Sustainable synthesis of bio-based hyperbranched ester and its application for preparing soft polyvinyl chloride materials

In this study, bio-based hyperbranched ester was synthesized from castor oil. The chemical structure of the bio-based hyperbranched ester obtained was characterized with Fourier transform infrared and H-1 NMR spectra. Soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials were prepared via thermoplastic blending at 160 degrees C using bio-based hyperbranched ester as plasticizer. The performances including the thermal stability, glass transition temperature (T-g), crystallinity, tensile properties, solvent extraction resistance and volatility resistance of soft PVC materials incorporating bio-based hyperbranched ester were investigated and compared with the traditional plasticizer dioctyl phthalate (DOP). The results showed that bio-based hyperbranched ester enhanced the thermal stability of the PVC materials. The T-g of PVC incorporating bio-based hyperbranched ester was 23 degrees C, lower than that of PVC/DOP materials at 28 degrees C. Bio-based hyperbranched ester showed a better plasticizing effect, solvent extraction resistance and volatility resistance than DOP. The plasticizing mechanism is also discussed. (c) 2018 Society of Chemical Industry