The present invention refers to a highly stable plasticised polyvinyl halide composition, said said composition comprising polyvinylhalide polymer, pentatetravalerate and epoxidized unsaturated fatty acid ester.

Plasticisers have the ability to reduce the glass transition temperature of polymers and thereby provide soft and/or flexible products, contrary to the hard and brittle basic material. Organic esters constitute the major group of plasticisers for polyvinylhalide polymers such as polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyvinylidenechloride (PVDC) and polyvinylideneflouride (PVF2). Among these organic esters phthalates are without competition the largest subgroup. The most commonly used phthalate esters as PVC plasticisers are di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), also known as dioctyl phthalate (DOP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP). Further examples of organic esters used as PVC plasticisers are adipates, trimellitates, sebacates and azelates. Phosphate esters, such as tris (2-ethylhexyl) phosphate, and sulphonate esters, such as arylesters of sulphonic acids, are used in minor amounts. The preparation and the use of said plasticisers are well known and thoroughly disclosed in a number of handbooks and encyclopedias of chemical technology.

Plasticized polyvinylhalides is used in a multitude of plastic items going to a multitude of end-user sectors such as flexible films, cables and wires, flooring, flexible tubes and profiles and coated fabric and paper. Over the last few decades, the use of plastics as packaging materials has increased due to their properties and processability. As a result of contact between packed food and plastics, traces of plasticisers may migrate into the food

contaminating it and affecting consumers' health. The situation has created an increasing desire for phthalate- free plasticisers for applications like toys, food contact materials, medicals and other applications where the use of phthalates are either restricted or non-wanted by end-users.

Another problem with plasticized polyvinylhalides is the useful product life due to stability of the composition itself. Some of these problems relate to the plasticizer per se while others relate to compatibility between the polymer and plasticizer. These stability problems can be separated into the three categories; thermal-, ultraviolet- (UV) and hydrolyzation- stability. The thermal stability is particularly important in respect of processability of the plasticized polymer such as when agglomerating the polymer/plasticizer mixture but also when injection molding articles of said plasticized polymer.

Long term thermal stability is also an important consideration in articles that would be subjected to elevated temperatures over a long time. As an example of such articles can be mentioned hoses connecting the radiator of a vehicle to the engine. The hot water may here cause migration of plasticizer. It may also cause hydrolyzation of the plasticizer itself. In the long run this will cause the hose in this specific example to become brittle. Eventually cracks and leaks will appear.

Most plasticized polyvinylhalides have a poor stability towards UV light. This will be noticed by yellowing, the surface becoming sticky and slippery, the plasticized polymer becoming harder and more brittle and in some cases shrinking. This will radically reduce the useful life of plasticized polyvinylhalides in outdoor use.

Accordingly the invention relates to a highly stabile plasticized polyvinylhalide composition. The invention is characterized in that the composition comprises polyvinylhalide, pentaerythritoltetravalerate and an epoxidized unsaturated fatty acid ester having an iodine value of at least 135 prior to the epoxidation. This means that an unsaturated fatty acid ester having an iodine value of at least 135 is epoxidized. The iodine value will suitably be below 25, preferably below 10 after epoxidation.

According to the invention the epoxidized unsaturated fatty acid ester has at least five epoxide groups.

The polyvinylhalide is suitably selected from the group consisting of polyvinylchloride, polyvinylidenedichloride, polyvinylidenediflouride.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the epoxidized unsaturated fatty acid ester is a glycerol ester selected from the group consisting of linseed oil and tung oil. Said linseed oil and/or tung oil is accordingly epoxidized so that the average ester molecule comprises five or more epoxide groups.

According to one embodiment of the invention a plasticizer-mixture of 2 - 10% by weight of the epoxidized unsaturated fatty acid ester and balance to 100% by weight of pentaerythntolvalerate is present in the highly stabile plasticized polyvinylhalide composition. The highly stabile plasticized polyvinylhalide composition suitable comprises 10 - 60 % by weight of plasticizer-mixture.

