PVC Blends Research Articles

Synthesis, performance evaluation, and plasticization dynamics of biobased vanillic acid plasticizer for poly(vinyl chloride)

Phthalate-based plasticizers are widely used to improve the flexibility and ductility of engineering plastics. However, their hazardous toxicity and unsustainability have prompted the plastics industry to develop safe and efficient green plasticizers. Therefore, it is imperative to develop safe biobased plasticizers from renewable resources. The ether group had been introduced into renewable vanillic acid to synthesize vanillic acid ester derivatives (VAE) using a clean method, and characterized using various spectral methods. The application performances were compared for VAE and three commercial plasticizers for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) plasticization. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) indicated that the presence of VAE could reduce the glass transition temperature of PVC by over 50 %, which is 32 % lower than induced by the dioctyl phthalate. The presence of carbonyl and ether groups in VAE increases the elongation at break of PVC by more than 12 times, and the elongation at break (419.8 %) is 10 % higher than that of acetyl tributyl citrate plasticized PVC. Thermogravimetric analysis and aging experiments indicated that PVC blend plasticized by VAE exhibited superior thermal stability compared to acetyl tributyl citrate. The interaction between PVC and the carbonyl and ether groups in VAE has been demonstrated through multifaceted analysis utilizing density functional theory calculations. The binding energy between fragments was −17.8 kcal/mol, and the interaction was visualized by IGMH. Under this interaction, VAE exhibited extremely low migration in PVC blends. Acute oral toxicity tests were used to demonstrate that VAE is harmless to rats even at high doses. Overall, VAE, as a sustainable, low-risk, and efficient PVC plasticizer, outperforms typical commercial plasticizers and is a promising alternative to phthalates.

Synthesis, characterization and performance evaluation of different alkyl chain lengths flame-retardant plasticizers for poly(vinyl chloride) derived from sustainable vanillic acid

The current market for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) plasticizers is dominated by flammable petroleum-based compounds, accounting for over 80 % of the total share. Due to their high flammability, the search for novel approaches to enhance the fire resistance of flexible PVC has gained urgency. However, traditional flame-retardant schemes suffer from shortcomings such as poor compatibility, inferior long-term performance, and weak mechanical properties. Herein, we synthesized a novel biobased flame-retardant plasticizer (VAn-P) using vanillic acid as a skeleton. This plasticizer exhibits remarkable properties, including a substantially lower glass transition temperature compared to unplasticized PVC. The binding energy between VAn-P and PVC is calculated to be –33.30 kcal/mole, indicating a strong interaction. Furthermore, the maximum elongation at break of VAn-P plasticized PVC is 16 times higher than that of unmodified PVC. All PVC samples plasticized with VAn-P achieved a UL-94 VTM-0 rating. TGA-FTIR analysis revealed that the flame-retarding mechanism of VAn-P involves solid-phase action, significantly delaying the dehydrochlorination process of PVC. Moreover, VAn-P exhibits superior migration resistance compared to dioctyl phthalate (DOP). We also investigated the effects of alkyl chain lengths in VAn-P on various properties of PVC blends, including thermal stability, flame retardancy, mechanical properties, and optical performance. The toxicity of vanillic acid-based flame-retardant plasticizer has undergone an initial assessment. Overall, this green plasticizer is expected to endow polymers with high plasticizing performance and flame retardancy, providing a novel and sustainable approach for the synthesis of functional plasticizers.

Hydroxyapatite–lignin hybrid systems as improved poly(vinyl chloride) fillers: From preparation to application

In this study, new, functional hydroxyapatite–lignin hybrid systems were designed and characterized. The efficacy of the mechanical method utilized to obtain these systems was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The hybrid materials were also noted for their good electrokinetic stability and thermal stability.The introduction of 2.5 to 10 wt% hydroxyapatite–lignin systems into an unplasticized PVC blend using a two-step kneading and pressing method resulted in composites with relatively homogeneous distribution, as confirmed by SEM observations. The processing properties of the filler-containing blends were investigated using plastographometric analysis and MFR tests. The introduction of a lignin-predominant hybrid system into the PVC matrix results in a significant improvement of thermal stability, softening temperature, and tensile strength, while maintaining sufficient impact strength for numerous applications. Hybrid materials containing higher amounts of added lignin are promising materials with bacteriostatic properties. This can be utilized to stabilize and prevent the deposition of microorganisms, as well as the formation of biofilms, on material surfaces, thereby limiting the spread of pathogens. New eco-composites based on PVC and a hybrid filler containing lignin show promise in producing components with surfaces resistant to bacterial colonization. Hence, these materials could be used in medical and hospital equipment.

