Cardanol derivatives as PVC plasticizers. II. Plasticizer evaluation

A series of cardanol derivatives prepared in a preceding study1 are evaluated as PVC plasticizers. These include butyl anacardate (3), cyclohexyl anacardate (4), 3-(pentadec-8′-enyl)phenyl acetate (5), 3-(8′,9′-diacetoxypentadecyl)phenyl acetate (6), and 3-(8′-epoxypentadecyl)phenyl acetate (7). The evaluation initially involves compatibility and Brabender plastification testing. The two acetates 6 and 7 as the most promising compounds are selected for further investigation, comprising the determination of tensile properties and thermal stability behavior of compression-molded plasticized PVC sheet material. The extrudability of a plasticized wire coating formulation is also studied. The plasticizing efficiency of both 6 and 7 is on a par with di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate used as a standard plasticizer. In addition, both acetates show distinct costabilizing efficiency, the expoxyacetate 7 in this respect being superior to the other compounds tested. Cardanol, readily available as a by-product of cashew nut processing, thus may represent a welcome addition to the strained raw material market in the plasticizer field.