Performance of Plasticized Vinyl Films in Drycleaning Solvents

Abstract

The Garment Analysis Department of the International Fabricare Institute receives frequently vinyl coated fabrics which have lost their softness of hand and flexibility. These changes in physical properties are due to the loss of plasticizer during a regular dry cleaning cycle Experi ments have been performed with vinyl films which were formulated with plasticizers of different molecular weights. Loss of plasticizer and solvent absorption were determined in perchlorethylene, petroleum solvent and solvent 113, the principal dry cleaning solvents. The experiments revealed that a linear relationship exists between plasticizer loss and shrinkage of vinyl films. Rate studies were carried out with vinyl films containing a high, a medium and a low molecular weight plasticizer in all three dry cleamng solvents. Desorption diffusion coefficients of the plasticizers were derived from these data. It was established that the diffusion coefficient for desorption of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate is much higher than that of low or medium molecular weight polyester plasticizers. Low molecular weight plasticizers are almost completely extracted from vinyls during dry cleaning. Higher molecular weight polyester plasticizers are not extracted appreciably. These results should be considered in formulating vinyls to be used for the manufacturing of drycleanable garments.