Multiscale Carbon Fibre-Carbon Nanotube Composites of Poly(Vinyl Chloride)-An Evaluation of Their Properties and Structure.

To date, there has been limited information in the literature on the application of carbon fibre-carbon nanotube systems for the modification of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrixes by micro- and nanometric fillers and an evaluation of the properties of the unique materials produced. This paper presents the results of newly designed unique multiscale composites. The advantages of the simultaneous use of carbon fibres (CFs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in PVC modification are discussed. To increase the dispersibility of the nanofiller, CFs together with nanotubes were subjected to a sonication process. The resulting material was introduced into PVC blends, which were processed by extrusion. The ratio of components in the hybrid filler with CF_CNT was 20:1, and its proportion in the PVC matrix was 1, 5, and 10 wt.%, respectively. Comparatively, PVC composites modified only with carbon fibres were obtained. The structure, thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties and swelling resistance of the composites were studied. The study showed a favourable homogeneous dispersion of nanotubes in the PVC matrix. This enabled effective modification of the structure at the nanometric level and the formation of an interpenetrating network of well-dispersed hybrid filler, as evidenced by a decrease in volume resistivity and improvement in swelling resistance, as well as an increase in glass transition temperature in the case of PVC/CF_CNT composites.

Prevention of surface defects in calendered poly(vinyl chloride) sheets using a succinate‐capped poly(caprolactone) additive

AbstractSurface defects known as “gas checks” often mar the surfaces of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) calendered films. These defects are typically prevented through changes in the calender operating parameters, a costly exercise which also limits the sheet thickness and the production rate. Adding a low concentration of poly(caprolactone) (PCL)‐based star‐shaped compound can eliminate gas check defects in PVC calendering. The effects of a triheptylsuccinate‐terminated PCL with a PCL triol core and number average molecular weight of 540 g/mol (i.e., PCL540‐[(succ)‐C7]3) has been investigated on the material, thermal, and processing properties of PVC blends containing diisononyl phthalate (DINP) as a primary plasticizer and PCL540‐[(succ)‐C7]3 in low quantities (i.e., 0, 5, or 10 parts per hundred rubber (phr)) as a secondary plasticizer and processing aid. The most significant differences between PVC blends containing PCL540‐[(succ)‐C7]3 and those without are in the rheological properties of the PVC blends at higher temperatures and lower angular frequencies. Under these conditions, PVC blends containing 10 phr of PCL540‐[(succ)‐C7]3 have a complex viscosity nearly three times higher than those containing only DINP. PVC/PCL540‐[(succ)‐C7]3 blends had comparable tensile properties to those containing only DINP, with no significant change in maximum elongation and a small but significant increase of 28% in maximum stress. The addition of PCL540‐[(succ)‐C7]3 made it possible to produce calendered films without gas checks that were twice as thick as those produced in its absence. In addition to reduced wastage of marred films, the increased calender operating range for PVC films containing PCL540‐[(succ)‐C7]3 has the potential to significantly reduce energy costs for the calendering of thick PVC films.

A multifunctional lactic acid based plasticizer used for plasticizing PVC and PLA: Endowing PLA elastic restore capability

A novel multifunctional plasticizer, cyclohexyl triethylene glycol oligo-lactate (CTLE) was designed by a two-step esterification reaction using green non-toxic biomass lactic acid as raw material. Its structure was characterized by 1H NMR, FT-IR and TOF-MS. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), tensile test and leaching test were used to evaluate the plasticizer effect of PVC or PLA blends. Compared with commercial plasticizers, CTLE showed more outstanding thermal stability, flexibility and migration stability. Under the same condition with the addition of 50 phr plasticizer, the CTLE plasticized PVC film had the lowest glass transition temperature (TgCTLE-50 = 24.6 °C) and the highest initial decomposition temperature (TiCTLE-50 = 265.4 °C). In PLA blends, only the CTLE plasticized PLA film could recover after fracture, and the stress relaxation test results showed that the stress value of PLA-CTLE-20 drops sharply to a non-zero value, showing elastic characteristics. We estimate that the excellent plasticity of CTLE is due to its molecular structure. Among them, a large number of polar groups form intermolecular forces with PVC chain segments to make the binding tight, and the ring structure increases the free volume between PVC chain segments.

