Synthesis, characterization and performance evaluation of “crab” bio-based poly(vinyl chloride) plasticizer based on sustainable lactic acid

Abstract

Introducing renewable resources into the production of biological agents and conducting comprehensive performance evaluations of the products is an inevitable trend in promoting sustainable development. Lactic acid is a sustainable and eco-friendly material that is derived from the fermentation of crops such as corn, sweet potatoes, and potatoes. This study synthesized a novel crab-like lactic acid-based plasticizer IPBL by reacting lactic acid with butanol and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI). The molecular structure of compound was characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, and mass spectrum. The IPBL plasticizer was used to blend poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), and its performance was compared to commercial plasticizers, dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC). The results demonstrated that the PVC film plasticized by IPBL had comparable optical properties, thermal stability, and migration resistance to PVC/DOP and PVC/ATBC. In addition, PVC/IPBL blends exhibit certain hydrophobicity, which has also been shown in stain resistance tests to have potential for anti-fouling and self-cleaning applications. The DMA test showed that IPBL had a lower glass transition temperature (Tg) than commercial plasticizers, resulting in higher elongation at break. Preliminary commercial cost calculations showed that it is superior to the bio-based plasticizer ATBC. The interaction behavior between IPBL and PVC chains was verified by molecular dynamics simulations. These findings demonstrate that the lactic acid-based plasticizer IPBL has excellent capacity as a bio-based alternative to harmful petroleum-based phthalate plasticizers.