Effects of epoxidized sunflower oil on the mechanical and dynamical analysis of the plasticized poly(vinyl chloride)

Epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO), is one of the most commonly used epoxides because of its typical combined roles as a plasticizer and heat stabilizer. In this study, a novel plasticizer of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) resins, epoxidized sunflower oil (ESO), was synthesized, and its performance was evaluated. ESO was designed to act as a coplasticizer and a heat stabilizer like ESBO. ESO is used as organic coplasticizer for plasticized PVC containing Ca and Zn stearates as primary stabilizers and stearic acid as lubricant. Di‐(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a conventional plasticizer for PVC, was partially replaced by ESO. Mechanical properties (tensile and shore D hardness) were investigated. The performance of ESO to ESB0 (20 g) for comparison, indicated that ESO could be used as secondary plasticizer for PVC in combination with DEHP. All mechanical and dynamical properties of plasticized PVC sheets varied with the oxirane oxygen of the ESO.