Synthesis and application of a novel cardanol‐based plasticizer as secondary or main plasticizer for poly(vinyl chloride)

A novel plasticizer based on cardanol, hydrogenated cardanol glycidyl ether acetic ester containing phosphaphenanthrene group (HCGEP), was prepared and incorporated into poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) for the first time. The molecular structure was characterized with Fourier transform infrared and ¹H NMR spectroscopies. The thermal degradation behavior and flame retardant performance of PVC films with HCGEP as secondary or main plasticizer were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis, combustion tests, limiting oxygen index tests and morphological analysis of residues. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of PVC films were examined based on the results of tensile testing. The results were compared to those of the petroleum‐based plasticizer dioctyl phthalate. With the substitution of dioctyl phthalate with HCGEP, PVC films exhibited high thermal stability and better flame retardant performance. The tensile test results showed that the addition of HCGEP could endow PVC resin with well‐balanced properties of flexibility, strength and hardness. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

Migration resistant polymeric plasticizer for poly(vinyl chloride)

Flexible films of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and linear or branched poly(butylene adipate) (PBA), synthesized from 1,4‐butanediol and adipic acid or dimethyl ester of adipic acid, were aged in an aqueous environment for 10 weeks to study how branching, molar mass, and end‐group functionality affect the leaching of polyester plasticizer from thin films. Principal component analysis was applied to reveal patterns and correlations between mechanical properties, material characteristics, and aging behavior. Introduction of branches in the polyester structure increased the miscibility between PVC and the polyester, resulting in improved mechanical properties and lower water absorption. Methyl ester end‐group in PBA polyester stabilized the polymeric plasticizer toward hydrolysis, and reduced the formation and migration of monomeric degradation products from the blends during aging in water. The combination of branched structure with methyl ester end‐groups resulted in a migration resistant polymeric plasticizer. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 2458–2467, 2007     

Palm oil‐based compound as environmentally friendly plasticizer for poly(vinyl chloride)

Many plasticizers have been invented to serve the purpose of making poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) into a more flexible plastic. In this work, the potential of palm oil‐based compound (Palm1) as a polymeric plasticizer for PVC was investigated. Plasticization of PVC was conducted via the solvent casting technique, using tetrahydrofuran (THF) as the mutual solvent. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to find evidence of interactions between the plasticizer and PVC. Transition temperatures (T_gs) of the plasticized PVC were obtained using DSC, and their thermal stabilities were evaluated using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). Results from the study show that the polymeric plasticizer could interact with PVC chains via polar interaction involving –C‐Cl of PVC and possibly the ‐OH groups of Palm1. T_g of the PVC was reduced after it was plasticized with Palm1. The results obtained from this study suggest that the Palm1 may have the potential to serve as an environmentally friendly plasticizer for PVC. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 22:80–87, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Polycaprolactone as a permanent plasticizer for poly(vinyl chloride)

Polycaprolactone at moderate usage levels has been determined to provide desirable modifications of both rigid and plasticized poly(vinyl chloride). In rigid PVC it effected significant improvement in melt processing as well as good modulus, tensile strength, and kerosene resistance. Impact strength was not measurably altered, but heat-distortion temperature was appreciably lowered. In flexible PVC, polycaprolactone contributed increased tensile strength and ultimate elongation, reduced volatility, and kerosene extraction. Lowering of modulus and flex temperatures were similar to conventional liquid polymeric plasticizers, but melt processability was not as good as lower-molecular-weight plasticizers.     

Alloying of poly(vinyl chloride) to reduce plasticizer migration

Concern over the migration of low molecular weight plasticizer from flexible poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) used in toys and medical products has spearheaded the commercialization of a number of plasticizing polymers. In this study the plasticizing behavior of an ethylene/vinyl acetate/carbon monoxide terpolymer (Elvaloy® from DuPont) was investigated. Blends of PVC, Elvaloy 742, and dioctyl phthalate (DOP) were processed on a twin‐roll mill and compression molded into plaques. These materials were characterized in terms of their hardness, glass‐transition temperature (T_g), clarity, mechanical properties, and plasticizer migration behavior. The ratios of PVC/DOP/Elvaloy investigated were determined by experimental design. Using this approach it was possible to model the results and produce contour plots to map out the properties of a wide range of formulations. It was confirmed that Elvaloy 742 is compatible with PVC and has a plasticizing effect: this was demonstrated both in terms of a reduction in Shore A hardness and a reduction in T_g. Plasticizer migration was reduced in proportion to the amount of liquid plasticizer replaced. Plasticizing with Elvaloy gave an improvement in tear strength. However, at constant hardness there was no improvement in tensile strength from replacing DOP with Elvaloy. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 2022–2031, 2004     

