Applications

APPLICATIONS

Performance comparisons and formulation tips for various types of flexible PVC applications

Coated fabrics

Introduction

Coated fabrics can be produced with plastisol spread coating or extrusion coating. For plastisols, paste viscosity and ageing are key for the quality of the final product and adequate operations. Innoleic^TM products are suitable for plastisol applications, but require special atention to ensure proper formulation adjustments to obtain the ideal rheology.

One of the key advantages of the Innoleic^TM products, is the high viscosity at low shear and low viscosity at high shear, promoting a uniform spreading of the paste on the fabric (high shear) and a lower penetration into the fabric (low shear), conferring a smooth touch to the final article.

Another interesting characteristic is the higher elongation and higher tensile strength, promoting higher resilience to the material, which can be observed in the touch and a greater elasticity of foams.

Gel Rates

The chart shows the time to gel formation of compounds formulated with different plasticizers. It is clear that Innoleic^TM FF presents a much faster gel rate than most traditional plasticizers. But the gel rate of the other materials is fairly similar.

Viscosity Ageing

The chart shows the viscosity ageing (up to 168 hours) of compounds formulated with different plasticizers. As expected, the higher efficiency of Innoleic^TM products promotes increased viscosity ageing, except for Innoleic^TM E8. This can be adjusted, though, with the proper selection of resins, as demonstrated in the chart below.

Foaming

The adjustment required to obtain high quality foamed plastisol layers using Innoleic^TM is also on the viscosity. The use of different quantities of kickers or foaming agents did not significantly impact the size and quality of the foam cells. The adjustment of viscosities, on the other hand, was very effective to match or even improve cell quality and size of foam layers.

Wire and Cable

Introduction

Wire and cable applications are subject to restrictive regulations and norms. Innoleic^TM GPs 75 has been approved for use in some wire and cable applications, as it shows adequate permanence as a substitute for DINP, as indicated in the W&C technical report

As with all Innoleic^TM products, it has a very high renewable carbon content, helping customers that seek a low carbon footprint in their products and operations. It will act as a carbon dioxide sequestration agent.

Innoleic^TM GPs 75 has demonstrated a few advantages, such as improved thermal stability, which can be especially advantageous for compound manufacturers, as the final PVC formulation is more tolerant to higher temperatures of repeated extrusions. It also presents a better flow index, allowing faster extrusion speeds. Also, due to its higher efficiency, the same hardness can be obtained with less plasticizer content.

Thermal Stability

Thermal stability is one of the most recognized benefits of epoxidized materials. Formulators can take advantage of this feature by simply promoting a final compound that is more tolerant to temperature and processing times or by reducing the concentration of thermal stabilizer, thus reducing cost of the formulation.

The picture shows that stabilizing @ 210 °C was similar at 5 minutes for Innoleic^TM GPe 8 with 0.5 phr CaZn stabilizer when compared to 3 minutes in the DOP formulation. This same effect is observed for all epoxy plasticizers.

Efficiency

Innoleic^TM GPs 75 is a better solvating plasticizer than most traditional plasticizers for wire and cable, resulting in a higher efficiency and a consequent reduced concentration of plasticizer in the formulation.

Volatility

Innoleic^TM GPs 75 has been approved for use as a substitute of DINP, as its volatility is within minimum requirements for some wire and cable applications. The volatility, as shown in the chart, is similar to DINP and it improves over time, as DINP is a single molecule and Innoleic^TM GPs 75 is a complex mixture of various epoxidized esters.

Resistivity

Although epoxidized materials present a lower resistivity in general when compared to petroleum based alternatives, due to its intrinsic higher polarity, Innoleic^TM GPs 75 was approved, as the resistivity of the final compound was within desired specifications.

Flow Index

Innoleic^TM GPs 75 has improved the flow index of the final compound. It is important to note that epoxidized vegetable derivatives provide an intrinsic higher internal lubricity to the formulation, and attention needs to be given to the amount of lubricant used. In some formulations, a reduction in the lubricant concentration may be necessary to achieve ideal extrusion conditions

Flooring

Introduction

Flooring applications are one of the largest consumers of plasticizers worldwide. There are several types of flooring products, from vinyl sheets to luxury vinyl tiles, all of them require plasticizers with a strict set of specifications and performance. The Innoleic^TM product line has been approved for these applications, replacing in part or all the existing traditional plasticizers in the formulations.