Phosphorous-containing flame retardant plasticizer based on Cassia fistula seed oil and their application in poly(vinyl chloride) films

The need for safety and sustainability has prompted the development of flame-retardant bio-based plasticizers from renewable resources. In this study, an efficient phosphorous-containing flame retardant plasticizer (ECFSO-P) for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was synthesized using Cassia fistula seed oil and characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopies. In replace of the dioctyl phthalate (DOP), the ECFSO-P was employed as a flame retardant plasticizer to produce poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) blends. The PVC blends were prepared using ECFSO-P, DOP, and ECFSO-P + DOP blends as plasticizers. The PVC blends with different concentrations of DOP and ECFSO-P were investigated with thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), mechanical properties, fire retardant performance, crystallinity, leaching, volatility, and density functional theory (DFT) studies. The TGA results showed that the thermal degradation temperature of PVC blends plasticized with ECFSO-P reached 230.6 ºC. The glass transition temperature, Tg decreased to 34ºC as determined by DSC, when DOP was completely replaced with ECFSO-P. When PVC was plasticized with ECFSO-P only, the tensile strength and elongation at break reached 6.41 and 508.83, respectively. The leaching and volatility properties of ECFSO-P plasticized PVC blends were better than DOP plasticized film. Limited oxygen index (LOI) and smoke density rating (SDR) values were increased by 6.7% and 17.4%, respectively. The WAXS profiles showed that ECFSO-P did not alter the order of crystallinity among the PVC chains. As expected, the hydrogen bonding interactions between plasticizers and the -CH-Cl units of PVC were confirmed by DFT calculations.

A Novel One-Step Reactive Extrusion Process for High-Performance Rigid Crosslinked PVC Composite Fabrication Using Triazine Crosslinking Agent@Melamine-Formaldehyde Microcapsules.

In this work, we propose, for the first time, a simple, fast, and efficient strategy to fabricate high-performance rigid crosslinked PVC composites by continuous extrusion. This strategy improves the poor processing fluidity of composites and solves the impossibility of conducting extrusion in one step via using microcapsule-type crosslinking agents prepared by in situ polymerization to co-extrude with PVC blends. The results demonstrate that the PVC/microcapsule composites were successfully prepared. Within the studied parameters, the properties of crosslinked PVC gradually increased with the addition of microcapsules, and its Vicat softening temperature increased from 79.3 °C to 86.2 °C compared with pure PVC. This study shows the possibility for the industrial scale-up of the extrusion process for rigid crosslinked PVC.

Comparison of Performance and Characteristic of Suberate, Azelate and Sebacate as PVC Plasticizers

Consumer’s health and safety problems that arise from using di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) as a conventional plasticizer for PVC have led to the study of the production of alternative plasticizers based on dicarboxylate esters. In this study diester plasticizers based on suberic, azelaic and sebacic acid were synthesized with 2-ethylhexanol. PVC blends with these three diesters was conducted by solvent-casting technique. The characteristics of dicarboxylate esters plasticizers, which were judged to have excellent compatibility with PVC proved and evaluated by mechanical, thermal and migration stability test analyses as compared to DEHP. Improved tensile strength, elastic modulus, and elongation at break were observed in plasticized PVC films. Single peak of glass transition showed in all PVC-diester blends had lower range of temperatures, Tg(65.36 °C - 71.90 °C). The first stage of maximum degradation temperature for PVC-D2EHSu, PVC-D2EHAz and PVC-D2EHSe films were recorded at 287.06 °C, 290.83 °C and 281.68 °C, respectively, which exhibited good thermal stability. The good compatibility between synthesized plasticizers and PVC proved that the dicarboxylate plasticizers able to replace DEHP and highly capable to use as either primary or secondary plasticizers in food packaging, medical devices and domestic appliances in polymer industry.

