Performance testing of a green plasticizer based on lactic acid for PVC

In order to develop alternative green plasticizers, a bio-based plasticizer, acetylated lactic acid 1,4-cyclohexanedimethyl ester(ALCH), with novel molecule geometry was synthesized from l-lactic acid and characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The prepared ALCH was mixed with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) as plasticizer and the results indicated that the PVC films plasticized by ALCH have better migration and volatility stability than acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC). In addition, ALCH could endow PVC products with excellent performance of strength, elongation and elasticity. With the substitution of ALCH for ATBC, glass transition temperature (Tg) of PVC films decreased gradually from 61.3°C to 55.0 °C. The self-polymerization of lactic acid gives ALCH better plasticizing effectiveness than ATBC.