N-alkyl pyrrolidones as innovative PVC plasticisers

Abstract

It has been found that N-alkyl (C 8 to C 18 ) pyrrolidones are highly efficient, strong solvating performance plasticisers which decrease gelling temperatures substantially. Higher alkyl pyrrolidones also exhibit very low volatility. Solubility temperatures (DIN 53408) are between 52uC (N-octyl pyrrolidone) and 80uC (N-octadecyl pyrrolidone). Plasticising efficiency tests using comparative of Shore A values showed that N-alkyl pyrrolidones are up to 40% more efficient than the standard plasticiser diisononylphthalate. Cold flexibility as assessed by the folding test DIN EN495-5 and impact test DIN 53372 found sample failure to begin in the temperature range from 255 to 265uC. Further trials in filled systems showed that N-alkyl pyrrolidones are highly compatible with calcium carbonate and allow very high filler loads. Manufacturing tests with a highly filled system using an extruder resulted in increased output while significantly reducing plasticiser levels and processing temperatures, and thus reducing energy requirements.

N-Alkyl Pyrrolidones for Plasticizing Polyurethane Elastomers

“…Due to their excellent dissolving power and good compatibility with PVC both gelling temperature and gelling time can be reduced. It leads to highly flexible PVC formulations that even at extremely low temperatures do not lose their flexibility [4,5].…”