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For flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) films with excellent mechanical performances and high transparency, the demand for antistatic properties is becoming increasingly urgent in textile and electronic fields. This study compares the effects of 60 phr bis (2‐(2‐butoxyethoxy) ethyl) adipate (DBEEA) with other five equal amounts of plasticizers on the conductivity, electrical stability, transparency, and mechanical properties of plasticized PVC. The infrared spectra of plasticizers indicate that there are unique ether groups exist in DBEEA. Then the calculated solubility parameters suggest the good compatibility between DBEEA and PVC. For conductivity, the volume resistivity and surface resistivity of the PVC sample with DBEEA (PVC/DBEEA) are 107 Ω· m and 1010 Ω, respectively, which are both lower by 3–4 orders of magnitude than that of other plasticized PVC. For electrical stability, the results indicate that PVC/DBEEA placed in air still maintains lowest resistivities. Under 10, 23, and 30°C, PVC/DBEEA keeps high and stable electrical properties. The similar refractive indices of DBEEA and PVC resin prepared by suspension method indicate good transparency for PVC/DBEEA. Moreover, PVC/DBEEA still has good mechanical property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the health and environmental concerns associated with the plasticizer dioctyl phthalate (DOP), this research explores the utilization of methyl oleate (MO) derived from plant oil, 1,2,4‐Benzeneticarboxylic anhydride (TMA) and isobutyric anhydride (IA) as a precursor for synthesizing a hyperbranched polyester named IA‐MO‐TMA. This polyester serves as an alternative plasticizer for Polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The chemical structure of IA‐MO‐TMA was thoroughly characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectra, and its molecular weight was assessed. The PVC film, plasticized with IA‐MO‐TMA, underwent comprehensive testing using techniques such as differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Notably, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the plasticized PVC film exhibited a significant reduction from 75°C to −6.7°C. The plasticized film demonstrated an elongation at break of 318.1%, a tensile strength of 19.2 MPa, and a plasticizing efficiency of 109.9%. Moreover, the use of IA‐MO‐TMA as a plasticizer increased the initial decomposition temperature of PVC film from 235.6 to 264.1°C. Additionally, the extraction rate of IA‐MO‐TMA in petroleum ether was found to be 35.6% lower than that of DOP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acrylic pressure‐sensitive adhesives (PSAs) were synthesized using a solvent‐free ultraviolet‐induced polymerization method. The monomers n‐(isobutoxymethyl) acrylamide, 2‐ethylhexyl acrylate, 2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate, and methyl methacrylate and an initiator, hydroxy dimethyl acetophenone, were used to prepare acrylic copolymers as prepolymers. A multifunctional monomer, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, was added to form a semi‐interpenetrating network, leading to an increase in the modulus and elasticity of the prepolymer. This decreased the peel strength, which is suitable for temporary protective films. Rheological data from small‐amplitude oscillatory shear measurements also revealed consistent results suitable for removable PSAs. The plasticizers, such as dioctyl phthalate and dioctyl terephthalate, possessing favorable interactions with the main resins were found to exhibit transparency, clear debonding, and ultralow release, which are essential features for temporary protective films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A UV‐ and thermo‐responsive polyurethane‐acrylate prepolymer was synthesized from palm olein (POo) via a non‐isocyanate route. The process included epoxidation of POo, carbonation of epoxidized palm olein (EPOo) into polycyclic carbonate in a solvent‐free and mild condition (100°C, 1 atm), followed by reacting with ethylene diamine and acrylic acid. The chemical structure of the non‐isocyanate polyurethane‐acrylate (NIPUA) prepolymer was elucidated by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier transform‐infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), while weight average molecular weight of NIPUA was determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The NIPUA (0–20 wt%) was incorporated with thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) as a plasticizer and cured under UV light and thermal stimulations. The cured NIPUA/TPE films were characterized by FTIR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and tensile strength test. Under UV and thermal stimulations, the NIPUA/TPE demonstrated enhanced tensile properties (elongation at break >1280%, Young's modulus ~25 MPa), thermal properties (lower Tg), lower water contact angle, and shortened curing time as compared with the blank TPE. The 20 wt% NIPUA/TPE films exhibited susceptibility to enzymatic biodegradation and noncytotoxic to HEK 293 cells in vitro, demonstrated it's potential as a UV‐ and thermo‐responsive plasticizer for TPE in manufacturing of medical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the abundant and cost‐effective oleic acid and isosorbide with excellent properties as raw materials, the plasticizers of isosorbide di‐oleate (IDO) and isosorbide di‐epoxidized oleate (IDEO) with good plasticizing effect, low cost and green safety were synthesized by esterification and epoxidation reaction. The molecular structure of the synthesized plasticizers was characterized by FT‐IR and 1H NMR. The PVC shows better flexibility when IDEO or IDO plasticizer is used than commercial DOP. In particular, IDEO‐40 has 34% higher tensile strength and 17% higher elongation at break than DOP‐40. The introduction of epoxy groups on the carbon–carbon double bond of fatty acids meets the high thermal stability of plasticized film. The residual amount of IDEO‐40 is 7.01%, and at a high temperature of 180 °C, it can maintain high heat resistance for more than 220 min and transmittance of over 86%. Moreover, IDEO demonstrates excellent resistance to migration and volatilization. However, PVC films plasticized with IDO display reduced mechanical properties, cold resistance, and resistance to volatilization and migration due to the presence of non‐rotating carbon–carbon double bonds. The results indicate that these bio‐based plasticizers hold promise for practical applications in PVC products, offering improved environmental sustainability and performance characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) play a pivotal role in advancing electrochemical devices, such as proton batteries and supercapacitors, owing to their potential for enhancing safety and flexibility. In this work, employs a solution casting technique to prepare SPEs, utilizing chitosan‐dextran blends as the polymer matrix. Ammonium thiocyanate (NH4SCN) is incorporated as a charge carrier, while honey is introduced as a plasticizer. The interaction between these materials is confirmed through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals that the addition of 10 wt.% honey (H10) to the polymer blend results in the lowest degree of crystallinity (15.24%), emphasizing the pivotal role of plasticizers in modulating the structural properties of SPEs. Furthermore, by incorporating 40 wt.