in this idealized equation:

2 OC(NH2)2 + N2H4 → H2NC(O)-N(H)-N(H)-C(O)NH2 + 2 NH3

Oxidation with chlorine or chromic acid yields azodicarbonamide:

H2NC(O)-N(H)-N(H)-C(O)NH2 + Cl2 → H2NC(O)-N=N-C(O)NH2 + 2 HCl

Application as Blowing agent

The principal use of azodicarbonamide is in the production of foamed plastics as a blowing agent. The thermal decomposition of azodicarbonamide results in the evolution of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and ammonia gases, which are trapped in the polymer as bubbles to form a foamed article.^[2]

Azodicarbonamide is used in plastics, synthetic leather, and other industries and can be pure or modified. Modification affects the reaction temperatures. Pure azodicarbonamide generally reacts around 200 °C. In the plastic, leather, and other industries, modified azodicarbonamide (average decomposition temperature 170 °C) contains additives that accelerate the reaction or react at lower temperatures.^[2]

Sinno’s AC series can be modified to be suitable to almost all of the rubbers and plastics by additives like activators. AC series is non-toxic and self-extinguishing material and has relatively high decomposition temperature and evolves a large gas volume. Therefore they can be used more safely than any other colorless and it can produce white, micro-cellular structures.

1. "Azodicarbonamide (CICADS)". Inchem. International Programme on Chemical Safety. Archived from the original on 24 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-14. Also published by World Health Organization, Geneva, 1999.

2. Heinz Weber, Isidoor De Grave, Eckhard Röhrl, Volker Altstädt (2016). "Foamed Plastics". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Wiley-VCH. pp. 1–54. doi:10.1002/14356007.a11_435.pub2. ISBN 9783527306732.