Plasticisers - June 2009

This month we're focusing on the topic of Plasticisers in polymers

Like many other additives, plasticisers are added to polymers in small quantities and yet have a significant impact on the overall properties of the material. The obvious example of PVC demonstrates how a polymer can be solid and durable enough to make window casings, but a small amount of additive can make it flexible and pliable enough to make plastic film, bags and sheeting.

Plasticisers play a very important role in the world of polymers in making them ideal in applications for which they would have been completely unsuitable otherwise. However, there have been concerns about the safety of some plasticisers in common use. This has driven further development of new, safer alternatives in all sorts of applications like packaging, medical devices and toys where the plastic will be in sustained contact with people or the food they consume.

Abstracts

Please see below a selection of abstracts highlighted in the June Newsletter. These are records which relate to Plasticisers that have been recently added to the Polymer Library.

Click on the 7-digit accession numbers to find out about ordering a copyright-cleared full text copy of the items shown.

1040546 - PROSPECTS FOR THE APPLICATION OF A NEW PLASTICISER - DIBUTOXYETHYL ADIPINATE - FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COLD-RESISTANT SEALING RUBBERS (downloadable pdf available)
A new plasticiser, dibutoxyethyl adipinate(DBEA), was tested in a model rubber mix based on BNKS-18 butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber, with subsequent full-scale exposure in Talakansk field petroleum for a year in an unheated storeroom. The rubber specimens were removed periodically and tested for physicomechanical properties, development of compression set, coefficient of cold resistance, degree of swelling in the hydrocarbon medium, and amount of plasticiser in the rubber. DBEA provided a high level of low-temperature properties at temperatures above -40 deg C, but was not satisfactory at critical service temperatures ranging from -45 to -50 deg C. 13 refs. (Article translated from Kaucuk i Rezina, No.1, 2008, p.18-22)
International Polymer Science and Technology, 36, No.3, 2009, p.T/17-21, ISSN: 0307-174X
Petrova N N; Portnyagina V V; Fedotova E S

1040462 - MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND FRACTURE SURFACE MORPHOLOGY OF DEHP AND DINCH BASED VINYL PLASTISOLS
The effects of a low toxicity plasticiser (diisononyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate) and a plasticiser with toxicity problems, diethylhexyl phthalate, on the fracture behaviour of A PVC plastisol were investigated. The tensile properties of the plasticised PVC were determined and fracture surfaces analysed by scanning electron microscopy. Mechanisms causing cracking were examined and fracture surfaces correlated with the ductile properties of the plasticisers. 32 refs.
Journal of Elastomers and Plastics, 41, No.2, March 2009, p.145-161, ISSN: 0095-2443, DOI: 10.1177/0095244308092438
Crespo J E; Sanchez L; Balart R; Lopez J

1040437 - AGEING OF POLY(LACTIC ACID) FILMS PLASTICIZED WITH COMMERCIAL POLYADIPATES
Amorphous polylactic acid was plasticised with two polyadipates having different molec.wts. and the plasticised polylactic acids processed into films by compression moulding. In order to determine if the blends remained miscible during the shelf life of the blends, films were stored for 5 months at about 28 degrees Centigrade. The structural, thermal, mechanical and thermomechanical properties of the films were studied at different ageing times in order to identify formulations with adequate properties for use in flexible food packaging. The oxygen transmission rate of the films was also measured over time. The results obtained revealed that some films remained flexible without phase separation after 150 days. 33 refs.
Polymer International, 58, No.4, April 2009, p.437-444, ISSN: 0959-8103, DOI: 10.1002/pi.2556
Martino V P; Ruseckaite R A; Jimenez A

1040316 - ENFORCING THE EU LEGISLATION ON PHTHALATE PLASTICISERS (downloadable pdf available)
This report deals with the results of a risk assessment carried out by the European Food Safety Authority on phthalate plasticisers, interpretation of legislation on phthalates in the fourth amendment of Directive 2002/72/EC, the Danish 2008/2009 enforcement campaign and ensuring the quality of analytical work on phthalate plasticiser determination. 9 refs.
Food Contact Polymers 2009. Proceedings of a conference held Brussels, Belgium, 21st-22nd April 2009, Smithers Rapra Technology Ltd., 2009, Paper 5, pp.4., ISBN: 978-1-84735-390-0, 30 cm, 012
Petersen J H

1039916 - FLAME RETARDANCY AND THERMAL DEGRADATION OF INTUMESCENT FLAME RETARDANT STARCH-BASED BIODEGRADABLE COMPOSITES
The preparation of thermoplastic starch-based biodegradable composites plasticised with poly(vinyl alcohol) and glycerol and containing various proportions of the intumescent flame retardant ammonium polyphosphate microencapsulated in melamine-formaldehyde resin (MCAPP) is described. The products were characterised by XRD, LOI, UL-94 vertical burning tests, combustion calorimetry, TGA, TG-FTIR, SEM, FTIR and XPS, and the effects of MCAPP content on flame retardance and thermal degradation are discussed. 29 refs.
Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 48, No.6, 18th March 2009, p.3150-3157, ISSN: 0888-5885, DOI: 10.1021/ie801230h
Wu K; Hu Y; Song L; Lu H; Wang Z

1038981 - COMPLEXITY OF MEDICAL TUBING
While the most common plastic used for medical tubing remains PVC, there is a perception of biocompatibility risk despite the existence of certified Class VI for PVC resins. Also gaining momentum, at least in the legislative realm, are potential new manufacturing standards that list certain ingredients of plasticised PVC, such as DEHP, as toxic. Teknor Apex recently announced it would seek to assuage customer concerns by physically separating its compounding lines for medical-grade PVC compounds containing DEHP and other phthalate plasticisers, from those of compounds plasticised with non-phthalate alternatives. The compounder is not moving away from phthalates, but it recognises that most medical device manufacturers are in the process or early stages of evaluating phthalate alternatives for plasticised PVC compounds. In order to remain competitive, processors need not only know their materials, but also keep developing their own processing technology. At the PolyMedex Discovery Group that means ongoing work on its second generation Total Intermittent Extrusion capability. This will allow the company to target existing applications that utilise welding of a series of thin-walled extrusions to achieve variable durometer assemblies, such as neurovascular devices.
Modern Plastics Worldwide, 86, No.4, April 2009, p.14-15, ISSN: 0026-8275
Klopping Y

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