Affiliation:
1. Łukasiewicz Research Network ‐ Institute of Heavy Organic Synthesis "Blachownia" Kędzierzyn‐Koźle Poland
2. Department of Physical Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, PhD School Silesian University of Technology Gliwice Poland
3. Łukasiewicz Research Network – Łódź Institute of Technology Łódź Poland
4. Department of Physical Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, Faculty of Chemistry Silesian University of Technology Gliwice Poland
Abstract
AbstractThe present study evaluated the use of epoxidized esters of succinic acid, oleic acid, and propylene glycol as a bioplasticizer for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and compared the results with the commercial phthalate plasticizer di(2‐ethylhexyl)phthalate. The chemical properties, structure, and biodegradation of the obtained bioplasticizer were analyzed. In order to analyze the influence of different PVC processing conditions on the properties of the obtained samples, the gelation process was carried out at 170, 180, 190, and 200°C at a time of 1.5–10.0 min. Mechanical properties, thermal characteristics, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, plasticizer migration, and color change were determined for the resulting plasticized PVC samples. The performed studies allowed to confirm the obtaining of a biodegradable bioplasticizer (after 28 days, the decomposition rate in respirometry test was 72.7%). The optimal conditions for PVC processing were determined. For them the properties of the obtained material were superior. Processing PVC at 170°C for 7.5 min proved to be the most optimal conditions for the bioplasticizer synthesized in this study. Under these conditions, tensile strength of about 23 MPa and elongation at break of 200% were obtained, while plasticizer migration was very low (4.4% after 7 days and 6.8% after 28 days).