A comparative study of comprehensive performances for transparent plasticized polyvinyl chloride films with different plasticizers

For flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) films with excellent mechanical performances and high transparency, the demand for antistatic properties is becoming increasingly urgent in textile and electronic fields. This study compares the effects of 60 phr bis (2-(2-butoxyethoxy) ethyl) adipate (DBEEA) with other five equal amounts of plasticizers on the conductivity, electrical stability, transparency, and mechanical properties of plasticized PVC. The infrared spectra of plasticizers indicate that there are unique ether groups exist in DBEEA. Then the calculated solubility parameters suggest the good compatibility between DBEEA and PVC. For conductivity, the volume resistivity and surface resistivity of the PVC sample with DBEEA (PVC/DBEEA) are 10⁷ Ω· m and 10¹⁰ Ω, respectively, which are both lower by 3–4 orders of magnitude than that of other plasticized PVC. For electrical stability, the results indicate that PVC/DBEEA placed in air still maintains lowest resistivities. Under 10, 23, and 30°C, PVC/DBEEA keeps high and stable electrical properties. The similar refractive indices of DBEEA and PVC resin prepared by suspension method indicate good transparency for PVC/DBEEA. Moreover, PVC/DBEEA still has good mechanical property.