Abstract
AbstractFive soybean oil‐derived fatty acid alkyl ester estolide plasticizers were synthesized with methyl, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol ester head groups. The required fatty acid alkyl ester estolides were synthesized by transesterification of alcohols with soybean oil fatty acid methyl esters followed by epoxidation and subsequent ring opening and acetylation. Experimental plasticizers were compounded with PLA for the evaluation of their thermal, mechanical, and water vapor barrier properties compared to those of commercial plasticizer, triethyl citrate (TEC). Experimental plasticizers were divided into low and high molecular weight groups based on similarities in structure and size. High molecular weight plasticizers had poor compatibility with PLA and showed inferior mechanical and water vapor barrier properties. Low molecular weight plasticizers demonstrated good plasticization and depression of glass transition temperature comparable to TEC at low concentrations along with improved water vapor barrier properties at higher concentrations, indicating suitability for more cost‐effective applications requiring better water vapor barrier functionality.
Published Version
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