Study of the performance of some first row transition metal complexes of nonylamine as colourants for poly(vinyl chloride) and polyethylene

Complexes of nonylamine with the isothiocyanate of cobalt (II) and the chlorides of cobalt (II), nickel (II) and copper (II) have been prepared in ethanolic solution. The complexes have a stoichiometry of ML2X2. The cobalt compounds have tetrahedral structures, whereas the nickel and copper compounds have polymeric octahedral structures. The decomposition temperatures of each of the compounds was obtained. The performance of the complexes as colouring materials for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and polyethylene (PE) has been investigated; for example, weathering resistance, lightfastness, migration resistance and heat stability have been considered. The compound Co(C9H21N)2(NCS)2 performed well giving good results for weathering resistance, acid and alkali resistance, migration resistance, dispersibility and opacity in both PVC and PE.