Plasticizer glass transition temperature

See also electronic plastic glass transition temperature heat distortion point IEEE thermal ratings continuous-use temperature. 

The TPs are temperature dependent, especially in the region of the plastics glass transition temperature (Tg). Many unreinforced amorphous types of plastics at temperatures well below the Tg have a tensile modulus of elasticity of about 3 x 10 dynes/cm [300 Pa (0.04 psi)] at the beginning of a stress-relaxation test. The modulus decreases gradually with time, but it may take years for the stress to decrease to a value near zero. Crystalline plastics broaden the distribution of the relaxation times and extend the relaxation stress to much longer periods. This pattern holds true at both the higher and... 

Roos YH, JouppUa K, Zielasko B. Non-enzymic browning-induced water plasticization glass transition temperature depression and reaction kinetics determination using DSC. J Therm Anal 1996 47(5) 1437-1450. 

Table 1 shows that most acryflcs have low glass-transition temperatures. Therefore, in copolymers they tend to soften and flexibHize the overall composition. Plasticizers also lower the transition temperature. However, unlike incorporated acryflc comonomers, they can be lost through volatilization or extraction. 

Polymer systems have been classified according to glass-transition temperature (T), melting poiat (T ), and polymer molecular weight (12) as elastomers, plastics, and fibers. Fillers play an important role as reinforcement for elastomers. They are used extensively ia all subclasses of plastics, ie, geaeral-purpose, specialty, and engineering plastics (qv). Fillets are not, however, a significant factor ia fibers (qv). 

A plasticizer is a substance the addition of which to another material makes that material softer and more flexible. This broad definition encompasses the use of water to plasticize clay for the production of pottery, and oils to plasticize pitch for caulking boats. A more precise definition of plasticizers is that they are materials which, when added to a polymer, cause an increase in the flexibiUty and workabiUty, brought about by a decrease in the glass-transition temperature, T, of the polymer. The most widely plasticized polymer is poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) due to its excellent plasticizer compatibility characteristics, and the development of plasticizers closely follows the development of this commodity polymer. However, plasticizers have also been used and remain in use with other polymer types. 

The iatroduction of a plasticizer, which is a molecule of lower molecular weight than the resia, has the abiUty to impart a greater free volume per volume of material because there is an iucrease iu the proportion of end groups and the plasticizer has a glass-transition temperature, T, lower than that of the resia itself A detailed mathematical treatment (2) of this phenomenon can be carried out to explain the success of some plasticizers and the failure of others. Clearly, the use of a given plasticizer iu a certain appHcation is a compromise between the above ideas and physical properties such as volatiUty, compatibihty, high and low temperature performance, viscosity, etc. This choice is appHcation dependent, ie, there is no ideal plasticizer for every appHcation. 

The dynamic mechanical properties of VDC—VC copolymers have been studied in detail. The incorporation of VC units in the polymer results in a drop in dynamic modulus because of the reduction in crystallinity. However, the glass-transition temperature is raised therefore, the softening effect observed at room temperature is accompanied by increased brittleness at lower temperatures. These copolymers are normally plasticized in order to avoid this. Small amounts of plasticizer (2—10 wt %) depress T significantly without loss of strength at room temperature. At higher levels of VC, the T of the copolymer is above room temperature and the modulus rises again. A minimum in modulus or maximum in softness is usually observed in copolymers in which T is above room temperature. A thermomechanical analysis of VDC—AN (acrylonitrile) and VDC—MMA (methyl methacrylate) copolymer systems shows a minimum in softening point at 79.4 and 68.1 mol % VDC, respectively (86). 

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