Azodicarbonamide

Azodicarbonamide (CAS 123-77-3), also known as ADCA or Celogen AZ, is a chemical blowing agent and dough conditioner used across rubber processing, plastics manufacturing, and food production. It decomposes upon heating to release gas, generating a controlled cellular structure in foamed materials or improving dough handling properties in baked goods for industrial food processors.

In rubber and plastics, ADCA is compounded into EVA, PVC, and polyolefin formulations to produce foamed sheets, profiles, and soles for footwear where consistent cell structure affects product density. Bread and flour manufacturers use it as a flour maturing agent, where it strengthens gluten networks and improves machinability of high-output dough lines in commercial bakery environments.

In synthetic leather and textile coating applications, it generates the foam layer in PVC-coated fabrics, controlling thickness and flexibility of the finished substrate for various industrial uses. Masterbatch producers also incorporate ADCA into concentrate systems for downstream processors requiring pre-dispersed blowing agent solutions to ensure uniform distribution during the manufacturing process.

Azodicarbonamide is supplied as a yellow to orange fine powder. Standard commercial grades include food-grade and technical/rubber grades differentiated by particle size and decomposition temperature range. Activated grades with modified decomposition profiles are available for specific polymer processing windows, ensuring the material meets strict industrial requirements and performance benchmarks.