Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of a Bio-Based Plasticizer for PVC: Epoxidized Acetylation Cardanol

A bio-based plasticizer, epoxidized acetylation cardanol, was synthesized from cardanol, which experienced acetylation reaction and epoxidation reaction. Chemical structure of epoxidized acetylation cardanol was characterized by FT-IR and 1H NMR. Plasticized PVC films (PVC-P) were prepared by casting method with 40%wt of epoxidized acetylation cardanol as a plasticizer. Thermal stability and plasticizing effect of PVC and PVC-P were investigated. The results presented that epoxidized acetylation cardanol enhanced the thermal stability of PVC-P and decreased glass transition temperature (Tg) from 81.9°C to 1.6°C. The tensile strength decreased from 26.60 MPa to 8.06 MPa, the elongation at break increased from 167.21 % to 905.44%. All of the results indicated that epoxidized acetylation cardanol could be used as the main plasticizer for preparing flexible PVC materials.