Epoxidized castor oil-based diglycidyl-phthalate plasticizer: Synthesis and thermal stabilizing effects on poly(vinyl chloride)

Epoxidized castor oil-based diglycidyl-phthalate (ECODP) was synthesized and incorporated into poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) for the first time. The chemical structure of the ECODP was confirmed. The plasticizing effects of ECODP as a replacement for commercial plasticizer dioctyl phthalate (DOP) were investigated. The thermal stability and mechanical properties of PVC films before and after aging were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), TGA-FTIR analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and tensile tests. The results indicated that PVC films plasticized with ECODP significantly improved thermal stability, compatibility, and flexibility. When DOP was substituted with ECODP completely, the initial decomposition temperature, 5, 10, 50, and 70% mass loss temperatures (T_i, T₅, T₁₀, T₅₀, and T₇₀) increased by 24.7, 38.9, 32.0, 30.3, and 102.7 °C, respectively. The functional mechanism of the ECODP as a thermal stabilizing plasticizer and the plasticization mechanism of PVC composites were also investigated. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47142.     

Synthesis,characterization, and properties of poly(vinyl acetate)‐ and poly(vinyl alcohol)‐grafted chitosan

Graft copolymers of chitosan and vinyl acetate were synthesized by free radical technique using cerium (IV) as the initiator. Under controlled conditions, as much as 92% grafting with a grafting yield of 30–40% could be achieved. Chitosan‐g‐poly(vinyl alcohol) copolymers were derived by the alkaline hydrolysis of the chitosan‐g‐poly(vinyl acetate) precursor. Thermogravimetric, FTIR, and X‐ray diffraction analyses of chitosan and the copolymers confirmed the grafting reaction between chitosan and vinyl acetate and also the subsequent hydrolysis. Both the copolymers possessed very good film‐forming properties. Grafting resulted in a significant increase in mechanical strength of both the copolymers in the dry condition. Chitosan‐g‐poly(vinyl acetate) (CH‐PVAc) proved more hydrophobic than did pure chitosan, whereas chitosan‐g‐poly(vinyl alcohol) (CH‐PVOH) exhibited enhanced hydrophilicity as evident from their swelling characteristics and contact angle measurements. The enhanced swelling of CH‐PVOH was ascribed to the presence of the pendant poly(vinyl alcohol) group. At pH 1.98, the CH‐PVAc copolymer films showed greater stability than do pure chitosan films, which is highly beneficial for specific biomedical applications. Both the copolymers showed lower glass transition temperature than do pure chitosan. Grafting did not affect the overall thermal stability, and the differential thermogram substantiated the grafting. The investigations indicate that the synthetic–natural hybrid copolymers having desirable mechanical properties and tailored hydrophilic/hydrophobic characteristics are realizable. These polymers could be exploited for varied biomedical applications. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 1852–1859, 2007     

Synthesis and application of a natural plasticizer based on cardanol for poly(vinyl chloride)

A natural plasticizer with multifunctional groups, similar in structure to phthalates, cardanol derivatives glycidyl ether (CGE) was synthesized from cardanol by a two‐step modification process and characterized by FT‐IR, ¹HNMR, and ¹³CNMR. The resulting product was incorporated to PVC (CGE/PVC), and plasticizing effect was compared with PVC incorporated with two kinds of commercial phthalate ester plasticizers bis (2‐ethylhexyl) benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylate (DOTP) and diisononyl phthalate (DINP). Dynamic mechanical analysis and mechanical properties testing of the plasticized PVC samples were performed in order to evaluate their flexibility, compatibility, and plasticizing efficiency. SEM was employed to produce fractured surface morphology. Thermogravimetric analysis and discoloration tests were used to characterize the thermal stabilities. Dynamic stability analysis was used to test the processability of formulations. Compared with DOTP and DINP plasticized samples, CGE/PVC has a maximum decrease of 9.27% in glass transition temperature (T_g), a maximum increase of 17.6% in the elongation at break, and a maximum increase of 31.59°C and 25.31 min in 50% weight loss (T50) and dynamic stability time, respectively. The obtained CGE also has slightly lower volatility resistance and higher exudation resistance than that of DOTP and DINP. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42465.     