According to a special embodiment of the invention, the highly stabile plasticized

polyvinylhalide composition further comprises a PVC stabilizer selected from the group consisting of barium/zink compound and calcium/zink compound. The purpose of such a PVC stabilizer is foremost to stabilize the polymer in the composition according to the invention. The PVC stabilizer may further comprise a co-stabilizer containing polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of mono-pentaerythritol, di-pentaerythritol, trimethylolpropane, di-trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol adipate and mixtures thereof.

The present invention is further explained with reference to enclosed embodiment Examples, which are to be construed as illustrative and not limiting in any way.

Example la illustrates evaluation of the UV stability of plasticized PVC compositions.

Example lb illustrates evaluation of the Thermal stability of plasticized PVC compositions.

Example lc illustrates evaluation of the hydrolytic stability of plasticized PVC compositions.

Example la

A number of samples were prepared as a first trial to evaluate the effect of UV light.

Sheets having a thickness of 80 - ΙΟΟμπι were prepared. These sample sheets consisted of the following compositions;

Sample No. PVC Plasticizer Stabilizer

K-value 70 /amount /amount

I 100 phr Pentatetra valerate / 30 phr Ba/Zn / 2 phr

II lOO phr Diisononyl phthalate / 30 phr Ba Zn / 2 phr

III lOO phr Diisononyl cyclohexane-l,2-dicarboxylate / Ba Zn / 2 phr

30 phr

IV 100 phr Dioctyl phthalate / 30 phr Ba/Zn / 2 phr

V 100 phr Dioctyl terephthalate / 30 phr Ba Zn / 2 phr The samples were subjected to a QUV test for 1750 hours. The test were run in cycles of 4h UV-A light at 60 ^° C and 4h conditioning at 50 ^° C in accordance with ISO 4891-1 and ISO 4892-2. The tests were performed in a QUV Weathering tester from Q-Tester.

The yellowing index Yi was determined in accordance with ASTM D 1925-70 at 24 hours, 240 hours, 500 hours and then at 250 hour interval until 1750 hours was reached.

The following results were obtained;

Graph 1

Yellowing index Yi

Cycle 4h/60 ^° C + 4h/50 ^° C + UV

O h 250 h 500 h 750 h 1000 h 1250 h 1500 h 1750 h

The conclusion of the trial is that sample 1 , a PVC resin plasticized with pentatetravalerate is virtually unaffected while the other samples show varying degree of increasing yellowing over the test period.

There was accordingly no reason to perform testing on thermal and hydrolytic stability on sample 2 - 5 as they did not perform well in the UV test. Example lb

A set of samples was prepared as to evaluate the thermal stability.

Sheets having a thickness of 1mm were prepared. These sample sheets consisted of the following compositions;

The samples were subjected to 200°C for 2 minutes in a Mathis oven. Thermal stability was measured with a Werner-Mathis oven thermo tester. The films were subjected to 200°C in the oven. After 5 min ground time the films were removed from the oven in 20 mm steps every 60 s. The time until the film became discoloured was measured for each film.

It showed that sample VI and VII had sufficient stability for normal processing with the ability to endure the temperature without coloration for 12 - 15 minutes. As comparison commercially available compositions II and III typically will endure the same temperature for 10 - 12 minutes.

Example lc

A set of samples was prepared as to evaluate the hydrolytic stability.

The samples correspond fully to sample VI and VII in example lb above.

The samples were subjected to 80°C at a relative humidity of 100% in a climate chamber for 1 week. The evaporation of valeric acid, indicating hydrolysation of the pentatetravalerate was measured. The amount of valeric acid detected was below 5 ppm for both samples indicating that the compositions are very stable. We find our conclusions to be that a plasticized polyvinyl halide composition in accordance to the invention is indeed very stable and surprisingly stabile in outdoor applications due to its ability to withstand UV radiation without noticeable degradation of the composition.

