Modification of PVC mechanical and migration properties by substitution of DOP plasticizer with epoxidized rice bran oil

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is one of the widely used and versatile plastic materials. One phthalate plasticizer commonly used in PVC compounding is the toxic dioctyl phthalate (DOP). DOP is easily oxidized and non-renewable. Therefore a non-toxic bio plasticizer of epoxidized rice bran oil (ERBO) was employed to substitute DOP in PVC compounds by 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 %w/w. Mechanical properties of casted PVC samples were then characterized in terms of hardness, tensile strength, and elongation. Migration property characterization was also performed. It was revealed that all those properties were influenced by the substitution level of bio plasticizer (calculated F values were all higher than the tabulated ones). The influence was significant for hardness and elongation (calculated t values were higher than the tabulated ones), but not significant for solvent migration and tensile strength (calculated t values were lower than the tabulated ones).