Effect of benzene ring and alkane chain contained bio-based plasticizers on the plasticizing performance of polyvinyl chloride films

In this paper, we synthesized two kinds of bio-based plasticizers (itaconic acid-4-propylguaiacol ester (IPE) and oleic acid-4-Propylguaiacol ester (OPE)) contained benzene groups and alkane chain groups with oleic acid, itaconic acid and 4-propylguaiacol. The performance of plasticized PVC films with IPE and OPE was investigated. The results showed that IPE played an important role as plasticizer on the tensile strength of PVC films, OPE played effect on the tensile strain of PVC films. OPE played more efficient plasticizing effect on PVC than IPE, and the tensile strain of PVC films plasticized with OPE reached 190% and was highest in all the samples. Due to the more benzene rings and ester groups in the chemical structure of IPE, which could form more hydrogen bonds and higher intermolecular interaction force between hydrogen of PVC and IPE than OPE, the compatibility of PVC and IPE was better than OPE. The plasticizing mechanism was also explored. This research would provide new ideas to design new plasticizers with the biomass resources.