% NH4SCN (SN40) into the plasticizer‐polymer host (H10), the ambient temperature conductivity obtains its maximum value of (1.08 ± 0.19 × 10−3 S cm−1) with the lowest degree of crystallinity of 10.44%, verify it is the most amorphous electrolyte. The observed trend in conductivity is influenced by the diffusion coefficient (D), ion density (n), and mobility of the ions (μ). Complementing these findings, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) is employed to investigate the surface morphology and cross section of the SPEs, providing a comprehensive understanding of their structural characteristics. From linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), SN40 is electrochemically stable up to 2.2 V and the tion is 0.97 indicating that the ions are the dominant charge carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyamide 11 (PA11) is a polymer used in flexible lines for oil prospection due to its properties. After the decommissioning of the lines, the materials used are discarded in landfills or left in the ocean. As developing a sustainable economy is of utmost importance, reusing these discarded materials would be a step in the right direction. This research focused on examining two kinds of PA11 previously used in flexible lines to see their properties changed compared to virgin PA11 and to infer if they can still be reused. Chemical, thermal, and mechanical analysis were employed to analyze the PA11 that came from the two oilfields and recycled ones that were hot pressed with an unused PA11 in a 50/50 wt% proportion. Results indicate that one of the oilfield samples was less degraded than the other one, which provided better mechanical properties, and the same pattern happened with the recycled samples, indicating that some properties such as viscosity, plasticizer content, and crystallinity need to be evaluated before taking in consideration the reuse (be it recycling or repurposing) of this type of polymers in consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, dioctyl 2,5‐thiophenedicarboxylate (DOT), a potentially bio‐based plasticizer, was synthesized and evaluated as an alternative to traditional petroleum‐based plasticizers. The chemical structure of DOT was confirmed by FTIR and 1H NMR. Besides, its plasticization effect on poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was investigated in detail, and dioctyl 2,5‐furandicarboxylate (DOF) as well as dioctyl isophthalate (DOIP) with similar chemical structures were used as references. The DMA results showed that the glass transition temperature (Tg) of PVC/DOT, PVC/DOF, and PVC/DOIP was 45.1°C, 33.6°C, and 51.3°C, respectively, indicating that the plasticizing efficiency of DOT was better than that of DOIP but lower than that of DOF. However, the tensile test results exhibited that the elongation at the break of PVC/DOT was higher than that of PVC/DOF, which was attributed to the easy phase separation between DOF and PVC. In addition, DOT displayed the best volatility resistance and exudation resistance among the three plasticizers, attributed to its highest molecular weight. Moreover, the migration loss of DOT in non‐polar solvents was much smaller than that of DOIP because of its stronger molecular polarity. In conclusion, DOT has good potential to replace traditional petroleum‐based plasticizers and be used as a primary plasticizer for PVC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New compounds as potential poly(vinyl chloride) plasticizers based on soybean oil and oligoesters of adipic acid and different glycols by one‐pot transesterification are synthesized. In the first step of the plasticizer synthesis oligoesters of adipic acid and diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, or dipropylene glycol are synthesized, and then in situ in the second step, a defined amount of soybean oil is introduced. By degradation of soybean oil with oligoesters, and transesterification reaction, different compounds are obtained. Their physicochemical properties are determined by NMR, SEC, DSC, TGA, and volatility analyses. The properties of synthesized plasticizers are compared with commercial products: monomeric (DEHP) and aliphatic oligoster of adipic acid and 1,3‐butanediol (H‐1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the impact of incorporating a plasticizer on the compatibility between organo‐montmorillonite (OMMt) and polylactic acid (PLA) is investigated, and the resulting barrier and mechanical properties are reported. Four polymers were chosen as plasticizers to prepare the PLA nanocomposite blown films: poly(ethylene glycol), poly(ethylene oxide), polycaprolactone (PCL), and random ethylene‐methyl acrylate‐glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer. Firstly, 5 wt% of each plasticizer and 3 wt% of OMMt (Dellite® D43B) were mixed simultaneously with PLA in a twin‐screw extruder and then introduced into the hopper of a single screw extruder to produce D43B‐PLA/plasticizer nanocomposite films. The compatibilization effect was examined based on microstructure observations and thermodynamic predictions. Crystallinity was evaluated using DSC and XRD measurements. The results obtained for permeability and mechanical testing showed that the improvement of barrier and mechanical properties depends directly on the degree of compatibility between plasticizer, OMMt, and PLA. Indeed, the interfacial properties, XRD diffraction, and TEM images showed that a synergistic effect can result from high interfacial interactions between different compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of rice hull ash and wollastonite on the migration problem of plasticizer EDOS from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has been studied. The methods of optical interferometry, IR spectroscopy, viscometry, SEM and EDX were used to study the mutual solubility and diffusion mobility in the PVC‐EDOS system in the presence fillers and without them, as well as the phase structure of plasticized filled systems. It is shown that in a fully compatible PVC‐EDOS system, a diffusion mixing mechanism is observed, and the interdiffusion coefficients increase from 10−8 to 10−6 (cm2/s) with increasing plasticizer concentration. The introduction of a dispersed filler somewhat reduces the interdiffusion coefficients. The sorption of the plasticizer on the surface of the dispersed filler has been established, which leads to a decrease in the migration of EDOS from the composition. It was found that the introduction of wollastonite leads to a smaller increase in viscosity and an improvement in the technological properties of the system. And the introduction of environmentally neutral rice husk ash reduces the migration of the plasticizer and improves the stability of the composition during operation, which also has a positive effect on the environmental friendliness of this system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phthalic plasticizer plays an important role in processing and manufacturing one of the universal polymer materials, poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC), which has been widely applied in every aspect of our lives. However, there still exists the intrinsic problem in migration resistance of phthalic plasticizer in long‐term use. In this work, we take a facile and convenient approach by incorporating commercial graphene oxide (GO) into PVC matrix to prepare polyvinyl chloride/graphene oxide (PVC/GO) composites, forming a sheet structure for improving the migration resistance of phthalic plasticizer. The advantages of GO that has abundant oxygen‐containing groups on its surface, including carboxyl groups at the sheet edges, epoxy groups, and hydroxyl groups on its basal planes. Especially, these oxygen‐containing groups in GO are beneficial to blend with long molecular chain of PVC and the sheet structure of GO can prevent phthalic plasticizer migrating from interior PVC. Addition of GO not only effectively enhanced the mechanical properties of PVC/GO composites but also improve their migration resistance due to the sheet structure. This strategy provides an attractive way to solve the problem of migration of plasticizer with simple incorporation GO into the matrix of PVC, reinforcing the composite properties and broadening its applied fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phthalate plasticizers were typical petroleum‐based plasticizers whose application was affected by their negative tendency to be transformed into more risky metabolites such as phthalic acid mono‐2‐ethylhexyl ester (MEHP), which might