Study on mechanical properties of PVC modified by new core-shell toughener

To expand the application field of PVC and make PVC resin high-performance, much research has been done on the toughening modification of PVC at home and abroad. ACR tougheners with different core-shell ratios were prepared by core-shell emulsion polymerization, which was used to blend PVC resin. In the experiment, the tensile and impact properties of PVC/ACR blends were tested and the fracture morphology was observed. The impact properties of PVC blends with toughened particles with different core-shell ratios were investigated and compared with the commercial ACR-401 toughener. The best combination of toughening effect was obtained: when the PVC/ACR blend ratio was 100:3.5, the tensile strength of PVC toughened by ACR7030 core-shell particles was 22.78MPa, and the impact strength was 8.67 kJ/m, which was superior to the commercial ACR-401 toughener. Therefore, ACR7030 can significantly enhance the mechanical properties of PVC, and the toughened PVC shows ductile fracture.

Diffusion Behavior of VOC Molecules in Polyvinyl Chloride Investigated by Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Due to the threats posed by many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to human health in indoor spaces via air, the mass transfer characteristics of VOCs are of critical importance to the study of their mechanism and control. As a significant part of the mass transfer process, diffusion widely exists in emissions from floors (e.g., PVC floors) and in sorption in porous materials. Molecular simulation studies by can provide unparalleled insights into the molecular mechanisms of VOCs. We construct the detailed atomistic structures of PVC blend membranes to investigate the diffusion behavior of VOC molecules (n-hexane) in PVC by molecular dynamics (MD). The variation in the diffusion coefficient of n-hexane in PVC with respect to temperature is in line with Arrhenius' law. The effect of temperature on the diffusion mechanism was investigated from the perspectives of free volume, cavity distribution and polymer chain mobility. It was found that the relationships between the diffusion coefficients of n-hexane in the polymer and the inverse fractional free volume are exponential and agree well with the free volume theory. Hopefully, this study will offer quantitative insights into the mass transport phenomena of VOCs within polymeric materials.

Enhancement of Photostabilization of Poly(Vinyl Chloride) in the Presence of Tin-Cephalexin Complexes.

Poly(vinyl chloride), PVC, has many attractive properties, including low cost of manufacture, resistance to acid and alkali corrosion, and ease of molding. However, PVC suffers from aging in harsh conditions, leading to the shortening of its useful life. Stability to irradiation, for example, can be improved through the incorporation of additives to PVC. The design, synthesis, and application of new stabilizers continue to attract attention. The current work investigates the effect of three tin-cephalexin complexes on the stability of PVC on irradiation with ultraviolet (UV) light (λ = 313 nm) at 25 °C for a long duration. The PVC was blended with tin-cephalexin complexes at low concentrations (0.5% by weight), and thin films (around 40 µm) were made from the mixed materials. Various methods, including weight loss, infrared spectroscopy, and surface inspection of irradiated films were used to investigate the role played by these additives in the inhibition of PVC photodecomposition. The results confirmed that the additives led to a significant reduction in the rate of photodecomposition of the PVC blends. Tin-cephalexin complexes can absorb harmful radiation, deactivate hydrogen chloride, and scavenge high-energy species such as peroxides, therefore acting as stabilizers for PVC.

Phosphorus Containing Rubber Seed oil as a Flame Retardant Plasticizer for Polyvinyl Chloride

The application of phthalate plasticizers has been restricted around the world due to their poor migration and potential harm to the human body. Hence, producing functional bio-based plasticizers via exploiting clean and reusable resources meets the satisfaction of current demands. In this study, flame-retardant rubber seed oil-based plasticize (FRP) was prepared via epoxidation reaction and ring opening addition reactions, which was used as a flame-resistant plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride to replace petroleum-based phthalate plasticizer. When DOP was replaced with FRP, the torque of PVC blends increased from 11.4 to 18.4 N⋅m, the LOI value increased from 24.3% for PVC-FRP-0% to 33.1% for PVC-FRP-20. The THR value diminished from 39 MJ/m2 (pertaining to PVC-FRC-0) to 22 MJ/m2 Tg increased from 23°C to 47°C, the weight loss of plasticized PVC blends significantly reduced from 22.6% to 2.8% in leaching tests. The study provided a new way to prepare flame retardant plasticizer using rubber seed oil as raw material.

