Synthesis and application of a novel thermostable epoxy plasticizer based on levulinic acid for poly(vinyl chloride)

Epoxy bisphenol acid isooctyl ester (EBAIE) was synthesized and characterized by FTIR and H-NMR. EBAIE was used as poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) plasticizer for the first time, and its addition amount was 30 wt% of PVC. The mechanical properties, thermal stability, compatibility, and decomposition activation energy of PVC blends were systematically studied. Compared to the commercial plasticizer-dioctyl phthalate (DOP), the tensile strength had been significantly increased from 30.64 to 45.07 MPa, while the elongation at break had little difference. The thermal stability analysis showed that the static stability time at 180°C had been extended from 40 to 300 min. The decomposition activation energy indicated that the EBAIE plasticized PVC was with a higher thermal stability. The extraction and volatility resistance of the novel plasticizer were superior to those of DOP.