Assessment of derived sunflower oil as environmentally friendly plasticizers in Poly Vinyl Chloride

Abstract

Epoxidized sunflower oil (ESO) and epoxidized sunflower oil methyl ester (ESOME) were synthetized and employed as secondary bio based plasticizers and combined with primary natural plasticizers. As such, di-esters isosorbide (DEI) and acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC) used in Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) as compared to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). PVC Sheets were obtained by processed the polymer and its additives on two-roll mill. The effect of the plasticizers combination on flexible sheets properties, including stabilization, migration, fusion rheological properties and light transmission have been discussed, Results have shown that ESO and ESOME have improved PVC formulations thermal stability, the weight loss by volatility has decreased in the formulations which contained ESO or ESOME. Mixtures of plasticizers have lower migration rates. Plastograph test has indicated a better compatibility of PVC with these plasticizer mixtures. The light transmission rate through PVC sheets plasticized by bio-based plasticizers mixtures is more than those containing DEHP.

Keywords:
biobased plasticizers; migration; PVC; plasticizers combinations; sunflower oil