abstract
The worldwide regulatory demand for the elimination of non-phthalate compounds for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) plasticization has intensified the search for alternatives. Concomitantly, sustainability concerns have highlighted sugar-based 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid as one key renewable-chemical for the development of several products, namely di(2-ethylhexyl) 2,5-furandicarboxylate (DEHF) plasticizer. This study addresses the use of DEHF under a realistic scenario of the co-existence of both DEHF and entirely fossil-based plasticizers. More precisely, original PVC blends using mixtures of non-toxic DEHF and di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate ester (DEHT) were designed. The detailed structural, thermal, and mechanical characterization of these materials showed that they all have a set of interesting properties that are compatible with those of commercial DEHT, namely a low glass transition (19.2-23.8 degrees C) and enhanced elongation at break (up to 330%). Importantly, migration tests under different daily situations, such as for example exudation from food/beverages packages and medical blood bags, reveal very low weight loss percentages. For example, in both distilled water and phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution, weight loss does not exceed ca. 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively. Viability tests show, for the first time, that up to 500 mu M of DEHF, a promising cytotoxic profile is observed, as well as for DEHT. Overall, this study demonstrates that the combination of DEHF and DEHT plasticizers result in a noticeable plasticized PVC with an increased green content with promising cytotoxic results.
keywords
POLY VINYL-CHLORIDE; ALKYL CHAIN-LENGTH; THERMAL-DEGRADATION; POLY(VINYL CHLORIDE); GREEN PLASTICIZERS; OIL; PHTHALATE; PERFORMANCE; MECHANISM; TOXICITY
subject category
Materials Science
authors
Matos, M; Cordeiro, RA; Faneca, H; Coelho, JFJ; Silvestre, AJD; Sousa, AF
our authors
Andreia Fernandes de Sousa
Assistant Researcher
Armando Jorge Domingues Silvestre
Full professor
Marina Matos
Junior Researcheracknowledgements
FCT andPOPH/FSE are gratefully acknowledged for funding a doctoral grant toMM(PD/BD/52501/2014). The costs resulting from the FCT hiring of AFS were funded by national funds (OE), through FCT-Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, I.P., in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5 and 6 of the article 23, of the Decree-Law 57/2016, of 29 August, changed by Law 57/2017, of 19 July. This work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, FCT Ref. UID/CTM/50011/2019, financed by national funds through the FCT/MCTES.