Omar Khalid
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is the third most widely used plastic globally. Without plasticizers, PVC is hard and brittle, but with the addition of plasticizers, it becomes flexible and durable, making it suitable for a wide range of applications such as vinyl siding, roofing, flooring, plumbing, and electric wire insulation. Plasticizers are non-volatile organic substances, typically liquids, that are added to plastics to increase their plasticity and improve their handling during manufacturing. The most common plasticizers for PVC are phthalates, including di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP), and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP). However, due to health and regulatory concerns over phthalates, alternatives such as adipates and trimellitates are also used to meet specific requirements like low-temperature resistance and heat resistance, respectively.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To make PVC softer and more flexible, and to increase its plasticity |
| Common Types | Phthalate esters, ortho-phthalate esters, DEHP, DINP, DIDP, DIUP, DTDP, DOP, DIHP, DEHTP, BBP, DOA, TOTM, TIOTM, Polyesters, Adipates, Trimellitates, Benzoates, Naphthalene-based |
| Effect on Glass Transition Temperature | Reduces glass transition temperature (Tg) |
| Effect on Elasticity | Reduces elastic modulus |
| Effect on Viscosity | Reduces melt viscosity |
| Effect on Friction | Reduces friction |
| Effect on Molecular Weight | Low molecular weight |
| Effect on Volatility | Volatile liquids |
| Effect on Crystallinity | Destroys PVC crystallinity due to high polarity |
| Migration | Plasticizers may migrate from PVC to other polymers if the resistance at the interface is low |
| Temperature Performance | Low-temperature plasticizers are available for use in deep freezers |
| Diffusion Coefficient | Diffusion coefficient increases with temperature and decreasing number of carbon atoms |
| Concrete Application | Plasticizers are added to concrete to improve fluidity and reduce water content |
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What You'll Learn
Phthalate esters are common plasticizers
Phthalate esters are polymer plasticizers that are used to make the material flexible and durable. Ortho-phthalate esters have traditionally been the most dominant plasticizers, but regulatory concerns have led to a move away from classified substances to non-classified alternatives. Common phthalate plasticizers include dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), and butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP).
PVC products, such as vinyl siding, roofing, vinyl flooring, and artificial leather, are made softer and more flexible through the use of plasticizers. Plasticizers are dissolved in PVC during the mixing process, and the higher the porosity of the PVC grain, the higher the rate of plasticizer absorption. This means that more plasticizer is required for softer PVC products.
Primary plasticizers are low-volatility liquids that are compatible with PVC and provide flexibility. Secondary plasticizers are also low-volatility liquids, but they are less compatible and will exude if used alone. However, they can be used with primary plasticizers to reduce costs. General-purpose plasticizers (GP) provide the desired flexibility to PVC while balancing overall quality with low cost. Examples of GP plasticizers include DIHP, DOP (DEHP), DINP, and DIDP.
The efficiency of a plasticizer is determined by its ability to soften the product and is influenced by factors such as molecular weight and the linearity of the alcohol chain. Phthalate plasticizers are widely used in building wire insulation, vinyl flooring, and carpet tiles.
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Ortho-phthalate esters are dominant
Ortho-phthalate esters have traditionally been the dominant plasticizers for PVC. Phthalate esters of straight-chain and branched-chain alkyl alcohols are common plasticizers that meet specifications such as low toxicity, compatibility with the host material, non-volatility, and expense. Phthalate plasticizers are among the most widely used plasticizers, with almost 90% of polymer plasticizers used in PVC being phthalate esters.
Phthalate plasticizers are used to make the material flexible and durable. Common phthalate plasticizers include diisononyl phthalate (DINP), diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). DEHP is the most popular plasticizer and is historically used in flooring materials, medical devices, consumer products, and high explosives.
However, due to environmental and health concerns, there has been a shift towards using alternative plasticizers. Non-phthalate plasticizers have gained popularity as they provide the same benefits as traditional phthalate plasticizers without the associated health and environmental risks. Examples of non-phthalate plasticizers include adipates, citrates, and trimellitates.
In addition, there is increasing interest in using bio-based and renewable plasticizers derived from renewable sources such as vegetable oils. Researchers have also been trying to find a plasticizer that can replace petroleum-based phthalates like DEHP.
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Alternatives to phthalates exist
Plasticizers are added to materials to make them softer, more flexible, and durable. They are commonly added to polymers and plastics such as PVC, either to facilitate the handling of the raw material during fabrication or to meet the demands of the end product's application.