All Innoleic^TM products have very high renewable carbon content, helping customers that seek a low carbon footprint in their products and operations. Our plasticizers will act as carbon dioxide sequestration agents.

Innoleic^TM epoxidized plasticizers present high efficiency, where the formulator can obtain the same hardness with less plasticizer content. Another interesting characteristic is the higher tensile strength with also higher elongation at break, providing the final article with a higher resilience. This also confers a higher resistance to abrasion when compared to traditional plasticizers

Mechanical properties

The chart shows the comparative data on mechanical properties of Innoleic^TM third generation products and traditional plasticizers adjusted for hardness at 70 Shore A. As it is shown, both tensile strength and elongation are increased in formulations with our GPs plasticizers line, offering a compound that is more elastic or resilient than traditional formulations. This feature is valuable for flooring applications, providing higher resilience for foamed layers and higher abrasion resistance for the top layers.

Volatility

Innoleic^TM GPs 75 has a volatility, as shown in the chart, similar to DOTP and it improves over time, as DOTP is a single molecule and Innoleic^TM GPs 75 is a complex mixture of various epoxidized esters.

Innoleic^TM FF, on the other extreme is very volatile, but it can be used as a fast fuser, to help formulators achieve the desired properties of the final article.

Efficiency

Rheology

Some flooring applications use paste PVC, and viscosity ageing is relevant. The chart shows the viscosity ageing (up to 168 hours) of compounds formulated with different plasticizers. As expected, the higher efficiency of Innoleic^TM products promotes increased viscosity ageing, except for Innoleic^TM E8. This can be adjusted, though, with the proper selection of resins, as demonstrated in the chart below.

Extrusion

Introduction

Extrusion is a process that can be used for various applications, but are mostly related to production of PVC compounds and coated fabrics. Innoleic^TM plasticizers offer a wide variety of properties, resulting in significant degrees of freedom for formulators to replace traditional plasticizers and meet their demanding specifications.

All Innoleic^TM products possess a very high renewable carbon content, helping customers that seek a low carbon footprint in their products and operations. They will act as carbon dioxide sequestration agents.

Innoleic^TM products have demonstrated some advantages, such as improved thermal stability, which can be especially advantageous for compound manufacturers, as the final PVC formulation is more tolerant to higher temperatures of repeated processing at their facility and later at their customers. It also presents a better flow index, allowing faster extrusion speeds. Also, due to its higher efficiency, the same hardness can be obtained with less plasticizer content, considering permanence and other characteristics are maintained.

Thermal Stability

Transparency and color

Although epoxidized materials present a slightly yellow color in its liquid form, the color of the final compounds suffer little if any visible changes.

The transparency of compounds formulated with Innoleic^TM products is comparable or better than those formulated with traditional plasticizers.

Efficiency

Flow Index

Extrusion for coated fabrics

A special attention is needed when formulating with Innoleic^TM products, as the higher efficiency promotes lower viscosities at the die, resulting in dripping. An adequate reduction of the temperature profiles will address this problem, resulting in a slightly lower energy consumption.

Injection molding

Introduction

Injection molding is a process that can be used for various applications, such as shoes, boots, toys, etc. Innoleic^TM plasticizers offer a wide variety of properties, resulting in significant degrees of freedom for formulators to replace traditional plasticizers and meet their demanding specifications.

All Innoleic^TM products possess a very high renewable carbon content, helping customers that seek a low carbon footprint in their products and operations. They will act as carbon dioxide sequestration agents.

Innoleic^TM products have demonstrated some advantages, such as improved thermal stability, which can be especially advantageous for compound manufacturers, as the final PVC formulation is more tolerant to higher temperatures of repeated processing at their facility and later at their customers. Also, due to its higher efficiency, the same hardness can be obtained with less plasticizer content, considering permanence and other characteristics are maintained.

