Omar Khalid
Plasticizers are substances that are added to materials to increase their plasticity, decrease their viscosity, and/or decrease friction during handling in manufacturing. They are commonly added to polymers and plastics such as PVC to make them more flexible and workable. Plasticizers are especially important for polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the third most widely used plastic. Without plasticizers, PVC is hard and brittle; with them, it becomes suitable for products such as vinyl siding, roofing, vinyl flooring, and plumbing. Plasticizers can migrate from PVC products through diffusion and evaporation, and they can also be extracted by liquids. This migration can cause issues, such as with adhesive products.
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What You'll Learn
Plasticizers in vinyl flooring
Plasticizers are substances incorporated into polymers like vinyl to increase their flexibility, workability, and distensibility. They are distinguished as primary and secondary plasticizers, each with unique characteristics influencing the qualities of plasticized PVC.
Primary plasticizers are low-volatility liquids compatible with PVC and are not easily extracted by moderate pressure. They are responsible for providing flexibility to PVC products. Examples include monomeric, polymeric, epoxy, and specialty flame-retardant plasticizers.
Secondary plasticizers are also low-volatility liquids that, when used alone, will exude. They are often used with primary plasticizers to reduce costs. An example is chlorinated paraffin oils.
The global demand for plasticizers is increasing, with approximately 90% used in flexible PVC products. Plasticizers are commonly employed in films, cables, and plastic tubing, requiring high flexibility. When not chemically bonded to polymer chains, plasticizers can leave the polymer through migration, evaporation, or extraction by liquids.
In the context of vinyl flooring, plasticizers are essential. They improve product flexibility, durability, longevity, and resilience. The vinyl flooring plasticizers market is growing due to rapid urbanization and industrialization, particularly in Asia-Pacific countries like China and India. The market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 3.7% over the next ten years, reaching a revenue of US$ 2.01 billion by 2033.
The healthcare industry is increasingly adopting non-phthalate-based vinyl flooring plasticizers due to their minimal impact on human health. However, the availability of alternative materials, such as PVC-free flooring made from bio-based and recycled sources, may challenge the demand for vinyl flooring plasticizers.
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Plasticizers in medical devices
Plasticizers are substances incorporated into polymers to increase their flexibility, workability, or distensibility. They are commonly used in medical devices (MDs) for infusion and artificial nutrition, which are primarily made of plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
The use of plasticizers in medical devices is a concern due to the potential migration of these chemicals into a patient's body. The first step in assessing patient exposure to plasticizers involves identifying and quantifying the plasticizers present in the device, and then determining their likelihood of migration. This is particularly important in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), where exposure to plasticizers like DEHP can have unknown health effects on children.
Several studies have analyzed the presence of plasticizers in medical devices. One study compared three different extraction methods to separate plasticizers from PVC, finding that room temperature chloroform extraction gave the best results with yields ranging from 92 to 100%. Another study of medical devices in PICUs in Belgium and the Netherlands found that most devices actively leached phthalates and alternative plasticizers, with DEHP being the most prevalent.
The demand for plasticizers is increasing, particularly in flexible PVC products, and they are also used in other polymer systems like acrylic polymers and polyurethanes. However, when not chemically attached to polymer chains, plasticizers can leave the polymer through migration, evaporation, or extraction by liquids. This has led to concerns about plasticizer loss from plastic and rubber products, as well as their presence in food packaging materials.
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Plasticizer migration
Plasticizers are odorless, colorless chemicals, mainly phthalates, that are added to materials to increase their elasticity or flexibility. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is one of the most widely used synthetic plastic polymers and is often heavily plasticized. Plasticizers are commonly used in vinyl products such as flooring, siding, pipes, plumbing parts, hoses, automotive parts, cable and wire coatings, medical devices, housewares, upholstery, food packaging, and roofing membranes.
The migration of plasticizers can cause several problems. Firstly, it can lead to a loss of flexibility in the original product, resulting in embrittlement. Secondly, it can cause other additives, such as UV stabilizers or anti-oxidants, to migrate as well, leading to a deterioration in the overall performance of the adhesive. Additionally, plasticizer migration can have aesthetic effects, such as fogging in glass automotive applications when the plasticizer in a dashboard outgasses.
