Plasticizer transfer from plasticized PVC into ethanol–water mixtures

The transfer of plasticizer from compression‐molded sheets of plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) into ethanol–water mixtures was studied over the temperature range of 30–55°C. A simultaneous diffusion occurred for ethanol and water into polymer and for dioctylphthalate plasticizer from polymer into liquid. The concentration of ethanol transferred into the polymer was found to increase, rise to a maximum, and then decrease. Equations of diffusion in unsteady state were found to correlate well with experiments on plasticizer transfer, over the plasticizer concentration range of 25–50 wt %. Stirring, temperature, water concentration in ethanolic solutions, and plasticizer concentration were found to play important roles.