Phthalate aromatic moiety

These data underscore the principle that a vinyl composition must be completely fused before physical property measurements become meaningful (23). Relative fusion rates have been determined for a number of plasticizers, and the differences show that a preponderance of aromatic moieties in the plasticizer promotes fusion and favors processing. Thus, butyl benzyl phthalate fuses at a lower temperature than DOP diisodecyl phthalate fuses at a higher temperature. The relative fusion rates published for a variety of plasticizers provided valuable information for vinyl processors (T). Each plasticizer system for PVC must reach a specific minimum temperature in order to achieve complete plasticization. 

Plasticizers. Plasticizers are materials that soften and flexibilize inherently rigid, and even britde polymers. Organic esters are widely used as plasticizers in polymers (97,98). These esters include the benzoats, phthalates, terephthalates, and trimeUitates, and aUphatic dibasic acid esters. Eor example, triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylbutyrate) [95-08-9] is a plasticizer for poly(vinyl butyral) [63148-65-2] which is used in laminated safety glass (see Vinyl POLYMERS, poly(vinyl acetals)). Di(2-ethyUiexyl)phthalate [117-81-7] (DOP) is a preeminent plasticizer. Variation of acid and/or alcohol component(s) modifies the efficacy of the resultant ester as a plasticizer. In phthalate plasticizers, molecular sizes of the alcohol moiety can be varied from methyl to tridecyl to control permanence, compatibiUty, and efficiency branched (eg, 2-ethylhexyl, isodecyl) for rapid absorption and fusion linear (C6—Cll) for low temperature flexibiUty and low volatility and aromatic (benzyl) for solvating. Terephthalates are recognized for their migration resistance, and trimeUitates for their low volatility in plasticizer appHcations. 

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