Studies in the Utilization of Biobased Additives as Thermal Stabilizer for Plasticized PVC

Abstract

Divalent metal (barium, cadmium, calcium and zinc) soaps of rubber seed oil and their binary mixtures (Ba/Cd and Ca/Zn) and epoxidized rubber seed oil (4.5% epoxide content) and its admixtures with the single divalent metal soaps were evaluated as thermal stabilizer for dioctylphthalate plasticized PVC using changes in discolouration indices (yellowness index and UV absorption at 360nm) and initial rates of dehydrochlorination measured at 140 and 160oC. The results obtained showed that the divalent metal soaps were relatively effective in stabilizing the dioctylphthalate plasticized PVC against thermal degradation and that the binary soap mixtures enhanced the heat stabilizing effectiveness: marked reduction in the values of the discolouration indices; longer dehydrochlorination induction period and smaller values of rate constant of initial rate of dehydrochlorination. It was found that epoxidized rubber seed oil was less effective in comparison with the divalent metal soaps in stabilizing plasticized PVC against thermal degradation. These results show that the bio-based additives are compatible with dioctylphthalate plasticized PVC, stable to heat within the range of temperature used in the processing of plasticized PVC, inhibit/retard dehydrochlorination and reduce the extent of degradation.