Quick method to assess the usefulness of new compounds for plasticization of poly(vinyl chloride)

Effectiveness of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) plasticizers was studied by a conventional method (consisting in mixing, extruding, and pelletizing) and by a simple PVC plasticized film casting onto a petri dish. Mech. properties (elongation at break and tensile strength), leaching resistance, thermal stability, and glass transition temps. of the film were detd. (bis(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate and tris(2-ethylhexyl) trimellitate) were used as plasticizers. A quite good agreement between results of both methods was achieved but the fast method is recommended for preliminary assessment of the plasticize efficiency only.