Bio-Based Primary Plasticizer for PVC Plastic - CHEMICAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTING, INC.

Recipient Organization
CHEMICAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTING, INC.
(N/A)
EAGAN,MN 55123

Performing Department
(N/A)

Non Technical Summary
The market for plasticizers is as much as 5 billion pounds world wide basis, 2 billion USA alone. Epoxidized Soybean Oil (ESO) represents 0.5 billion of the world wide market of these plasticizers, 0.15 billion USA. Pthalates are under investigation for toxicity. ESO (epoxidized soybean oil)plasticizers can not be increased in current formulations as ESO exudes when at levels beyond 5-7%. Develop a simple modification to ESO that increases its compatibility in PVC formulations, such that it can be used in replacement of pthalates.

Animal Health Component

100%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

100%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
511	1899	2000	100%

Knowledge Area
511 - New and Improved Non-Food Products and Processes;

Subject Of Investigation
1899 - Oilseed and oil crops, general/other;

Field Of Science
2000 - Chemistry;

Keywords

Goals / Objectives
Develop a primary plasticizer for PVC (polyvinyl chloride) formulations from epoxidized soybean oil (ESO). Currently ESO is considered a secondary plasticizer and co-stabilizer, and is used in flexible PVC formulations at volumes up to 500 million pounds per year world wide, 140 million pounds per year USA. But its use in these formulations is limited because it begins to exude from the finished flexible PVC product when used at levels over 5-7% of the total formula, even though more plasticizer and plasticization is required. The extra plasticizer used is usually phtalate based. Pthalates are being investigated for toxic effects, and are already banned in some european countries for items such as childrens' toys. Pthalates are from non-renewable petroleum sources. This creates quite a market opportunity for ESO based plasticizers if this compatibility issue can be resolved.

Project Methods
Well chosen derivatives (based on low cost manufacturing methods and potential to increase compatibility in PVC formulations) will be compared side by side with current pthalate plasticizers to determine the likely candidates for further research. Once the best candidates are chosen efforts will switch to refining the process chemistry of the best candidate or candidates in order to develop a manufacturing method that is compatible with the existing facilities that produce ESO, ensuring a low cost, low or no capital route to commercialization.

Progress 05/15/04 to 02/28/05

Outputs
Purpose of this project: Develop a bio-based plasticizer by chemically modifying epoxidized vegetable oil (EVO). Description of the research: The research was carried out in the labs of Texas State University San Marcos and the University of Michigan. The chemical modifications of the EVOs were prepared in Texas, while all studies on the effects on the PVC matrix were carried out in Michigan. Analysis of the composite data from these studies was performed in Texas using the Design-Expert 6 computer data modeling program. Research findings: The initial chemical modifications of EVO were tested using the ASTM for measuring exudation or bleed, and found to have actually exceeded some of the phthalates on this critical parameter. But these same derivatives of EVO were found to not have the same softening (plasticizing) effect on the PVC matrix as phthalates or EVO before this modification. More modifications were made and tested for both bleed and softening, and data carefully studied. Design-Expert 6 data suggests a modification can be made that optimizes both of these critical parameters.

Impacts
Potential applications: The multi-billion pound market for plasticizers in the USA alone, made up of phthalates, can be significantly penetrated with the molecule described above. As already mentioned the phthalate based plasticizers are under pressure for toxicity and potential allergic response issues. The current use of EVOs, 150M pounds/year in North America, already dominates the more health, safety, and quality conscious markets such as medical (IV bags, blood bags, tubing), food (food wrap, beverage cap liners, food packages) etc, so the ability of such a molecule to drastically increase its share of this market as pressure on phthalates increases will be effected almost solely by the price at which this bio-based plasticizer alternative must be sold. And since these modifications are still minor, using abundantly available and low cost raw materials, and using processes compatible with those used by the current manufacturers of EVO, this project is given a very high potential for success.

Publications

No publications reported this period