New Chlorinated Bio-Ester as Sustainable Secondary Plasticizer for Flame-Retardant PVC

This study explores the potential of the bio-based chlorinated ester Essebiochlor HV45 as a sustainable secondary plasticizer for poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) formulations, benchmarking its performance against the conventional chlorinated paraffin Essechlor CP52. Compatibility and plasticizing efficiency were evaluated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), migration tests, and mechanical property analysis. The findings reveal that Essebiochlor HV45 demonstrates superior compatibility with PVC, evidenced by a lower substitution factor (SF) and reduced plasticizer migration, resulting in improved stability and flexibility. Mechanical testing highlighted a lower elastic modulus and greater performance stability after aging for formulations with Essebiochlor HV45. Fire behavior assessments showed that, while Essebiochlor HV45 displayed slightly reduced flame resistance compared to CP52, both formulations achieved the highest UL94 V0 classification, confirming excellent fire-retardant properties. Thermal stability analyses indicated that Essebiochlor HV45 begins decomposing at a lower temperature (220 degrees C compared to 275 degrees C for CP52), posing a limitation for applications requiring high-temperature resistance. Despite these thermal constraints, Essebiochlor HV45 emerges as a promising, eco-friendly alternative to chlorinated paraffins, offering enhanced plasticizing efficiency and compatibility. With targeted improvements in thermal stability and flame resistance, it holds significant potential for advancing sustainable PVC formulations in demanding applications.