PVC modification with biobased poly(hydroxyalkanoates)

Supported by numerous calculated and empirical data, a miscibility between polyvinylchloride (PVC) and biobased poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs), PHAs along with its utilization in plasticization, toughening, and processing improvement is discussed in unplasticized and plasticized (semirigid to flexible) PVC compounds. The long‐term thermal stability of PVC stabilized with BaZn salts is shown to be improved in the presence of PHAs and the short‐term stability (initial color hold) slightly reduced. The biobased PHAs are also shown to improve UV stability of PVC by offsetting the yellowing of PVC and not causing additional photodegradation. The transparence and durability of PVC are found to be unaffected by the presence of minor phase of otherwise biodegradable PHA. The discussed PHAs offer a new, ecologically attractive, and simplified approach to PVC formulation in which multiple processing and modifying additives could be replaced with a single product, eliminating both undesirable additive interactions and the need to stabilize unstable ingredients. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 21:259–271, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers