Stabilization of poly(vinyl chloride). X. Synergisms between epoxidized polybutadienes and metal soaps on the stabilization of poly(vinyl chloride)

Effects of epoxidized 1,2- or 1,4-polybutadienes on the zinc stearate/calcium stearate synergetic soap-induced thermal stabilization of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) were investigated by colorimetry. The remarkable stabilization effects of epoxidized polybutadienes could not be observed on the PVC films without synergetic soaps, while the stabilization of PVC was markedly enhanced by combined use of epoxidized polybutadienes with synergetic soaps. Excessive coloration of cool color-producing zinc chloride-polyene complexes that were the source of abrupt discoloration of stabilized PVC was retarded by using epoxidized polybutadienes together with synergetic soap. The synergism of epoxidized polybutadienes was enhanced with increasing epoxy contents. Moreover, the effect is also clearly dependent on degree of dispersion of epoxidized polybutadienes in PVC. Further colorimetries, infrared (IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies on the various PVC-containing epoxidized polybutadienes and zinc chloride indicated that the epoxy groups capture the zinc chloride. The synergistic effect between epoxidized polybutadienes and metal soap was ascribed to epoxidized polybutadienes serving as acceptors for the excessive cool color-producing zinc chloride produced by zinc stearate to retard the abrupt discoloration of stabilized PVC. The plate-out phenomenon appeared during the molding process of PVC-containing epoxy compounds was considerably retarded by epoxidized polybutadienes which modified polyols. The polyol-modifying epoxidized polybutadienes also exhibited a marked effect on PVC stabilization with metal soap.