not be conducive to sustainable development and human health. Therefore, the development of green bio‐based plasticizers was an urgent need. Here, a new class of green bio‐based plasticizer 2,3‐diacetyl tartrate dialkyl esters (DATAE‐Cn) was synthesized by using renewable tartaric acid (TA) as the main raw material, and its structure was characterized by FTIR and 1H NMR. The plasticizing properties of different plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) films were investigated, compared with commercial plasticizers (DEHP and ATBC). The results indicated that PVC films plasticized with the DATAE‐Cn displayed apparently increased thermal stability, plasticizing effect, toughness and migration stability. The addition of DATAE‐Cn minimized the Tg value of PVC from 88.5 to 38.5°C suggesting that the plasticizer had obvious plasticizing effect on PVC. Moreover, when DATAE‐Cn completely replaced the usage of DEHP on PVC, its initial decomposition temperature (Ti) was increased by up to about 34°C. In particular, PVC/DATAE‐Cn exhibited prominent migration resistance in different solvent environments, which was received by solubility parameters analysis, leaching and volatilization tests. These results indicated that green bio‐based plasticizer DATAE‐Cn had potential to replace phthalate plasticizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel bio‐based plasticisers for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are a significant and growing area of interest. These compounds aim to replace toxic and petrochemical additives in commonly used plastic products. Plasticisers can comprise as much as 50% of the total mass of the PVC product. Epoxidised soybean oil (ESBO) is a commercially available bio‐based plasticizer that is typically used at lower levels than traditional phthalates in PVC compounds because it does not show equivalent performance to existing phthalate plasticisers. Four derivatives of ESBO have been synthesized through reaction at the epoxide rings. These compounds have been evaluated in PVC formulations and compared to current petrochemical plasticisers, as well as ESBO. The product of methoxy polyethylene glycol and ESBO shows good plasticising ability, giving a PVC compound with higher tensile strength and elongation than dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and a lower glass transition temperature (Tg) than with the use of ESBO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plasticization effect by the addition of nonpolar bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (dioctyl phthalate) (DOP) on the glass transition temperatures (Tgs) of poly(styrene-Na methacrylate) (PSMANa) ionomers was investigated. The matrix Tg (Tg,m) and cluster Tg (Tg,c) of the ionomers dropped linearly as the DOP content in the PSMANa ionomers enhanced, only when the phase separation of DOP did not occur. Since the Tg,m and Tg,c of the ionomer increased somewhat linearly with increasing ion content of the ionomer, simple equations were obtained to express the Tgs of the ionomers using the ion contents (x mol%) and the DOP contents (y wt%) of the ionomers; Tg,m (°C) = 121 + 3.0x + 2.8y and Tg,c (°C) = 171 + 6.3x + 2.6y. According to the x-ray scattering results, for the ionomer containing 6.4 mol% of ions, the distance between scattering centers increased from 21 to 22 Å when ca. 40 wt% of DOP was added. This suggested that the DOP promoted the mobility of the styrene chains, enhancing the formation of multiplets. On the other hand, for the ionomer containing 22.4 mol% of ions, when ca. 40 wt% was added, the distance between multiplets widened from 18 to 21 Å. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formulations based on poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and poly(hydroxybutyrate‐co‐valerate) were studied to statistically assess the importance of process parameters (temperature) and chemistry in filled and/or plasticized PHB‐based formulations on spherulite growth rate (SGR) and nucleation density (ND). It was found that in binary systems, addition of a plasticizer results in shift of the maximum SGR towards lower temperatures, with the value of the shift dependent on polymer‐plasticizer compatibility. The presence of the filler does not significantly influence SGR, instead resulting in ND changes dependent on filler chemistry, with Cloisite Ca++ showing the strongest nucleating action in all formulations among fillers studied. In ternary systems, statistical analysis shows that SGR strongly depends on the crystallization temperature (Tc), plasticizer type and concentration, and hydroxyvalerate content in the polymer chain while being independent of the presence and chemistry of the filler in the system. ND has, however, proven to be dependent on all investigated parameters, including both filler type and its concentration, with Tc being the most important factor. These results expand the understanding of factors controlling crystallization in polymer systems and provide an initial set of design tools that can be used to control mechanical properties in new generations of packaging materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to evaluate the biodegradability of the cellulose acetate (CA) films plasticized with different concentrations of glycerol (GLY) or triethyl citrate (TEC), analysis of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) were conducted through 180 days. Throughout the analysis, indicators of plasticizer exudation were observed, including changes in visual appearance and mass loss, ranging from 39.141% and 20.663% (first day) up to 0.524% and 0.488% (last day) for TEC and GLY plasticizer based films, respectively. Changes were also noted in the infrared spectrum, and TGA plots with polymer degradation peaks from 332.09 to 400.96 cm−1 for both plasticizers based films (TEC and GLY, respectively), regardless of the day of analysis. All assays revealed plasticizer losses, but there was no evidence of films' biodegradation during the experimental time. In perspective, this systematic approach can be extended to study other polymers and other biodegradation conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of biodegradable polymers has been stimulated owing to the inappropriate litter disposing in order to replace conventional polymers with long‐time degradation. As their performance is a challenge to this replacement, the insertion of additives in biodegradable polymers such as poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) consists in an effective way of adjusting their properties. For this reason, it was analyzed the incorporation of tributyrin (TB) in the matrix of PHBV as a plasticizer, so that higher plastic deformation is achieved. Samples of neat PHBV and with plasticizer concentrations of 5, 10, and 15 wt% were prepared by double screw extruder followed by press molding under temperature. Plasticizer exudation test confirmed the presence of TB in the samples of PHBV. Mechanical test showed the highest value of tensile strength and elongation at break for PHBV/5TB, with 23.4 MPa and 2.84%, respectively. It was observed at differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis that the PHBV/5TB resulted in an increase of 3% on crystallinity, a decrease of 3% on melting temperature, and a decrease of 46% and 29% on glass transition temperature by E″ and tan δ curves, respectively, compared with neat PHBV. Thus, PHBV/5TB was determined as the most appropriate composition for enhancing processability and properties of PHBV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evaluation of novel phthalate‐free plasticisers for PVC formulations is hindered by the lack of a reliable quantitative method for testing plasticizer exudation from PVC formulations. Two methods of improving upon the ASTM D3291 exudation test have been trialed using ATR‐FTIR and GC–MS. The results of these methods are compared alongside a study of the glass transition temperatures (Tg) by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). FTIR