Effective, Environmentally Friendly PVC Plasticizers Based on Succinic Acid

Abstract

The plasticizers used in this study were synthesized from renewable raw materials using succinic acid, oleic acid, and propylene glycol. Four environmentally friendly plasticizer samples were obtained; their chemical structures and compositions were confirmed by gas chromatography (GC) and infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR) analyses, and their physicochemical properties and thermal stability (TGA analysis) were investigated. The obtained ester mixtures were used as poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) plasticizers and their plasticization efficiency was determined in comparison to traditional, commercially available phthalate plasticizers, such as DEHP (di(2-ethylhexyl phthalate) and DINP (diisononyl phthalate). Mechanical properties and migration resistance were determined for soft PVC with the use of three concentrations of plasticizers (40 PHR, 50 PHR, and 60 PHR). It was observed that the obtained plasticizers exhibited the same plasticization efficiency and were characterized with good mechanical and physical properties in comparison to commercial plasticizers. The tensile strength was approx. 19 MPa, while the elongation at break was approx. 250% for all tested plasticizers at a concentration of 50 PHR. Furthermore, plasticizer migration studies showed that the synthesized plasticizers had excellent resistance to plasticizer leaching. The best migration test result obtained was 70% lower than that for DEHP or DINP. The ester mixture that was found to be the most favorable plasticizer was characterized by good thermal and thermo-oxidative stability (5% weight loss temperature: 227.8 °C in air and 261.1 °C in nitrogen). The results of the research clearly indicate that the synthesized esters can provide a green alternative to toxic phthalate plasticizers.

Further Step in the Transition from Conventional Plasticizers to Versatile Bioplasticizers Obtained by the Valorization of Levulinic Acid and Glycerol

“…Instead, for the 20 and 40 phr formulations, a remarkable increase of the ε break has been found, values of which reached 74 and 445%, respectively. Despite the slight phase separation and the significant drop of E (around 132 MPa) of PVC40GT, an outstanding improvement of neat PVC elasticity has been achieved, outperforming the mechanical properties obtained with commercial fossil-based plasticizers . This is probably due to the strong dipole–dipole interaction between the chlorine atoms of the polymeric chains and the carbonyl groups of GT, which also preserve the mechanical stability of the material .…”

Epoxidized esters of succinic acid, oleic acid and propylene glycol as an effective bioplasticizer for PVC: A study of processing conditions on the physico‐chemical properties

“…The plasticizer content was determined based on previously performed studies. 42 The following procedure was used: (a) Dry blends were made by mixing PVC with the plasticizer and thermal stabilizer in an internal mixer (HAAKE™ PolyLab™ QC, Thermo Fisher Scientific) at 36 rpm and 85 C by mixing up to 100 C to add the filler. The mixing was then continued until a temperature of 120 C was reached.…”

“…In addition, most PVC compounds are complex multicomponent systems, and the use of several mixed plasticizers is unavoidable to achieve the desired properties of the final product. 2 In our previous study, 42 we obtained an environmentally friendly effective PVC plasticizer (the scheme of obtaining the bioplasticizer is presented in Figure 1). It is a composition of epoxidized esters of succinic acid, oleic acid, and propylene glycol differing significantly in molecular weight (Figure 1).…”

Synthesis and evaluation of dioctyl 2,5‐thiophenedicarboxylate as a potentially bio‐based plasticizer for poly(vinyl chloride)

“…As a highly versatile thermoplastic polymer, poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is widely used in various fields such as pipes, electrical cables, children's toys, medical devices, packaging films, etc. [1][2][3] Due to the high electronegativity of chlorine atoms, there are strong polar interactions between PVC chains, which lead to their poor mobility, thus PVC presents inherent rigidity and brittleness at room temperature. 4,5 In order to provide PVC with desirable flexibility and excellent processability, a great deal of plasticizers are added into PVC, which can weaken the interactions existing in PVC chains.…”