Effects of Bio-based Plasticizers on Mechanical and Thermal Properties of PVC/Wood Flour Composites

Abstract

Poly(vinyl chloride)/wood flour (WPVC) composites with dioctyl phthalate (DOP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), cardanol acetate (CA), or epoxy fatty acid methyl ester (EFAME) were prepared using twin-screw extrusion. The effects of plasticizers on the mechanical, dynamic mechanical, and melt rheological properties of composites and the thermal migration of plasticizers were characterized. The results demonstrated that WPVC/ DBP and WPVC/EFAME composites had better elongation at break; however, composites with bio-based plasticizers exhibited significantly higher impact strength. The morphology indicated that the compatibility between CA and WPVC was poor, while the surface of the composites showed good plasticity with the addition of DBP or EFAME. The PVC matrix with a plasticizer of higher molecular weight exhibited a higher glass transition temperature (Tg). The dynamic rheological test showed that WPVC/EFAME composites had the lowest storage modulus, loss modulus, and complex viscosity, but EFAME migrated more easily from composites than other plasticizers.

Keywords

• Plasticizer
• PVC
• Wood flour
• Rheological properties
• Composites