is found to be unsuitable for determining plasticizer exudation as the method is not sufficiently sensitive to detect small changes in plasticizer distribution. Carbonyl peak positions in unstressed samples are instead investigated to determine the strength of interaction between the plasticisers and PVC chain. GC–MS is successfully used to quantify plasticizer exudation that could not be observed visually or by FTIR. Furthermore, these methods show limited correlation to each other, which highlights the importance of testing multiple aspects of compatibility when developing novel plasticisers for use in PVC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In cable sheath applications, plasticizer migration is important as it causes reduction in mechanical properties, deterioration, and pollution in transported environments. This study focuses on the effect of inorganic fillers on the diffusion of plasticizers from plasticized‐PVC cable films. Plastisols were prepared by mixing plasticizer, thermal stabilizers, and inorganic fillers (boric acid, boron clay, sintered calcined boron waste clay, talc, and zircon oxide) into the PVC resin. Plastigel films were cured and thermally aged at 100, 130, and 160°C. Oxidation index were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The diffusion coefficient and activation energies were calculated from mass loss. Thermogravimetric analysis analyses were performed to obtain weight loss. Fillers were characterized for their zeta potential, particle size distribution, polydispersion. Morphology of the fillers was also conducted using scanning electron microscopy. Their mechanical and rheological analyses were evaluated with the tensile and melt flow index test. The order of diffusivity was determined as the films having boric acid > undoped > talc = sintered boron clay > zircon > boron clay. The result of this evaluations is the addition of inorganic filler increases the mechanical and thermal applicability and reduces the plasticizer diffusion. It is thought that the results, will contribute to the studies on the plasticizer transition in cable applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The steric hindrance formed by polyether side chains is the key factor determining the dispersion performance of polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PCE). While with the increase of the side chain length, the coiled conformation of side chain will prevent the dispersion ability of PCE from being further improved. In this work, the methallyl polyoxyethylene ether (HPEG) was esterified with tricarballylic acid (TA) to obtain dicarboxyl terminated macromonomer, and further used to synthesize polycarboxylate (PCETA). The fluidity tests show that compared with ordinary PCE‐B2400 with short side chain, the dispersion performance of PCETA‐2400 was slightly improved. While for the PCEs with long side chain, the dispersion ability of PCETA‐4000 was significantly improved than that of ordinary PCE‐B4000. The adsorption layer thickness of PCETA‐4000 adsorbed on the surface of SiO2 sphere measured by dynamic light scattering is 7.93 nm, which is 1.3 times that of PCE‐B4000. Due to electrostatic repulsion between the carboxylic groups, the stretching of long side‐chain forms stronger steric hindrance and enhancing the dispersion of cement particles. In addition, PCETA also shows good slump retention and clay resistance properties, and it is an excellent multi‐functional concrete admixture with great application potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potential migration and toxicity limited applications of traditional plasticizers like bis(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in food packing and medical machinery and so forth. Safe and feasible bio‐based plasticizers have recently moved into the limelight of research hotspot. Here, we designed series polyester plasticizers of various branches with star‐shaped poly(ε‐caprolactone) (SPCLs) and net‐shaped poly(ε‐caprolactone) (NPCLs) structures by one‐pot solvent‐free synthesis with glycidol and polyglycerol as initiators. Structures of SPCLs and NPCLs were further verified by FTIR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR. Moreover, the properties of the plasticizers and plasticized PVC were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and tensile test. PVC films plasticized with the SPCLs or NPCLs exhibited increased plasticizing effect, compatibility, flexibility and cold resistance. The lowest Tg value of plasticized PVC samples (PVC/NPCL1‐C4) was −45.3°C, which made the plasticization efficiency reach 122.5%. In particular, PVC/SPCLs‐C4 (SPCL2‐C4) had 107% higher elongation at break than PVC/DEHP. Meanwhile, the initial decomposition temperature Ti value of the PVC blends maximum increased from 240 to 328°C when DEHP was completely replaced by SPCLs or NPCLs, indicating improved thermal stability of the plasticizer. Overall, "green" plasticizers with fining topological branch design would be promising to partially replace petroleum‐based plasticizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the synthesis of new nonmigrating PVC plasticizers based on oleic acid as the main raw material. Their structures and production routes were planned to ensure that the resulting synthesis by‐products could also act as PVC plasticizers. All received Esters 1, 2, and 3 revealed plasticizing effect on PVC. Achieved results of elongation at break (260%) for PVC composites with Ester 2 (C11) and Ester 3 (C14) were comparable to those recorded for diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) (C2 and C5), and only 15% lower for Ester 1 (C8). As intended, the developed plasticizers showed high resistance to migration. The Ester 3 proved to be an extremely migration‐resistant bio‐based plasticizer, due to its high oxirane ring content and large molecule size. After 28 days of survey, the loss of this plasticizer from the PVC sample with 50 PHR of plasticizer was 4.7%, which is nearly 80% lower compared to DINP. Ester 2 was slightly less resistant to migration—with 14.1% mass loss observed after 28 days, which can be attributed to the smaller size of its molecules. Additionally, PVC composites containing Esters 1, 2, and 3 exhibited higher thermal stability compared to composites with DINP or DOTP. T10% for PVC composites with 60 PHR of Esters 1, 2, and 3 was recorded at 286.2°C, 282.8°C, and 286.4°C, respectively. Thus, the developed esters can act not only as PVC plasticizers, but also as thermal stabilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kinetics of thermal and thermo‐mechanical degradation of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) plasticized with di‐(2‐ethylhexyl)phthalate and epoxidized linseed oil were monitored using differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry‐mass spectrometry and viscosity and temperature change during high shear mastication. Linear dependence of induction period prior to PVC chain‐degradation on epoxidized plasticizer concentration was observed using each method (not reported previously). Zero‐order degradation kinetics controlled by the rate of hydrochloric acid elimination from saturated PVC molecules and consequent fast 2nd order scavenging of HCl by oxirane groups were consistent with experimental data. Apparent activation energies of 128.6, 146.3 kJ mol−1 for thermal degradation and 164.4 kJ mol−1 for thermo‐mechanical degradation were deduced from the temperature dependence of the degradation induction time detected using thermogravimetry‐mass spectrometry, differential scanning calorimetry and mastication, respectively. Change of activation energy with degradation mechanism is examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of propellant and polymer‐bonded explosives (PBX), energetic polymers may bring poor mechanical properties for bulky groups and polarity. To get rid of the defects, plasticizers with low molecular weight can enhance the flexibility and processability of propellants through monotonous