Spectrophotometric characterization of plasticizer migration in poly(vinyl chloride)-based artificial leather

Plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is one of the most commonly used material in the manufacture of artificial leather because of its flexibility, high durability and low cost. While hundreds of plasticizers have been produced to obtain PVC films and artificial leathers, it is important to choose the correct plasticizer to produce the desired products. Therefore, here five non-phthalate type plasticizers with three levels (40 phr, 60 phr and 80 phr); trioctyl trimelliate (TOTM), tributyl trimelliate (TBTM), dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP), dioctyl adipate (DOA) and dioctyl succinate (BIO) were used to prepare plasticized PVC films. They were studied in terms of their compabilities with PVC polymer chains, and their effects on mechanical properties of PVC films. Although, linear plasticizers e.g. BIO and DOA have higher compabilities with PVC, a branched plasticizer e.g. TOTM showed higher mechanical properties. Moreover, a new spectrophotometric method for determination of plasticizer migration from PVC polymer matrix to the surface of artifical leather was developed. According to lightness change on the surface of PVC artifical leather before and after heat treatment at 70 degrees C, the migration rates of used plasticizers increase in this order: TOTM < TBTM < DOTP < BIO < DOA.

Automated summary

Five non-phthalate plasticizers were studied for their effects on plasticized PVC films, with branched plasticizer TOTM showing higher mechanical properties compared to linear plasticizers. A new spectrophotometric method was developed to determine plasticizer migration from PVC matrix to artificial leather surface. The migration rates of plasticizers were found to increase in the order of TOTM < TBTM < DOTP < BIO < DOA based on lightness changes on the surface of PVC artificial leather after heat treatment at 70 degrees C.