Curcuma longa L. Rhizome Extract as a Poly(vinyl chloride)/Graphene Nanocomposite Green Modifier.

In this work, a method to increase the dispersion of graphene (GN) in the matrix of rigid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) by using a natural plant extract from Curcuma longa L. (CE) is proposed. Currently, despite the increasing number of reports on the improvement of GN dispersion in PVC blends, still there is a need to find environmentally friendly and economical dispersion stabilizers. We proposed a stabilizer that can be easily obtained from a plant offering thermal stability and high effectiveness. PVC/GN nanocomposites stabilized with the proposed extract were investigated by SEM, AFM (structure), TGA, and Congo red test (thermal properties). Additionally, static and dynamic mechanical properties and electrical resistivity were measured. The use of CE as a graphene dispersant improved its dispersion in the PVC matrix, influenced tensile properties, increased the storage modulus and glass transition temperature, and extended the thermal stability time of nanocomposites. In this work, a CE extract is proposed as an efficient eco-friendly additive for the production of nanocomposites with an improved homogeneity of a nanofiller in the matrix and promising characteristics.

Synthesis of a bio‐based plasticizer from vanillic acid and its effects on poly(vinyl chloride)

AbstractA new bio‐based plasticizer, VA8‐8, was prepared derived from vanillic acid, and its structure was verified by nuclear magnetic resonance. It was incorporated into poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) to replace dioctyl phthalate (DOP), and its plasticizing performance was evaluated. The results indicated that VA8‐8 shows good compatible with PVC resin, and has a excellent plasticizing effect for PVC. When DOP was partially or completely substituted with VA8‐8, the Tg value PVC blends dropped from 34.6 to 24.3°C and the elongation at break increased from 196.4% to 301.9%, suggesting the enhanced plasticizing efficiency of plasticizer. The plasticizing mechanism was also simulated, and the interactions between VA8‐8 and PVC molecules were discussed. The thermogravimetric analysis showed VA8‐8 can more effectively improve the thermal stability of PVC than DOP. In addition, the migration resistance of VA8‐8 was generally superior to that of DOP. Therefore, VA8‐8 is a comparable to or better plasticizer than DOP, and it is a promising alternative plasticizer for PVC.

Thermal behavior, synergistic effect and thermodynamic parameter evaluations of biomass/plastics co–pyrolysis in a concentrating photothermal TGA

The heating rate would significantly impact the pyrolysis process, especially for the reactions containing synergistic effects between two different feedstocks. Co-pyrolysis of two widely available biomass (CC–corncob and PS–peanut shell) with plastic (PET–polyethylene terephthalate and PVC–polyvinyl chloride) was studied in a concentrating photothermal thermogravimetric analysis (CP-TGA) system at three heating rates (100, 500, 1000℃/min). The TG and DTG curves of CC and PS differ due to their polymeric components (holocellulose and lignin); two pronounced levels at 100 and 500 ℃/min heating rates were present in PVC. With increasing heating rate, the lateral shift towards higher temperature regions in the TG and DTG curves exceeded 100 °C. The synergistic effects on the blend samples were concentrated in the main decomposition region (250–580℃) due to rapid volatiles release, and the discrepancy values further stabilized at the final decomposition stages. The activation energy (Ea) was assessed using a comparative study of isoconversional methods, namely Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS), Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO), and Starink. The isoconversional methods demonstrated that the co-pyrolysis process required about 30 % less activation energy than the pyrolysis of plastic (PET/PVC) alone. Coats-Redfern's (CR) model-fitting approach was used to identify the kinetic triplet of the devolatilization stage. The CR models revealed that biomass–PET blends belong to two to four-dimensional diffusion models, whereas biomass–PVC blends are dominated by chemical reactions of 1.5 and 2 orders. The energy barrier between activation energy (Ea) and change in enthalpy (ΔH) for all the blend samples was lower (∼5–6 kJmol−1), which slightly increased at higher heating rate.

