The primary plasticizers for the world’s most plasticized polymer, poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), are organic phthalates. Despite being categorized a probable human carcinogen by the EPA, di-2-thylhexyl phthalate (DEHP or DOP) is such a typical PVC plasticizer. The principal goal of our research was to find an alternative plasticizer that lowered PVC’s glass transition temperature (Tg), but was not as harmful for the environment and our health as the currently employed phthalate plasticizers. Here we investigate whether urea or its derivatives can interact and complex with another largely amorphous polymer, PVC, and also lower its Tg. Large shifts in the vibrational frequencies observed by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy indicated that U and two of its derivatives [Acetamide (AC) and Tetramethylurea (TMU)] were complexing with PVC, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry observations revealed significantly lower Tgs for all three complexes (PVC-U, -AC, and -TMU). Though the requisite thorough environmental studies have yet to be conducted on AC and TMU, it seems very likely that both are less harmful than the phthalate plasticizers currently used to soften PVC. Hopefully, they will eventually be determined to be as benign as U, a common human metabolite. Nevertheless, we believe our preliminary results warrant further examination of U, AC, and TMU as effective and potentially less harmful PVC plasticizers.

Plasticizing PVC with urea and its derivatives

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.