mixing. However, the migration of plasticizers over time may severely disrupt the mechanical property of energetic polymers. In contrast to general plasticization, internal plasticization can regulate flexibility from the perspective of molecular structure. In this context, this review focuses on the internal plasticization of energetic polymers from different dimensions. Hopefully, this review can provide some inspiration for designing energetic polymers to optimize the mechanical properties from various dimensions and integrate them for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bio‐based plasticizers, acetyl‐oleate triethylene glycol (AOT), was successfully synthesized by using oleic acid as a raw material through esterification, epoxidation, and acetylation. Its structure was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance. The plasticizing performances of this plasticizer was compared with those of two commercial ones: dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) and dioctyl adipate (DOA). This was done by blending these plasticizers with PVC, respectively. Thermal gravimetric analysis results showed that the 5% weight loss temperature of PVC with AOT was 53°C higher than that of DOA and 36°C higher than that of DOTP. The tensile results showed that the AOT plasticized PVC had excellent stretchability: its elongation at break with 50 phr AOT reached 697.7%. Furthermore, its transmittance was as high as 90%, showing better compatibility of ATO with PVC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new bio‐based plasticizer, VA8‐8, was prepared derived from vanillic acid, and its structure was verified by nuclear magnetic resonance. It was incorporated into poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) to replace dioctyl phthalate (DOP), and its plasticizing performance was evaluated. The results indicated that VA8‐8 shows good compatible with PVC resin, and has a excellent plasticizing effect for PVC. When DOP was partially or completely substituted with VA8‐8, the Tg value PVC blends dropped from 34.6 to 24.3°C and the elongation at break increased from 196.4% to 301.9%, suggesting the enhanced plasticizing efficiency of plasticizer. The plasticizing mechanism was also simulated, and the interactions between VA8‐8 and PVC molecules were discussed. The thermogravimetric analysis showed VA8‐8 can more effectively improve the thermal stability of PVC than DOP. In addition, the migration resistance of VA8‐8 was generally superior to that of DOP. Therefore, VA8‐8 is a comparable to or better plasticizer than DOP, and it is a promising alternative plasticizer for PVC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is one of the most widely applied plastics in the world, with inherent mechanical brittleness and inflexibility in room temperature. With the growing concern for health and safety, especially in some fields (children's toys, food packaging, medical supplies) that require high‐safety plastics, there is an urgent need to develop phthalate‐free high‐performance green PVC products. Herein, by blending novel green oligomeric lactate plasticizers 1, 4‐cyclohexane dimethanol oligomeric lactate‐levulinate (CDOL‐L) and 1,4‐cyclohexane dimethanol oligomeric lactate‐levulinic acid ketal ester (CDOL‐LKE), highly stretchable and highly stable PVC‐based plastics were prepared successfully. CDOL‐L and CDOL‐LKE were synthesized by a green route of esterification and ketalization using biomass as the main raw material, and their structures were jointly confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H NMR and TOF‐MS. Through performance testing, CDOL‐L or CDOL‐LKE plasticized PVC material were determined to have triple high stability (thermal, mechanical and migration stability) superior to DOP, DOTP and ATBC plasticized PVC. The PVC plasticized by CDOL‐L exhibited break at elongation as high as 833.0% at 50 phr addition and 877.1% at 60 phr addition. Moreover, PVC plasticized by 50 phr CDOL‐LKE exhibited relatively better thermal stability (Ti,CDOL‐LKE = 271.4°C) for the special ketal structure on the plasticizer. In conclusion, CDOL‐L and CDOL‐LKE showed potential to substitute traditional plasticizers and pointed a new direction for the preparation of high‐performance PVC‐based plastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, PHBV composites were prepared by melting extrusion using triethyl citrate (TEC) as a biodegradable plasticizer and sugarcane bagasse fibers (SBF) as reinforcement. The plasticizer TEC played a crucial role in the preparation of the formulations by extrusion, reducing the viscosity of the melt and minimizing the thermomechanical degradation of PHBV. Moreover, TEC was an efficient plasticizer for the composites, reducing the glass transition and melting temperatures of PHBV and making the specimens ductile. The increase in the concentration of TEC led to an enlargement of the interlamellar spacing and larger PHBV spherulites without changing the cell parameters. In contrast, the introduction of the SBF elevated the viscosity of the molten during extrusion, leading to thermomechanical degradation of PHBV. The SBF acted as a nucleation agent for the PHBV crystallization and oriented the growth of the PHBV crystals due to the transcrystallization, which contributed to the matrix‐filler adhesion, the increase in the lamellae thickness, and changes in the thermal properties of PHBV. The SBF acted as a reinforcing agent, increasing the tensile properties of the matrix. Therefore, TEC and SBF had antagonistic effects on the properties of the formulations, opening opportunities to tune their properties by varying the composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of glycerol‐based compounds were investigated for their application as plasticizers for flexible poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) blends. The effect of plasticizer chemical structure on the performance, migration behavior, and blend morphology were evaluated and compared to blends produced using the commercial plasticizer dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP). Blends containing 40 phr (parts per hundred rubber) of glycerol‐based plasticizer showed a considerable reduction (between 54 to 86°C) in glass transition temperature (Tg) relative to neat PVC (Tg ~ 80°C). Tensile testing of samples prepared with the glycerol analogs demonstrated higher ductility (elongation at break values of up to 97%) than DOTP (elongation at break value of 75%) at identical plasticizer loadings. The surface morphologies showed excellent incorporation of the glycerol plasticizers functionalized with alkyl chains longer than four carbons in length into the PVC matrix, whereas droplet formation was observed in blends with shorter chain glycerol derivatives. Leaching behavior of the plasticized samples were evaluated into different media and showed that plasticizers comprised of branched, or longer alkyl chains produced 2‐ to 4‐fold lower migration rates compared to those with shorter alkyl chains into polar solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) was used as a composite matrix and octadecylamine‐functionalized graphene oxide (GA) was applied as insulation nanofiller to prevent plasticizer migration. To study the anti‐migration behavior of EPDM under plasticizer environment and different temperatures, we investigated the diffusion of dioctyl phthalate (DOP) in EPDM and its composites. The migration kinetics of DOP into EPDM composites with respect to filler and temperature were observed by the immersion absorption method. The process is dynamic and conforms to Fick's law. The composite show a 90% increase in tensile strength and 151% improvement in elongation at break by the addition of 5 phr filler of GA. Meanwhile, the EPDM/GA composite show an obviously improved anti‐migration performance, compared to pure EPDM at different temperatures, the composite show a 22.68%, 17.35%, 14.95%, 7.63% increase. Well layer‐structure of graphene offers a chance to improve the