Example 2 a

Once the thermal, hydrolytic and UV stability was analysed, a further series of trials were performed in order to analyse and compare other important characteristics of plasticized PVC. It was considered that the characteristics; fusion time, Shore hardness, migration and volatility would not be greatly affected by the co-plasticizer whereby this was omitted for the sake of simplicity.

Preparation of plasticised PVC sheets

PVC resins (suspensions of PVC particles in a plasticiser) of below formulations were prepared:

The components of each PVC resin were carefully mixed and then calendared to a sheet using a two-roll mill at 165 ^° C. Example 2b

Evaluation of the obtained plasticised PVC sheets

All plasticised PVC sheets obtained in Example 4 were evaluated regarding fusion time, hardness, migration and volatility.

Fusion Time

A test to determine the time required for PVC and plasticiser to completely mix together and form a uniform blend. A mixing bowl was heated to the test temperature of 88°C and charged with 300 g PVC resin. A stirring of 60 rpm was applied for 5 minutes to allow the resin to reach the bowl temperature. 150 g plasticizer was then added and the time required for PVC and plasticiser to completely mix together and form a uniform blend was measured.

The results are presented in Chart 1.

Hardness

Durometer hardness Shore A. (Standard: ASTM 2240:3)

A test based on the penetration of a specific type of indentor when forced into the material under specific conditions. The indentation hardness is inversely related to the penetration and dependant on the elastic modulus and viscoelastic behaviour of the material.

The results are presented in Chart 2.

Migration

Determination of migration of plasticisers (Standard: ISO 177)

A test based on quantitative determination of the loss of mass of a sheet of plasticized plastic placed between two fresh absorbent backing discs. A rubber-PVC-rubber sandwich was wrapped with aluminium foil and rubber sheets before being placed between two glass plates. A weight of 5kg was placed on the sandwich assembly and the whole package was placed in an oven with a temperature of 70 ±2°C. The samples were then picked out and the weight of both the plasticized plastic and the absorbent backing discs was measured after 3, 7, 14 and 28 days.

The results for 28 days are presented in Chart 3. Volatility

Activated carbon method (Standard: ISO 176 Method A)

A test method based on quantitative determination of the loss of plasticiser from plasticized plastic materials upon heating, where it is generally assumed that no significant amounts of other volatile materials are present. 120cm ³ of activated carbon was spread on the bottom of metal container and a test sample was placed on top of the carbon and covered with another 120cm ³ of activated carbon. Two further samples were placed in the container, each covered with 120cm ³ of carbon, where after the container was sealed with a lid. The container was placed in oven with a temperature of 100±1°C. The activated carbon surrounding the samples absorbed the plasticiser extracted upon heating. After 7 days the container was removed from the oven and cooled to room temperature. The samples were removed from the container, carefully brushed free from carbon particles and weighed.

The results are presented in Chart 4.

Chart 1 Fusion time

Fusion time

XI IX X VIII

The fusion time for the plasticiser VIII according to the present invention was found to be shorter than plasticisers IX and X.

The plasticising effect of the plasticisers according to the present invention was found to be high in comparison to commercially available plasticisers XI, IX and X. This means that lower amounts of plasticiser can be added with maintained hardness.

hart 3 Migration

The plasticiser VIII according to the invention showed very good migration values.

Chart 4 Volatility

The plasticiser VIII according to the invention showed very good volatility value. The comparative example XI and X showed to be rather poor due to its relatively high volatility. It has, during experimentation with the plasticisers according to the invention been found that the fusion time is very short, while quite surprisingly, the volatility is lower than

commercially available plasticisers. The short fusion time implies that the processing time can be shorter and/or temperature during agglomeration of plasticiser can be lower wherein any problem with thermal stability during processing of the composition according to the invention becomes even less significant.

The composition in accordance with the invention has also been found to be remarkably UV- stabile as well as having fully sufficient thermal and hydrolytic stability. It also has the advantage of not containing phthalate based plasticisers, which is a desired property. The low volatility together with the high level of UV-stability will increase the useful life of products made of a composition in accordance with the invention.