Final answer:
To decrease the viscosity and aid processing, plasticizers and solvents are added to resins. Plasticizers create space between polymer chains, acting as lubricants, while solvents dissolve parts of the polymers to ease processing.
Step-by-step explanation:
To lower viscosity and aid in processing, plasticizers and solvents are added to resins. Plasticizers are additives that drastically increase the plasticity or decrease the viscosity of a material, which makes them essential to producing flexible plastics. Their primary function is to take up space between the polymer chains, acting as lubricants to enable the chains to slip over each other more readily. On the other hand, solvents can also play a role in decreasing viscosity by partially dissolving the polymers, thus facilitating the processing of the material. Solvents are also used to keep products stable, reduce stickiness, and help ingredients to dissolve more easily. Therefore, the correct answer is D) Solvents, Heat Stabilizers.
Furthermore, it's important to note that crosslinkers, like hardeners or curatives, are meant for reacting with epoxy resins in a process called curing, which forms a thermoset polymer. This is different from lowering viscosity, which is the primary purpose of plasticizers and solvents. Understanding these components is crucial in the fields of polymer chemistry and materials engineering. Additionally, health considerations are important since many plasticizers are capable of diffusing into the environment and could potentially cause health issues.