Ionic conductivity study of Camphor Sulphonic Acid doped PMMA-PVC blends as polyelectrolyte

Blends of PMMA and PVC were synthesized using film cast and doped with Camphor Sulphonic Acid (CSA). In order that the mechanical properties do not deteriorate, plasticizers were not added. The amorphous nature of the doped samples was confirmed through XRD and ac electrical conductivity of these blends was studied as a function of frequency in the range 100 Hz to 1 MHz at eight different temperatures from 30 °C to100 °C. The nonlinearity observed indicates that the ion transport in polymer electrolyte is dependent on polymer segmental motion. The slight increase in conductivity with temperature was due to the hopping mechanism between the coordinating sites and the linear variation of conductivity with frequency for all the temperatures and the samples and was attributed to the polarization of electrodes.

Small molecule plasticizers for improved migration resistance: Investigation of branching and leaching behaviour in PVC blends

The influence of branching on plasticizer effectiveness and migration behavior of heptyl-succinate plasticizers blended with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was evaluated. An increase of branching led to a decrease in migration of the plasticizers into both hexanes and vegetable oil medias. Additionally, a quantitative 1H NMR method was used to identify plasticizer concentration in the leachates and compared to a gravimetric standard test method. Overall, the quantitative 1H NMR method proved to be a more direct method to assess leaching. In comparison to commercial plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and alternative plasticizer diheptyl succinate (DHPS), all of the branched species displayed superior migration resistance into hexanes (two to ten-fold). The glass transition temperatures and stress at break data indicated that the plasticizers comprised of up to three branches functioned as well as, or better than DEHP and DHPS. However, there was a decrease in plasticizer efficiency with compounds comprised of four or more branches.

Composites of Poly(vinyl chloride) with Residual Hops after Supercritical Extraction in CO2.

The common applications of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) in many industries mean that the topic of recycling and disposal of post-consumer waste is still very important. One of the methods of reducing the negative impact of PVC waste on the natural environment is to use technological or post-consumer waste of this polymer to produce new composite materials with favorable utility properties, with the addition of natural fillers, among which agro-waste, including hop residue, is deserving of special attention. In this study, the effect of the addition of residual hops (H) on the mechanical and physicochemical properties of poly(vinyl chloride) was investigated. PVC blends containing 10, 20 and 30 wt % of hop residue were mixed in an extruder, while the specimens were obtained by the injection molding method. It was observed that the addition of H increased their thermostability, as shown by a Congo red test. Furthermore, thermogravimetric analysis showed that the degradation rate of PVC/H composites in the first and second stages of decomposition was lower in comparison with unmodified PVC. In turn, composite density, impact strength and tensile strength decreased significantly with an increasing concentration of filler in the PVC matrix. At the same time, their Young’s modulus, flexural modulus and Rockwell hardness increased. Flame resistance tests showed that with an increasing residual hop content, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) decreased by 9.0; 11.8 and 13.6%, respectively, compared to unfilled PVC (LOI = 37.4%). In addition, the maximum heat release rate (pHRR) decreased with an increasing filler content by about 16, 24 and 31%, respectively. Overall, these composites were characterized by a good burning resistance and had a flammability rating of V0 according to the UL94 test.

Effect of ketal group in castor oil acid‐based plasticizer on the properties of poly(vinyl chloride)

AbstractTwo castor oil acid esters containing a ketal or ketone group (KCL or CL), as alternative plasticizers for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), were prepared. The structures were confirmed by1H NMR and FTIR spectroscopies. The effects of the presence of a ketal or ketone group in these compounds on PVC plasticization were examined. The DMA and SEM results showed that both plasticizers were miscible with PVC and exhibited excellent plasticizing properties, compared to those of dioctyl phthalate (DOP). The PVC plasticized by KCL displayed a lowerTgvalue of 20.6°C, which was lower than that of PVC plasticized with DOP (22.3°C) and PVC plasticized with CL (40.5°C). Tensile tests indicated that PVC plasticized using KCL showed a 37% higher of elongation at break than PVC plasticized by CL and 30% higher than PVC plasticized by DOP. The plasticizing mechanism was also investigated. Moreover, exudation, volatility, and extraction tests, along with TGA indicated that the presence of ketal groups effectively improved the migration resistance of plasticizer and the thermal stability of PVC blends. Taken together, introducing ketal groups into plasticizer might be an effective strategy for improving its plasticizing efficiency.