Thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride) plastisols based on low-migration polymeric plasticizers

The analysis of the thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) plastisols formulated with low-toxicity polymeric plasticizers is reported. Dynamic and isothermal thermogravimetric analyses are applied to study the behavior of these materials at high temperatures and to evaluate their degradation kinetics. The results used for the optimization of the processing conditions, in particular the cure time and temperature, to maximize the thermal stability of the plastisol. The optimum plasticizer concentration is also determined. TGA results have been used to determine the parameters of the degradation kinetic model using Friedman and Horowitz methods. A comparison with the thermal behavior of traditional plastisols normally employed in industrial applications is reported. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.