Laboratory study demonstrates high tensile strength and migration resistance in bio-based plasticized PVC, highlighting a sustainable alternative to conventional phthalates.
Key Points
Synthesize a sustainable, migration-resistant castor oil-polycarbonate plasticizer from renewable feedstocks to replace leaching petrochemical plasticizers in PVC.
Synthesized castor oil-polycarbonate (COPPC) plasticizers using castor oil, carbon dioxide, and epoxides.
Blended the optimal 2.7 kg/mol COPPC plasticizer into PVC at 30 phr loading and evaluated mechanical strength, optical clarity, and solvent migration resistance.
PVC plasticized with 30 phr COPPC (2.7 kg/mol) attained a tensile strength of 29.4 MPa and an elongation at break of 216.8%.
The plasticized films showed high optical transparency and minimal mass loss during migration tests, ranging from 0.54% in deionized water to 0.76% in acetic acid solution.