PVC plasticizers are liquid materials responsible for solvating the polymer or providing flexibility according to the producer's requirements. They allow polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to be as flexible as needed, such as in an irrigation hose or a toy ball.
PVC plasticizers are a common and easy-to-use group of materials in the market that provide the desired versatility to PVC and facilitate processing conditions. The choice of a plasticizer depends not only on the desired flexibility but also on other properties or ease of incorporation during the mixing process. These properties include low-temperature performance, toxicity, resistance to extraction or migration, volatility, among others.
It is important to understand that when a plasticizer solvates PVC, it alters the glass transition temperature (Tg) and heat deflection temperature (HDT) of the polymer. This provides benefits, such as increased elongation, but may reduce tensile strength and rigidity. Care should be taken when using PVC plasticizers in semi-rigid or rigid applications, as while they aid in processing and fusion, they can cause irreversible deformation in the finished products.
