Poly(vinyl chloride) and poly(ε-caprolactone) blends for medical use

This study examines the possibility of replacing partially or totally the di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP - low molecular plasticizer) from the poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) compositions intended for medical devices, with poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL - biodegradable, biocompatible, and macromolecular plasticizer). Nine different plasticized PVC (PVC-P) compositions are analyzed from the viewpoint of thermal and mechanical properties, plasticizer loss, and extraction behavior in different medical media. After comparing the experimental results with the data from the literature, corresponding to traditional PVC-P, it can be concluded that the PCL and even PCL-DEHP mixture behave as better plasticizers for PVC, providing a lower extraction risk and similar or even improved thermal and mechanical properties.