Physico-mechanical analysis of free ethyl cellulose films comprised with novel plasticizers of vitamin resources

This research was conducted to investigate the physico-mechanical characteristics of the EC-based coating membranes plasticized with two informal ingredients of vitamin resources, cholecalciferol and α-tocopherol, with respect to the commercial plasticizer DBS. Proceeding the experiment, free thin polymer sheetings of the sample formulations, incorporating incremental weight percents of the individual plasticizers were prepared employing a revised casting method of delayed solvent evaporation whereby similar flat specimens of standard dimensions were subjected to tensile loadings and extensions. The data were analyzed through the known equations of membrane theory in spherical subjects considering the complete symmetry of assumingly spherical pellets and/or granules. The relative tensile parameters of the experimental and commercial plasticizers in the resilient region were also estimated to fairly decide on a moderate explanation of a strong, hard, and tough structure among the specimens. The results implied the great compatibility of the oily soluble vitamins in EC networks projecting higher factors of safety and greater ultimate strength, toughness, and young coefficient of the formulations compared to the specimens plasticized with the commercial DBS within a concentration range of 40–50% (w/w) of the polymer solids. α-Tocopherol represented supremacy over colecalciferol to result in relatively a 2-fold (and practically a 4-fold with respect to DBS) greater increase in the modulus of resilience. The vitamin compounds and in essential α-tocopherol, in consequence, can properly be applied at concentrations of 40–50% (w/w) as efficient plasticizers to provide a greater protection of the structure against sudden fractures of dynamic and continuously increasing environmental and biological stresses.