Novel biologically derived tartaric acid plasticizer: Synthesis and application

Abstract

AbstractPhthalate plasticizers were typical petroleum‐based plasticizers whose application was affected by their negative tendency to be transformed into more risky metabolites such as phthalic acid mono‐2‐ethylhexyl ester (MEHP), which might not be conducive to sustainable development and human health. Therefore, the development of green bio‐based plasticizers was an urgent need. Here, a new class of green bio‐based plasticizer 2,3‐diacetyl tartrate dialkyl esters (DATAE‐Cn) was synthesized by using renewable tartaric acid (TA) as the main raw material, and its structure was characterized by FTIR and 1H NMR. The plasticizing properties of different plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) films were investigated, compared with commercial plasticizers (DEHP and ATBC). The results indicated that PVC films plasticized with the DATAE‐Cn displayed apparently increased thermal stability, plasticizing effect, toughness and migration stability. The addition of DATAE‐Cn minimized the Tg value of PVC from 88.5 to 38.5°C suggesting that the plasticizer had obvious plasticizing effect on PVC. Moreover, when DATAE‐Cn completely replaced the usage of DEHP on PVC, its initial decomposition temperature (Ti) was increased by up to about 34°C. In particular, PVC/DATAE‐Cn exhibited prominent migration resistance in different solvent environments, which was received by solubility parameters analysis, leaching and volatilization tests. These results indicated that green bio‐based plasticizer DATAE‐Cn had potential to replace phthalate plasticizers.