Plasticizers Derived From Renewable Feedstock

Materials:

[0099]The materials listed below were obtained from Galata Chemicals, LLC (Southbury, CT): Epoxidized 2-ethylhexyl tallate (designated EOT hereinbelow) as Drapex® 4.4; epoxidized 2-ethylhexyl soyate (ECS) as Drapex® 5.2; epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO) as Drapex® 6.8.

[0100]Butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP), dipropyiene glycol dibenzoate (DPGDB) and dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich.

[0101]The following compounds were obtained from Chemtura Corp. (Middlebury. Conn.): 2,2′-methylene-bis(6-t-butyl-4-methylphenol) as Lowinox 22M46; pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate) as Anox 20; octadecyl-3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate as Anox PP18.

Abbreviations:

[0102]I.E.=Inventive Examples; PB=Plasticizer Blend.

[0103]Plasticizer blends were prepared by blending 75 g epoxidized 2-ethylhexyl tallate and 25 g epoxidized soybean oil (PB 1): 62.5 g epoxidized 2-ethylhexyl tallate and 32.5 g epoxidized soybean oil (PB 2); 50 g epoxidized 2-ethylhexyl tallate and 50 g epoxidized soybean oil (PB 3). The samples were mixed for 1 hour at ambient temperature to attain a stable, homogeneous liquid blend.

Cloud Point Test

[0104]Samples prepared in Examples 1-3 as well as the ESBO and EOT controls were cooled in order to determine the lowest temperature point at which the samples remain free of haze, gelling and cloudiness. As can be seen in Table 1, Cloud Points of the plasticizer compositions of the invention, PB 1-PB 3, are surprisingly lower (41° F.) than the Cloud Point for the controls, i.e., the individual blend components ESBO and EOT, at 49° F. and 69° F., respectively. This represents a 16% reduction in cloud point vs. EOT control (see Table 1).

TABLE 1Cloud Points of Plasticizer Compositions / Blendsand their ComponentsAmount ofESBO in theCloud PointinventiveReductionCloud PointplasticizerCloud Point(Temp.EOT −ReductionPlasticizerblend (wt. %)(° F.)Temp.PBX)(%)&ESBONA69—(control)EOTNA49—(control)PB 125.041816PB 237.541816PB 350.041816&(Temp.EOT − Temp.PBX) / Temp.EOT *100

Flexible Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Sample Preparation

[0105]The tested formulations included the follow