anti‐migration performance of insulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural products used as plasticizer can inhibit its migration in rubber and improve the dispersion of inorganic power. Herein, styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) was plasticized by poly‐cardanol (PCA) originated from the Friedel–Crafts alkylation without solvent of cardanol which was extracted from abandoned cashew nut shell. Results show that the Mooney viscosity of SBR/PCA compounds decreases from 45.8 to 34.7 and Tg from −52°C to −56.3°C when PCA is added from 0 to 30 phr. Moreover, the elongation at break of SBR contained 30 phr PCA increases by 515% compared with SBR. PCA also shows amphiphilic, which is verified by the improved dispersion of SiO2 in SBR/PCA compounds. The swelling ratio of SBR/PCA/SiO2 vulcanized rubber decreases and the crosslinking density increases. Meanwhile, the elongation at break of SBR70‐40 vulcanized rubber is 17.3%, which is higher than that of SBR100‐40 vulcanized rubber. PCA, acted as plasticizer and compatibilizer, provides a simple and green way for the application of natural products in the rubber industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic liquid (1‐butyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium chloride—[bmim]Cl) was used as a plasticizer alternative to enhance the mechanical strength of the starch‐zein composite films. Additionally, sorghum bran extract (SBE) was utilized as a sustainable source of bioactive compounds to introduce the antimicrobial activity to the composite films. [Bmim]Cl provided better solubilization capacity thereby enhancing the compatibility of film components. Thus, [bmim]Cl substantially improved the tensile strength and elongation at break of the ionic liquid plasticized (8.93 ± 1.59 MPa and 29.53 ± 0.86%) as well as sorghum bran functionalized films (8.99 ± 0.42 MPa and 21.91 ± 0.76%). Incorporation of SBE to the potato starch‐zein film solution enhanced opacity and attributed antioxidant properties to the composite film and that endorsed the possibility of inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, the sorghum bran functionalized films possessed antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, making them appropriate for active packaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polyvinyl chloride (PVC) industry relies heavily on material property testing during the development of a product. Many of these testing procedures are outdated and time‐consuming, resulting in high financial input. Non‐destructive, fast, easy‐to‐use testing methods can significantly reduce the time required to quantify raw materials. We explored alternative analysis techniques, Fourier transform‐infrared (FT‐IR) and micro‐Raman spectroscopy to quantify the main components within a plasticised PVC (pPVC) compound with dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) plasticizer and calcium carbonate filler. This can reduce costs in the testing and development of new products up to 50%. We prepared 36 samples with varying proportions of DOTP and calcium carbonate and analyzed them using a Raman Microscope and FT‐IR Spectrometer. We found a strong correlation (R2 = 0.923) between DOTP and FT‐IR spectroscopy data, as well as a strong correlation (FT‐IR R2 = 0.910; Raman R2 = 0.813) between the calcium carbonate and data obtained with both spectroscopies. We reported for the first‐time correlations that could be used to determine the raw material levels within pPVC provided by both techniques. Five samples were then made and tested, showing some success in the quantification. This study provided a solid baseline for reducing the time taken to make a recommendation from >168 h to <1 h and therefore reducing the costs of product development by up to 50%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of blend films comprised 88% hydrolyzed poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with native cassava starch (NCS), high‐oxidized cassava starch (HCS), and pre‐gelatinized cassava starch (PCS) was prepared via solution casting. The blends were plasticized with glycerol or glycerol‐sorbitol mixture. The structure of each blend film was characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction analysis. Cross‐sections of the PVA/HCS and PVA/PCS blend films, imaged by scanning electron microscopy, indicated a PVA‐rich/starch‐rich bilayer structure, irrespective of the type of plasticizer in the blend. High degree of swelling of the blend films resulted to the fast degradation. All blend films were completely degraded in soil after 4 days. Significantly, we identified a number of blend films showed greater strength and elongation at break than low density polyethylene, suggesting that these environmentally benign blends could be ideal candidates for widespread applications currently dominated by petroleum‐derived products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodegradable polymers such as poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and polycaprolactone (PCL) blends are considered as potential replacements for non‐degradable polymers, however, their brittleness is an obstacle for their full realization in biomedicine and food packaging. Here, new biodegradable plasticizers are developed to improve the physicochemical properties of PHB and PCL blends. These plasticizers are synthesized through a one‐step random copolymerization process using different mass ratios (1:1, 2:1, 1:2) of β‐butyrolactone (HB) and ε‐caprolactone (CL) monomers. Plasticizer with larger content of CL segments (1:2) shows a thermal stability higher than other ratios. The addition of plasticizers to PHB/PCL blends enhances the elongation at the break of PHB50/PCL50 blend at least 4 to 6‐fold compared to pure PHB. This process also decreases the melting point and crystallization of PHB/PCL blends which are pivotal for thermal processing, such as extrusion, while no adverse impact on the tensile strength and elastic modulus of blends was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doping is a simple and effective method to change material properties. In this work, in order to improve the flame retardant performance of bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) nanosheets in poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC), for the first time, iron and tin ions were doped into BiOCl (Fe‐BiOCl and Sn‐BiOCl) via a doping approach, respectively. X‐ray diffraction and morphology characterization confirmed that the Fe and Sn ions were doped into the BiOCl lattices, respectively. After doping, PVC composites obtained superior flame retardancy and smoke suppression. With the adding amount of 3 wt% Fe‐BiOCl and Sn‐BiOCl, the UL‐94 test rating of the PVC composites reached V‐0, and the peak of heat release rate reduced by 38% and 34%, total smoke production decreased by 55% and 42%, respectively, compared to neat PVC. Thermogravimetric and Thermogravimetric‐Fourier Transform Infrared results showed that Fe or Sn doping could further reduce organic volatiles in the gas‐phase and improve char residual in the condensed phase, both of which contribute to reducing fire hazards. Tensile properties and tensile modulus of PVC composites increased. In short, it is an economically effective approach targeting to improve the comprehensive properties of PVC through doping Fe or Sn into BiOCl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient use of plasticizers in rubber compounds requires an understanding of their miscibility behavior. Besides the chemical properties of both rubber and plasticizer, the rigidity of the plasticizer plays an important role for their miscibility. The miscibility is investigated here using the glass transition measured by differential scanning calorimetry and broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS). Additionally, the interfacial relaxation and phase separation measured by BDS are confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. While the flexible