Ester plasticizers for polyvinyl chloride

The review covers information from patents and papers that have been published in the past 5 years and deal with the synthesis of ester plasticizers for polyvinyl chloride. The main trends in the progress of this field are analyzed. Data on new esterification catalysts are presented. Particular attention is paid to plasticizers derived from terephthalic acid, which show promise for replacing toxic dioctyl phthalate. The results of studies on synthesis and properties of nonphthalate plasticizers based on benzene, toluene, naphthalene, cyclohexane, and norbornene are considered. Synthesis methods and prospects for using plasticizers derived from renewable vegetable raw materials, namely, citrates, succinates, triglycerides, fatty acid esters, and sugar derivatives, are discussed.