Preparation,structure, and transport properties of ultrafiltration membranes of poly(vinyl chloride) and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) blends

Ultrafiltration (UF) membranes based on poly(vinyl chloride) and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) blends were prepared by the phase inversion method, and the factors governing membrane properties were investigated. The membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The fouling characteristics of the membranes were determined by UF of aqueous solutions of bovine serum albumin (BSA) over a pH range of 2–9 and varying salt concentrations. The maximum adsorption of the protein on the membrane surface occurred near the isoelectric point (pI 4.8) of BSA, and the presence of the salts increased the fouling of the membrane. The results can be explained in terms of the nature of the membrane polymer and the effect of different ionic environments on the permeability of the deposited protein layer. The net charge on the BSA molecules appears to be a dominant factor in determining the flux of water through the blend membranes. The UF flux is correlated by a model based on the membrane resistance, adsorbed protein resistance, and time dependent resistance of the concentration polarization layer near the membrane surface. The ζ potentials of the membranes were also determined before and after UF to characterize the surface potential of the membrane. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 2606–2620, 2000     

Emissivity values for poly(vinyl chloride) with varying plasticizer compositions

The emissivity of plasticized poly(vinly chloride) (PVC) containing varying compositions and amounts of plasticizer was investigated. The four plasticizers examined were dibutyl phthalate (DBP), dioctyl phthalate (DOP), diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) (Phthalic acid type), and dioctyl adipate (DOA) (adipic acid type). The emmissivity of plasticized PVC film increased almost equally with the difference in the compositions between DOP and DOA. It was also clear that the emissivity of the plasticized PVC film decreased gradually with the molecular sequence length of DBP, DOP, and DIDP.     

Some aspects of plasticizer migration from poly(vinyl chloride) sheets

Long-term migration data, by radioactivity measurements, are presented for the systems poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/labelled dioctyl phthalate (DOP)/methanol, n-propanol, or n-butanol. At equilibrium, migration levels determined exceed 85% for methanol and reveal complete removal for the higher alcohols. Migration kinetics failed to be described by the long-term Fickian approximation with a diffusion coefficient independent of concentration. Nevertheless, q_t/q_∫, where q_∫ the amount migrated at infinite time and q_t the amount lost up to time t, increases linearly with (time)^1/2/(thickness) during the initial stages of the process and then a linear also relationship appears, but with severely reduced slope. Similar data concerning the systems PVC/DOP/petroleum oils confirm the behavior observed.     

Chlorinated atactic polypropylene as a plasticizer for poly(vinyl chloride)

Atactic polypropylene, a byproduct obtained in the manufacture of isotactic polypropylene, has been chlorinated under various reaction conditions. The chlorination reaction is reasonably fast so as to give a product of 53-43% chlorine content in 3 h. The chlorinated product has been incorporated in poly(viny1 chloride) formulations with a view to study its plasticizing activity. Generally this type of compound acts only as a secondary plasticizer; hence it has been used in combination with di(2-ethylhexyl)phthdate, a primary plasticizer. Different proportions of these two plasticizers have been added to poly(vinyl chloride) resin to obtain a series of formulations. These compounds were evaluated, and it appears that the addition of chlorinated atactic polypropylene (APPC) helps in easy processing and increases the throughput. The increasing concentration of APPC showed an upward trend in die head pressure and torque indicating an increase in melt viscosity. The results of physical properties evaluation show that APPC acts as a reinforcing agent and also imparts permanence to the plasticizers.     

Synthesis of glycidylethylhexylphthalate and its effects on poly(vinyl chloride) films as a novel plasticizer

To improve the processability and prevent the thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), various plasticizers and heat stabilizers have to be compounded. Phthalic plasticizers and metal soap stabilizers are usually used with epoxides as costabilizers. Epoxidized soybean oil (ESO), is one of the most commonly used epoxides because of its typical combined roles as a plasticizer and heat stabilizer in PVC compounds. ESO, however, sometimes causes surface contamination of PVC compounds because saturated fatty acids such as stearic and palmitic acids in soybean oil easily bleed onto the surface. In addition, some ingredients in ESO with hydroxide groups and unreacted double bonds during epoxidization also tend to increase the bleeding of ESO. This is due to their low compatibility with PVC resins. In this study, a novel plasticizer of PVC resins, glycidylethylhexylphthalate (GEHP), was synthesized, and its performance was evaluated. GEHP was designed to act as a plasticizer like normal phthalic plasticizers and to act as a heat stabilizer like ESO. Through the addition of epoxy groups in phthalic compounds, the resistance to bleeding was improved, and the plasticizing and heat‐stabilizing effects on the PVC compounds were preserved. Soft PVC films were prepared with GEHP. The mechanical properties, thermal stability, and bleeding properties of the films were investigated. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 1347–1356, 2005     

Synthesis of a bio-based plasticizer from vanillic acid and its effects on poly(vinyl chloride)

A new bio-based plasticizer, VA8-8, was prepared derived from vanillic acid, and its structure was verified by nuclear magnetic resonance. It was incorporated into poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) to replace dioctyl phthalate (DOP), and its plasticizing performance was evaluated. The results indicated that VA8-8 shows good compatible with PVC resin, and has a excellent plasticizing effect for PVC. When DOP was partially or completely substituted with VA8-8, the T_g value PVC blends dropped from 34.6 to 24.3°C and the elongation at break increased from 196.4% to 301.9%, suggesting the enhanced plasticizing efficiency of plasticizer. The plasticizing mechanism was also simulated, and the interactions between VA8-8 and PVC molecules were discussed. The thermogravimetric analysis showed VA8-8 can more effectively improve the thermal stability of PVC than DOP. In addition, the migration resistance of VA8-8 was generally superior to that of DOP. Therefore, VA8-8 is a comparable to or better plasticizer than DOP, and it is a promising alternative plasticizer for PVC.     