Thermal Stability

Low temperature

Innoleic^TM products offer reasonable flexibility for low temperature applications, but, depending on plasticizer load and requirements, blending with low temperature improving materials, such as adipate plasticizers, might be necessary to comply with desired performance.

Efficiency

Transparency and color

Flow Index

Stretch and shrink films

Introduction

Stretch and shrink films are produced normally with an extrusion machine coupled with a blowing machine. Innoleic^TM plasticizers offer increased elasticity and efficiency, resulting in potentially reduced film thickness and improved surface gloss, according to reports from industrial customers.

All Innoleic^TM products possess a very high renewable carbon content, helping customers that seek a low carbon footprint in their products and operations. They will act as carbon dioxide sequestration agents.

Innoleic^TM may require operational adjustments to obtain the desired performance. Special attention is required for the temperature profiles, as more efficient plasticizers reduce viscosity of the compounds and it may cause internal incrustations in the injection screws or dripping at the die.

Efficiency

Innoleic^TM products are in general solvating plasticizer than most traditional plasticizers, resulting in a higher efficiency and a consequent reduced concentration of plasticizer in the formulation. Industrial usage reports indicate that higher gloss is achieved when traditional plasticizers were replaced by Innoleic^TM products, an effect that could be attributed to efficiency and the resulting viscosity profiles at the die. Also, due to its high compatibility, no exudation is observed for Innoleic^TM products in the loop test

Mechanical properties

The chart shows the comparative data on mechanical properties of Innoleic^TM third generation products and traditional plasticizers adjusted for hardness at 70 Shore A. As it is shown, both tensile strength and elongation are increased in formulations with our GPs plasticizers line, offering a compound that is more elastic or resilient than traditional formulations. This feature is valuable for film applications, as it may allow adjustments to obtain thinner films.

Transparency and color

Low temperature

Calendered sheets

Introduction

Calendered sheets represent a significant share of the flexible PVC market, and the final articles can range from packaging to truck tarpaulin covers. Innoleic^TM plasticizers offer a wide variety of properties, resulting in significant degrees of freedom for formulators to replace traditional plasticizers and meet their demanding specifications.

All Innoleic^TM products possess a very high renewable carbon content, helping customers that seek a low carbon footprint in their products and operations. They will act as carbon dioxide sequestration agents.

Innoleic^TM products have demonstrated some advantages, such as improved thermal stability, which can be especially advantageous for the calendering process, as the final PVC formulation is more tolerant to higher temperatures of repeated processing. Also, due to its higher efficiency, the same hardness can be obtained with less plasticizer content, considering permanence and other characteristics are maintained.

Water absorption

Epoxidized plasticizers, due to their intrinsic higher polarity, present higher water extraction than traditional, petroleum-based materials. For applications with constant contact with water, such as swimming pool liners, Innoleic^TM products may not achieve the desired minimum specifications. On the other hand, for outdoors applications, although exposed to rain, the UV protection that the oxirane rings confer to epoxidized plasticizers may compensate for the higher water extraction, resulting in a longer duration material. It is important to evaluate the material for the specific conditions and performance requirements of each application.

Thermal Stability

Efficiency

Transparency and color

Although epoxidized materials present a slightly yellow color in its liquid form, the color of the final compounds suffers little if any visible changes.

The transparency of compounds formulated with Innoleic^TM products is comparable or better than those formulated with traditional plasticizers.

Innoleics does not guarantee the typical (or other) values. Any data included herein is based upon analysis of representative samples and not the actual product shipped. The information in this document relates only to the named product or materials when not in combination with any other product or materials. We based the information on data believed to be reliable on the date compiled, but we do not represent, warrant, or otherwise guarantee, expressly or impliedly, the merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, freedom from patent infringement, suitability, accuracy, reliability, or completeness of this information or the products, materials or processes described. The user is solely responsible for all determinations regarding any use of material or product and any process in its territories of interest. We expressly disclaim liability for any loss, damage or injury directly or indirectly suffered or incurred as a result of or related to anyone using or relying on any of the information in this document.