Bio-based Hyperbranched Ester Plasticizers from Woody Oil Based on Cohesive Energy via a One-Pot Synthesis Reaction

Developing bio-based hyperbranched ester plasticizers using woody oil by a simple strategy to replace toxic phthalate plasticizers has significant social, environmental, and economic significance. Herein, a series of tung oil-based hyperbranched esters (TPPs) were synthesis through a one-pot method, the degree of branching and relative molecular weight of the TPPs were controlled by adjusting the glycidyl content. The TPPs were used to plasticize polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials. The results indicated that TPPs showed better plasticizing properties, transmittance and migration stability compared with commercial dioctyl phthalate (DOP). For instance, the tensile strain of PVC/TPP-9 reached to 560%, and transmittance was 42.1%. In addition, the PVC/TPPs films possessed excellent shape memory performance, and shape fixity and shape recovery were up to 97 and 91%, respectively. The cohesive energy was simulated and calculated from the perspective of energy to first predict the ability of plasticizers migrated from the PVC matrix. These hyperbranched ester plasticizers exhibited the potential to substitute DOP in the fields with strict requirements (e.g. food packaging, toys for children).