Effect of concentration and type of plasticizer on some physical properties of poly(vinyl chloride)

The effect of four different types and concentrations of plasticizers on some physical properties of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) has been studied. DOP, DOA, TTP, and Hex were used as plasticizers in concentration levels of up to 24% of PVC weight. The plasticized and unplasticized PVC were processed into sheets by compression molding. The sheets were tested for their vicat softening point, shore D hardness, flexural properties, and dynamic fatigue. It was found that the vicat softening point, shore D hardness, flexural yield strength, and flexural modulus decrease with increase in plasticizer concentration, though in some cases a threshold concentration must be passed before these effects can be observed. Close similarities were always found in the behavior of DOP and DOA and also between TTP and Hex. It was found in the study of flexural fatigue properties of PVC plasticized by DOP that an increase in plasticizer concentration led to a decrease in load bearing ability only at stress levels above 20 MPa.     

Automated microscopic technique for evaluating poly(vinyl chloride)–plasticizer compatibility

An automated microtechnique has been developed that permits a rapid, reproducible determination of the Flory–Huggins χ interaction parameters for poly(vinyl choloride)–plasticizer systems. It is a modification of the Anagnostopoulos method of determining an apparent melting temperature of a poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) particle in excess plasticizer. A microscope equipped with a photodiode sensor is used to measure changes in the light transmitted through a plasticizer sample containing a PVC particle as the temperature is increased at a fixed rate, either 0.2 or 1.0°C/min. Data acquisition is done by computer so that minimal operator assistance is required. The apparent melting region is characterized by a sigmoidal change in the light transmitted through a fixed sample area. This curve allows an accurate, reproducible definition of the apparent melting temperature from which the χ parameter is easily derived. The values obtained for the interaction parameter of PVC with four plasticizers chosen from the phthalate and phosphate families are in good agreement with general trends of solvent quality. Separate experiments demonstrated that the overall transmittance profile reflects changes in both the size and the optical clarity of the PVC particle during heating. This leads to added features in the profile that reflect important diffusion and swelling characteristics for a given system. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and properties of chitosan‐modified poly(vinyl acetate)

A redox initiator, cerium ammonium nitrate, was used to initiate the graft copolymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) onto the chitosan chain in a dispersion polymerization at 60°C. With an addition of 0.5–7.5 g of chitosan based on 50 g of VAc, the monomer conversion was found to be between 70 and 80% after 2 h of reaction. The grafting efficiency increased with the amount of chitosan added; yet, the grafting ratio increased slightly and then decreased. After the reaction, a stable dispersion system was observed and the surface of the latex particles was found to be rich in chitosan. All the experimental results indicated that the chitosan molecules not only took part in the graft copolymerization, but also served as a surfactant, providing the stability of the dispersion particles. If the dispersion aqueous solution was oven‐dried, a particulate membrane was formed. The experimental results indicated that the incorporation of poly(vinyl acetate) to the chitosan chains increased the toughness and decreased the water absorption of the chitosan material. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 3057–3063, 2002     

Flow properties of poly (vinyl chloride)

A detailed review of the material published to date on the flow properties of poly(vinyl chloride) is given. The dependence of viscosity on concentration molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, shear and temperature for concentrated and molten poly (vinyl chloride) is considered. Polymer blends and plastisols are also included.     

Structure and properties of poly(vinyl chloride)‐triallyl cyanurate plastisols

Triallyl cyanurate (TAC) has been used as a reactive plasticizer to promote the high‐temperature creep resistance of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) plastisols. The resultant crosslinked structure is characterized using gel content and swell ratio measurements as well as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The crosslinking reaction was initiated using peroxide. The effect on the network structure of using a free radical scavenger in the formulation has also been studied. The gel yield and crosslink density in the gel increase with increasing TAC concentration in the plastisol, while the grafted PVC fraction and the residual unsaturation of TAC behave in the opposite way. Introduction of TAC into the plastisol promotes creep resistance at high temperatures, and the logarithmic creep rate was found to decrease linearly with increasing crosslink density.