To prevent plasticizer migration, manufacturers can use specialist plasticizers with a high molecular weight or a high degree of branching, which are less likely to move due to their size or entanglement in the network. Additionally, users can take preventative measures by understanding the level of plasticizers in their materials and choosing the appropriate adhesive for their application.
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Primary and secondary plasticizers
Plasticizers are non-volatile organic substances, usually liquids, that are added to plastics to improve their properties. They are softening substances that reduce the intensity of intermolecular interaction and increase the mobility of polymer chains. This results in a lower glass transition temperature, hardness, and strength, as well as increased flexibility. They also act as internal lubricants, reducing friction between polymer chains.
Primary plasticizers are compatible with PVC and are defined as real solvents. They are mainly responsible for providing flexibility to the PVC. They include sulphates and esters of alkylsulphite acids, alcohols, and phenols. Diesters of ortho-phthalic acid produced from phthalic anhydride and OXO alcohols containing 4-13 carbon atoms are the most common.
Secondary plasticizers, on the other hand, contain groups that are less polar and have limited solubility and compatibility with PVC. They are often used in mixtures with primary plasticizers to improve their properties. This group includes aliphatic and aromatic chlorinated hydrocarbons (e.g. chlorinated paraffins) and epoxy esters of unsaturated fatty acids obtained from plants.
The choice of plasticizer and its composition, as well as its quantity in the blend, is important to achieve desired properties such as price, compatibility, efficiency, and impact on the final product.
Plasticizers can migrate, evaporate, or be extracted by liquids from poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) medical devices and multilayer infusion bags. The migration of plasticizers from PVC has been studied, and it has been found that room temperature chloroform extraction is an effective method for separating plasticizers from the PVC matrix. The demand for plasticizers is increasing, particularly for use in flexible PVC products, films, cables, and plastic tubing applications.
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Plasticizers in wires and cables
Plasticizers are substances incorporated into polymers to improve their flexibility, workability, or distensibility. They are commonly used in wires and cables to enhance their flexibility, durability, and resistance to heat ageing.
Wires and cables often use plasticizers to improve their performance and longevity. Plasticizers can reduce the stiffness and increase the elasticity of wire jacketing and insulation materials, making them easier to handle, bend, and install, even in tight spaces. This flexibility also enables efficient wire routing and installation, contributing to the overall durability of the product.
The choice of plasticizer is critical in wire and cable formulations. Different types of plasticizers, such as primary and secondary plasticizers, are used depending on the specific requirements. Primary plasticizers, such as monomeric, polymeric, and epoxy plasticizers, are compatible with PVC and provide flexibility. Secondary plasticizers, like chlorinated paraffin oils, have lower compatibility and may exude if used alone, but they can be blended with primary plasticizers to reduce costs.
The temperature rating of wires and cables is an important consideration when selecting plasticizers. Different plasticizers are suitable for specific temperature ranges. For example, at 60°C, DIOP, DOP, DINP, and DIDP are used, while at 90°C, DUDP, DTDP, and TOTM are more suitable.
Plasticizer migration is a concern in wires and cables. Over time, plasticizers can migrate and ooze out of the conductors, creating an oily substance that may compromise electrical equipment if incompatible. This migration is not limited to specific circuit types or environments and can affect the performance and reliability of electrical systems.
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Frequently asked questions
Plasticizers are substances added to materials to increase their plasticity, decrease their viscosity, and/or decrease friction during handling in manufacture. They are commonly added to polymers and plastics such as PVC to improve flexibility and workability.
Yes, plasticizers can exude from vinyl parts, and this is known as plasticizer migration. Migration occurs when plasticizers are not chemically attached to polymer chains and are exposed to certain conditions.
To prevent plasticizer migration, it is essential to use plasticizer-resistant adhesives and properly prepare the substrate before installation. Removing or encapsulating old adhesive residues and following the manufacturer's guidelines for substrate moisture and pH limitations are crucial steps.
Common plasticizers used in vinyl applications include di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP), and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Epoxidized soybean oil is also used as a secondary plasticizer in many vinyl products.
