Plasticizer Blend for PVC Color Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Phthalate plasticizers used in PVC products face scrutiny due to environmental and health concerns, and existing phthalate-free alternatives like epoxidized soy oil discolor when subjected to heat, necessitating a phthalate-free plasticizer with improved color retention during heat aging.

Innovation Solution

A blend of epoxidized soybean oil and trans-esterified epoxidized fatty acid methyl ester is used as a plasticizer, with an oxirane value greater than or equal to 6.8%, which retains color when heat aged at 190°C for 100 minutes, maintaining a Yellowness Index less than 165.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If epoxidized soy oil is used as a phthalate-free plasticizer, then health and environmental safety is improved, but color retention during heat aging deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephthalate exposure riskVSAvoidcolor stability during heat aging

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines epoxidized soybean oil (providing phthalate-free safety) with trans-esterified epoxidized fatty acid methyl ester (providing color stability) to create a blended plasticizer system that achieves both health safety and color retention during heat aging

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite plasticizer material consisting of multiple components (epoxidized soybean oil and trans-esterified epoxidized fatty acid methyl ester) where each component contributes different properties, resulting in a plasticizer that simultaneously provides phthalate-free formulation and superior color stability at high temperatures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If phthalate plasticizers are used in PVC products, then color retention during heat aging is improved, but environmental and health safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor stability during heat agingVSAvoidphthalate exposure risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates phthalates from the plasticizer formulation, replacing them with phthalate-free alternatives (epoxidized soybean oil combined with trans-esterified epoxidized fatty acid methyl ester) that maintain or improve color stability while removing harmful substances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the plasticizer by using trans-esterified epoxidized fatty acid methyl ester with specific oxirane value (≥6.8%), which fundamentally alters the plasticizer's properties to achieve both phthalate-free formulation and superior heat aging color retention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10262767B2Plasticizer for color retention during heat aging

Publication Date: 2019.04.16 DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

The present disclosure is directed to a plasticizer, a polymeric composition containing the plasticizer, and conductors coated with the polymeric composition. The plasticizer includes a blend of an epoxidized soybean oil and a trans-esterified epoxidized fatty acid methyl ester. The trans-esterified epoxidized fatty acid methyl ester has an oxirane value greater than or equal to 6.8%. The plasticizer, the polymeric composition, and the coated conductor retain color during heat aging.