plasticizer, poly‐(α‐methylstyrene), stays miscible in a silica‐filled polybutadiene rubber compound, the more rigid plasticizer, indene‐coumarone (IC), shows a phase separation at high concentrations. The phase‐separated IC tends to accumulate at the silica surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PCE) is widely used in concrete, but the clay content in the aggregate is increasing at present, which seriously weakens the dispersing function of PCE. Therefore, in order to lower the sensitivity of PCE to the clay, β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) was used for synthesizing anti‐clay polycarboxylate superplasticizers (AC‐PCE). Firstly, the clay tolerance property of AC‐PCE was explored by the fluidity and rheological test; then, the PCE was mixed with montmorillonite (MMT), and interaction mechanism was studied. The results showed that compared with the conventional polycarboxylate superplasticizer (CO‐PCE), an increase of 19.5% and 14.9% was observed in the fluidity of cement paste and mortar for AC‐PCE, indicating that the sensitivity of AC‐PCE to the clay was lower than that of CO‐PCE. Both CO‐PCE and AC‐PCE were adsorpted on MMT. XRD results showed that intercalation adsorption had occurred for both CO‐PCE and AC‐PCE. N2 adsorption results showed that although AC‐PCE was also inserted into the interlayer of MMT, its adsorption amount was lower than that of CO‐PCE due to steric hindrance from β‐CD, which increased the sorption level of the AC‐PCE on the cement clinkers particles. Therefore, the clay tolerance of PCE was enhanced significantly by β‐CD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) toughness was improved by blending with tributyrin (TBR) and poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐ethyl acrylate) core–shell rubber (CSR) for toughening purpose. PLA was prepared by melt processing as binary (PLA/TBR or PLA/CSR) and ternary (PLA/TBR/CSR) blends with the total additive contents from 5 to 20 wt%. Ratios of TBR:CSR for the ternary blend were 25:75, 50:50, and 75:25. Based on the experimental results, a suitable formulation for the flexible packaging application was the addition of 5 wt% TBR and 15 wt% CSR. This formulation exhibited the values of strain at break and impact strength of 512% and 862 J/m, respectively. These values were comparable with those observed in low‐density polyethylene (LDPE). Thermal test results indicated some significant changes of the transition temperatures and crystallization behavior which reflected the strong influences of rubbery functions and plasticizing properties of CSR and TBR. Migration test of TBR indicated that the migration rate increased with the test duration. Moreover, samples tested at 100°C exhibited larger amount of migrated TBR than that observed at 50°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing environmental and toxic health concerns due to phthalate‐based plasticizers are pushing researchers to eliminate these market leader plasticizers and to find nature‐friendly bio‐based plasticizers with reduced migration. The present study is also an effort in this regard. Herein, the epoxidized monoester of glycerol formal based on soybean oil is synthetically modified by carbonation in the presence of a catalyst to increase the polarity of the plasticizer. These modified and pristine plasticizers were incorporated in acrylonitrile─butadiene rubber and their migration analysis during heating the sample for 60 h were performed using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance (FTIR‐ATR) by observing the absorbance of the characteristic carbonyl stretching vibration peak (1736 cm−1) of plasticizer relative to the CH stretching vibration of butadiene (968 cm−1). The results of migration kinetics and mechanical testing demonstrated reduction of diffusion coefficients by modification while hardness and tensile strength are hardly affected. In addition to the fact that soybean oil as a natural resource is more sustainable, the additional synthesis step of binding CO2 is advantageous for a green chemistry approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, flexible composite membranes of nanoparticles (CuO, ZnO, or both), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and glycerol (GL) plasticizer are fabricated of for X‐ray detector applications. The nanoparticles are synthesized by a modified solvothermal technique and introduced to PVA + GL solution to fabricate the membranes. The mean sizes of nanoparticles are 10∓4nm and 8∓3nm, for CuO and ZnO in order. The composition of nanoparticles and membranes are investigated by energy dispersive x‐ray spectroscopy and x‐ray spectroscopy. Increasing nanoparticle concentration within the membranes causes their glass transition temperature to shift to low temperatures and enhances their thermal resistance. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrates the formation of hydrogen bonds between nanoparticles and PVA that are generated by the intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Impedance spectroscopy characterization reveals that the membranes hold negative temperature coefficient of the resistance. The activation energy decreases with increasing nanoparticle concentration. The composite membranes exhibit a decent response to x‐ray that is proportional to its energy. The best x‐ray response is for the membranes with both CuO and ZnO nanoparticles, because of their different bandgaps that cause a wide range of excitation energy to be involved. The fabricated membranes have numerous advantages such as their semiconductor features, flexibility, and feasibility of fabrication on a large scale with reasonable cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioplastics are mostly processed by injection molding. However, more continuous techniques are still being tested, such as extrusion, which allow them to be produced at a lower cost. In this way, the principal objective of this work was to develop soy protein‐based bioplastics with zinc sulphate (fertilizer) incorporated by extrusion, using different plasticizers (glycerol and water) and temperatures (95, 115, and 135°C). In addition, the same parameters were used to produce bioplastics by injection molding in order to compare both processing techniques. Thus, the main novelty of this work was the evaluation of extrusion as a substitute for injection molding in the production of these bioplastics, trying to improve their scalability to the industrial sector. For this, the bioplastics were evaluated through their physico‐chemical and mechanical properties, as well as functional properties for horticulture and microstructure. Results showed that glycerol allows obtaining better mechanical resistance but quickly zinc release. Nevertheless, these properties can be modified by the processing parameters, getting better mechanical resistance and slower zinc release at higher temperatures. In addition, results highlight the high potential of extrusion for the development of bioplastics, which can lead to a reduction in operating costs during industrial processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel monovinyl β‐cyclodextrin monomer (β‐P) is employed to synthesize polycarboxylate superplasticizers with β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) grafted on the end of side chain [PAA‐g‐(β‐P)nHPEG, n is the mass ratio of β‐P in macromonomer, n = 3% ~ 9%]. β‐P is synthesized through grafting β‐CD on the polyoxyethylene (PEO) via click reaction, which is the first try to superimpose the steric hindrance effect of PEO and β‐CD during the preparation of polycarboxylate superplasticizer. FTIR, 1H NMR, GPC, and DLS are used to characterize the molecular structure of the intermediates and the products. Compared with PAA‐g‐HPEG (PCE0) only with PEO as side chains, cement paste containing PAA‐g‐(β‐P)7%HPEG has the largest fluidity; PAA‐g‐(β‐P)9%HPEG corresponds to the best fluidity retention performance; cement paste containing PAA‐g‐(β‐P)nHPEG has shorter setting time. The DLS results