Mechanical and migration properties of PVC/waste PET depolymerization products blends

Abstract

Waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes were depolymerized by using trimethylol propane (TMP) in the presence of zinc acetate as catalyst. Molar ratio of PET/TMP was used as 1/2 and 1/4 in the alcoholysis reactions. In order to obtain PVC plastisols, PVC powder was dispersed into a plasticizer mixture composed of di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) and alcoholysis products by using a high-speed mixer (65% PVC, 35% plasticizers w/w). Alcoholysis products were used 20 and 40% of DINP by weight in the plasticizer mixture. Plasticized PVC sheets were prepared from these plastisols. Migration properties, mechanical properties and T-g of plasticized PVC sheets were determined. Results showed that the alcoholysis products of waste PET are compatible for using as secondary plasticizer for PVC.