Oligomeric Isosorbide Esters as Alternative Renewable Resource Plasticizers for PVC

Oligo(isosorbide adipate) (OSA), oligo(isosorbide suberate) (OSS), and isosorbide dihexanoate (SDH) were synthesized and evaluated as renewable resource alternatives to traditional phthalate plasticizers. The structure of the synthesized oligomers was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-and (13)C-NMR), and molecular weight was determined by size exclusion chromatograph. The plasticizers were blended with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), and the miscibility and properties of the blends were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, tensile testing, and thermogravimetry. Especially the blends plasticized with SDH had almost identical properties with PVC/diisooctyl phthalate (DIOP) blends. The blends containing OSA and OSS plasticizers, based on dicarboxylic acids, had somewhat lower strain at break but higher stress at break and better thermal stability compared to the PVC/DIOP or PVC/SDH blends. All the synthesized isosorbide plasticizers showed potential as alternative PVC plasticizers. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 119: 2400-2407, 2011