reveal that the introduction of β‐CD in PAA‐g‐(β‐P)nHPEG extends the side chain length and increases the steric hindrance effect. The adsorption test results show that the novel PCE has good slump retention performance because it is adsorbed on cement particles less but more lives in the liquid phase with the n increasing. This study provides a new approach to synthesize high‐performance polycarboxylate superplasticizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of plastics, new composite materials containing recycled fibers from used paper coffee cups and oil extracted from spent coffee grounds (SCG) were produced. Accordingly, the cellulose fibers were chemically modified using lactic acid to be used as poly(lactic acid) filler reinforcement. The obtained results revealed that its addition improved the mechanical properties of the ensuing composites. The addition of 30% wt/wt of unmodified and modified fibers increased the Young modulus by 53% and 72%, respectively. In addition, enhanced biodegradability was obtained due to higher water absorption (up to 4% wt/wt). In parallel, coffee oil was used as a plasticizer and the affinity between the plasticizer and polymer matrix was confirmed by the lack of phase separation, by the improved flexibility of derived materials (the addition of 40% wt/wt of plasticizer increased the elongation at break by 86%) and by the better processability of the ensuing materials (the addition of 30% wt/wt of plasticizer increased the MFI by 205%). Overall, the results suggest that the use of modified cellulose fibers and the addition of SCG oil‐based plasticizer can be promising routes to produce eco‐friendly plastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of bio‐based diester plasticizers with various alkyl chain asymmetry and the same molecular weight were designed and synthesized, using renewable 5‐hydroxymethyl‐2‐furancarboxylic acid (HFCA) as the raw material. The chemical structures of the HFCA‐based plasticizers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR and 13C NMR). Besides, the influence of alkyl chain asymmetry on plasticization properties of the HFCA‐based plasticizers in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) blends was also investigated. It was found that increasing the alkyl chain asymmetry of the diester plasticizer and keeping the molecular weight unchanged simultaneously could further improve its plasticizing efficiency, without sacrificing its volatility resistance and exudation resistance. The results showed that this study provided a new approach for further optimizing the overall properties of the asymmetric diester plasticizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two castor oil acid esters containing a ketal or ketone group (KCL or CL), as alternative plasticizers for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), were prepared. The structures were confirmed by 1H NMR and FTIR spectroscopies. The effects of the presence of a ketal or ketone group in these compounds on PVC plasticization were examined. The DMA and SEM results showed that both plasticizers were miscible with PVC and exhibited excellent plasticizing properties, compared to those of dioctyl phthalate (DOP). The PVC plasticized by KCL displayed a lower Tg value of 20.6°C, which was lower than that of PVC plasticized with DOP (22.3°C) and PVC plasticized with CL (40.5°C). Tensile tests indicated that PVC plasticized using KCL showed a 37% higher of elongation at break than PVC plasticized by CL and 30% higher than PVC plasticized by DOP. The plasticizing mechanism was also investigated. Moreover, exudation, volatility, and extraction tests, along with TGA indicated that the presence of ketal groups effectively improved the migration resistance of plasticizer and the thermal stability of PVC blends. Taken together, introducing ketal groups into plasticizer might be an effective strategy for improving its plasticizing efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for the substitution of phthalate derivatives in the process of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plasticization is a matter of intensive research, due to the increasing proofs about phthalate toxicity. With this objective, a series of novel saturated polyesters (SPs) were synthesized by polycondensation from different biobased acids and diols, and end‐capped with 2‐tetradecyloctadecan‐1‐ol (TDOD). After characterization, the SPs were incorporated in an industrial formulation for flexible PVC and the mechanical properties of the films analyzed by tensile tests, DMTA, and DSC. The tensile tests revealed a similar ultimate tensile strength and a higher elongation at break for the PVC with SP as plasticizers compared with DEHTP (di[2‐ethylhexyl] terephthalate). The SP showing the most promising results was chosen to carry on an industrial manufacturing of a transparent tube. The migration tests of the tube show a much less leaching properties compared with tube prepared using the plasticizer DEHTP. All the results indicate that SPs can be an industrially viable and excellent alternative to DEHTP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An epoxidized cardanol tungoleate (ECT) based on tung oil and cardanol was synthesized through esterification and epoxidation. The chemical structure of the compound was verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H‐NMR). The plasticizing effects of ECT as the main plasticizer in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was studied and compared with the commercial plasticizer dioctyl phthalate (DOP). The thermal migration stabilities, the thermal degradation process and the mechanical properties of PVC samples and the plasticization mechanism of ECT for PVC were investigated through the use of volatility, extraction, discoloration, and tensile tests as well as thermal gravity analysis (TGA), TGA–FTIR analysis, electronic universal testing machine and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Compared with DOP, the ECT plasticized PVC can exhibits better thermal stability, more excellent tensile strength (17.28 MPa) and higher stretchability (629.41%), which is 1161% higher than DOP (1.37 MPa) plasticized PVC film. In addition, the migration resistance and volatility stability of ECT are much better than DOP. Therefore, this fully bio‐based plasticizer based on tung oil and cardanol is a promising alternative plasticizer for PVC and may be an excellent phthalate substitute from the perspective of human health and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on an evaluation of the physical, chemical, thermal, morphological, and thermomechanical behavior of silk fibroin (SF) films conducted by a casting process with formic acid as solvent. Thin films of SF with and without glycerol were produced by two different methods, namely M1, from degummed SF, and M2, after degumming, dissolution, dialysis, centrifuge, and freeze‐drying of SF. According to the results, those fabricated by M1 are thinner and the addition of glycerol increased their thickness. All films showed high‐surface area of approximately 1033 cm2, good transparency, flexibility, absence of bubbles, hydrophilic characteristics, and high‐thermal stability. They displayed a predominantly crystalline structure, no heat‐induced crystallization, and spontaneous formation of β‐sheet, favored by a chemical treatment with ethanol and the plasticization with glycerol. Their morphology was dependent on the production method adopted, and the nanofibril structure of SF was kept in the films obtained by M1. The films proved viable for the production of scaffolds for tissue engineering due to their adequate chemical, physical, and thermomechanical properties for this purpose. The preparation methods adopted enabled the regulation of both the structure and the material properties of SF films, and generated films of large dimensions and able for use in the treatment of patients with extensive burns on the body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]