Phthalates are the most commonly used plasticizers. However, due to environmental and health concerns, there has been a shift towards using alternative plasticizers. These alternatives are designed to provide the same benefits as traditional phthalate plasticizers without the associated health and environmental risks.
Some common phthalate plasticizers include dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP), and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). DEHP is the most popular plasticizer and has historically been used in flooring materials, medical devices, consumer products, and high explosives.
Bio-based and renewable plasticizers derived from renewable sources, such as vegetable oils, are also gaining interest. Additionally, compounds based on furandicarboxylic acid have been proposed as novel plasticizers with similar structures and physicochemical properties to commonly used plasticizers.
The choice of plasticizer depends on various factors, including compatibility, performance, toxicity, non-volatility, and cost.
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Primary plasticizers are low-volatility liquids
Plasticizers are substances that are added to materials to make them softer, more flexible, and easier to handle during the manufacturing process. They are commonly added to polymers and plastics, such as PVC, to improve their flexibility and workability.
PVC is the third most widely used plastic and is typically hard and brittle without plasticizers. With plasticizers, it becomes a soft, flexible, and elastic material suitable for various products, including vinyl siding, roofing, flooring, and electric wire insulation.
The compatibility of primary plasticizers with PVC is due to the interaction between the polar and non-polar components of the plasticizer molecule and the PVC polymer. The polar component binds reversibly with the PVC, softening it, while the non-polar component controls the interaction, ensuring that crystallinity is not destroyed.
Secondary plasticizers are also low-volatility liquids, but they have limited compatibility and tend to exude if used alone. However, they can be used in combination with primary plasticizers to reduce costs. Examples of secondary plasticizers include chlorinated paraffin oils.
The choice between primary and secondary plasticizers depends on the specific requirements of the PVC product, with primary plasticizers being the main plasticizer in a PVC blend due to their high compatibility and performance in providing flexibility.
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Secondary plasticizers reduce costs
Plasticizers are substances that are added to materials to make them softer, more flexible, and durable. They are commonly added to polymers and plastics such as PVC to improve their handling during fabrication and meet the demands of the end product. In the absence of plasticizers, PVC is hard and brittle, but with plasticizers, it becomes suitable for products such as vinyl siding, roofing, flooring, and electric wire insulation.
PVC plasticizers can be classified as primary or secondary plasticizers, each with specific characteristics that influence the properties of plasticized PVC. Primary plasticizers are low-volatility liquids that are highly compatible with PVC and provide flexibility. Examples include monomeric, polymeric, epoxy, and specialty flame-retardant plasticizers.
Secondary plasticizers, on the other hand, are also low-volatility liquids, but their compatibility is limited. They tend to exude if used alone but can be used in combination with primary plasticizers to a certain extent. This combination of primary and secondary plasticizers helps reduce costs. By using secondary plasticizers alongside primary ones, manufacturers can achieve the desired flexibility and quality while keeping expenses low.
Examples of secondary plasticizers include chlorinated paraffin oils with various degrees of chlorination. General-purpose plasticizers (GP) are another example of secondary plasticizers that provide flexibility to PVC while balancing overall quality and cost. Common GP plasticizers include DIHP, DOP (DEHP), DINP, and DIDP. These can be used in conjunction with other secondary plasticizers to further reduce costs without compromising functionality.
In addition to cost reduction, secondary plasticizers can also contribute to desired secondary properties beyond GP capabilities. Performance plasticizers (PP), for instance, offer strong solvating abilities, low-temperature performance, and low volatility, but they come at a higher price point. Examples of PP plasticizers include DBP, DHP, BHP, BBP, and benzoates such as polypropylene glycol dibenzoate (PGDB).
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Frequently asked questions
Plasticizers are substances added to materials like PVC to make them softer, more flexible, and easier to handle during manufacture. They are especially important in making PVC usable and giving it improved flexibility and durability.
Some common plasticizers for PVC include phthalates and adipates. Phthalates are the most common plasticizers and have historically been used in a wide range of products. Some examples of phthalates include diisononyl phthalate (DINP), di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP).
There have been health concerns and regulatory issues regarding the use of phthalates in PVC, particularly in the US and Europe. As a result, researchers are working on developing new plasticizers with reduced migration and compounds that are not petroleum-based.
