DL‐Isoborneol esters as nontoxic main plasticizers for polyvinyl chloride with improved processability, thermal stability, and mechanical performance

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AbstractDL‐Isoborneol is a forestry chemical product that can serve as an intermediate in the synthesis of value‐added plasticizer products. In this study, three kinds of DL‐Isoborneol esters (octanoic acid‐DL‐Isoborneol, decanoic acid‐DL‐Isoborneol ester, and lauric acid‐DL‐Isoborneol ester [LDE]) with different fatty hydrocarbon chains were synthesized via esterification reaction. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT‐IR) and Nuclear magnetic hydrogen spectrum (1H NMR) indicated that DL‐Isoborneol esters were successfully synthesized. The oral toxicity experiment of plasticizers in mice indicated that DL‐Isoborneol esters have toxic doses of 5000 mg/kg and was environmentally friendly and nontoxic. DL‐Isoborneol esters were used as main plasticizers to plasticize polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and compared with commercial plasticizer dioctyl phthalate (DOP). The results showed that DL‐Isoborneol esters could improve thermoplastic processing performance and thermal stability of plasticized PVC than DOP. DL‐Isoborneol esters and PVC showed more excellent compatibility compared with DOP. Tg of plasticized PVC reached 22°C, tensile strength and elongation at break of PVC plasticized with 40 wt% LDE reached 12.90 ± 0.83 MPa and 342 ± 13%, respectively. DL‐Isoborneol esters with improved migration resistance performance and plasticization efficiency can completely replace DOP as main plasticizers for PVC.Highlights DL‐Isoborneol esters with different fatty hydrocarbon chains were synthesized. DL‐Isoborneol esters have toxic doses of 5000 mg/kg and are nontoxic. DL‐Isoborneol esters can be used as main plasticizer for PVC. Plasticized PVC with improved processability. DOP can be completely replaced by DL‐Isoborneol esters.