Epoxidized Mono-Esters for PVC Plasticizers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bio-based plasticizers, such as epoxidized soybean oil, face challenges with limited compatibility and exudation issues when used in halogenated polymers like PVC, leading to brittleness and reduced flexibility in final products.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the epoxidation of vegetable oils followed by transesterification and short-path distillation to produce epoxidized mono-esters with reduced non-functionalized fatty acid esters, enhancing compatibility and reducing exudation, is developed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If epoxidized vegetable oil is used as a plasticizer in PVC, then the plasticizer provides flexibility and is bio-based, but it exhibits limited compatibility and causes exudation leading to brittleness
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the plasticizer by removing non-functionalized fatty acid esters through distillation, thereby improving compatibility with PVC and reducing exudation while maintaining the bio-based nature and flexibility-providing properties of the epoxidized vegetable oil
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the harmful non-functionalized fatty acid esters from the epoxidized vegetable oil through distillation, separating the beneficial epoxidized mono-esters from the harmful components that cause exudation and brittleness
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional distillation is used to purify epoxidized vegetable oil, then purification is achieved, but thermal degradation occurs due to high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes vacuum distillation which lowers the boiling point of the plasticizer components, allowing purification through phase transition at reduced temperatures that prevent thermal degradation while achieving the required purification level
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs nitrogen atmosphere during distillation to create an inert environment that prevents oxidation and thermal degradation of the epoxidized vegetable oil components while still achieving effective purification
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The process results in bio-based plasticizers with improved compatibility and reduced exudation, suitable for use in halogenated polymers, maintaining flexibility and preventing brittleness in PVC applications.
Implementation Method 1
The invention refers to a process for the production of bio-based compounds that can be used as plasticizer in halogenated polymers comprising epoxidized mono-esters
Implementation Method 2
The invention also refers to a process for preparing two mixtures of epoxidized fatty acid (mono-)esters, comprising in the order given: 1) epoxidation of a vegetable oil, followed by 2) transesterification of the epoxidized vegetable oil
Implementation Method 3
followed by 3) short path distillation of the transesterified epoxidized vegetable oil
Implementation Method 4
selection of the non-vaporized fraction of process step 3) as the first mixture of epoxidized fatty acid esters and 5) selection of the vaporized fraction of process step 3) as the second mixture of epoxidized fatty acid esters
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for preparing two mixtures of epoxidized fatty acid esters, comprising in the order given a transesterification of an epoxidized vegetable oil, followed by a reduction of the volatile saturated non-epoxidized fraction by short path distillation of the transesterified epoxidized vegetable oil, followed by a selection on the one hand of the non-vaporized fraction (residue) of the previous process step as the first mixture of epoxidized fatty acid esters and a selection on the other hand of the vaporized fraction (distillate) as the second mixture of epoxidized fatty acid esters. The first mixture is in particular suitable as plasticizer in halogenated polymers, the second mixture being particularly suitable as plasticizer in non- halogenated polymers.