Polyvinylchloride (PVC) and natural rubber films plasticized with a natural polymeric plasticizer obtained through polyesterification of rice fatty acid

The use of natural plasticizers with low toxicity and good compatibility in several polymer applications has become more attractive. In this study, a natural plasticizer was synthesized in the laboratory by esterification of rice fatty acids and polyols. The resulting product was added to PVC and natural rubber latex films (5% w/w). Mechanical properties of the films, as well as tests of migration and exudation of the plasticizer, were performed in order to evaluate the efficiency of plasticization. Optical microscopy (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to characterize the pristine and plasticized polymer. Mechanical tests indicated that the addition of the natural plasticizer resulted in an increase in the elongation at break and a consequent decrease in the tensile strength of the films. The plasticizing effect induced by the natural plasticizer was also confirmed by a glass transition temperature (T-g) shift towards lower temperatures in the plasticized films. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.