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PLASTICIZER APPLICATION GROUP Monsanto Chemicals AROCLORS as Co-Plasticizers for Polyvinylchloride Monsanto Technical Bulletin No. P-131 May 1, 1948 Monsanto Chemical Company, St. Louis 4 Mo. 44 44 MONSANTO TRADE LITERATURE PERMANENT FILE *--3Z0 A R O C L O R S As Co-PUsticizers for Polyvinylchloride Selected AROCLORS* {chlorinated biphenyls) used as coplasticiz.ers with tricresyl phosphate, dioctyl phthalate and other plasticizers for polyvinylchloride impart good quali ties to the plastics at a substantial reduction in cost. This bulletin describes the practical use of Aroclorswith tricresyl phosphate and dioctyl phthalate in polyvinylchlo ride plastics.- In each case the saving in cost of the finished plastics is illustrated. Registered in U.S. Patent Office t I S op 40 * 00 Tbs in*rotation contalwd in 00* btJloiin )*, |o pur boat kncw)*d|*, tru* and accurals, but ail ..comm*stations or auggpallana far* mad* without guaraBaa, aInca tha conditions of us. sr b* yoivi our control. Thi Monsanto Chomlcal Company disclaim* any liability inewrad la oontscUon With (ha uia of thaia data or auggaationa. rtarthyrmora, nothing cunlainad hsraln ahall ba eonalruad aa a racommandation to uaa any produet in conflict with taiallnc polanta covaring any malarial or It* usa. 0627452 p w TOWOLDMON0040019 WATER_PCB-00024488 I. INTRODUCTION Under our present economy the selling price of plasticisers such as tricresyl phosphate, dlbutyl phthalate and dloctyl phthalate used for polyvinylchloride plastics are substantially higher than in former years. Aroclors (chlorinated biphenyls), also used as plasticisers for polyvinylchloride, are relatively inexpensive and their use results in substantial savings. Studies of the properties and economies of Aroclor--tricresyl phosphate mixtures for polyvinylchloride--have been made particularly in France at the Chemical and Electrometallurgies Products Company's Central Laboratory at Salindres. The following data indicates the high efficiency of Aroclors mixed with tricresyl phosphate and dioctyl phlhajSte as plasticizers for polyvinylchloride and the attractive economies offered by using such mixed plasticizers. ' II. AROCLOR-TRICRESYL PHOSPHATE MIXTURES COMPARED WITH TRICRESYL PHOSPHATE PREPARATION OF THE PLASTICS -- . The plasticizer mixture was composed of equal parts by weight of Aroclor 1254 and tricresyl phosphate. Polyvinylchloride varying in molecular weight from 45,000; 70,000 to 105,000 stabilized with one percent of lead stearate was used. Conditions for mixing the plastics and working it on the rolls were similar to conditions normally used when tricresyl phosphate or dibutyl phthalate, or mixtures of these plasticizers, are used. The temperature of. mixing and rolling the plastics was 140-145C. for 45,000 molecular weight polyvinylchloride and 160C. for 70,000 and 105,000 molecular weight mate* rial. Duration of plastic mixing was 5 to 10 minutes and duration of rolling was 16 minutes. The plastics sheets were molded into test pieces 130x130x3.1 mm. using a pressure of 142 lbs/sq. in. during J3 minutes and then 3,130 lbs/sq. in, during 5 minutes of the .molding operation. ' ' " COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE PLASTICS The tensile strength and elongation of the finished plastics are given in the following compare* tive Table 1. TABLE I. Tensile Plasticizer Comoosltion " Plasticizer Percent Molecular Weight Strength Lbs/sq. in. Elongation Percent Mixture 50 parts of Aroclor 1254 . end 50 parts tricresyl phosphate 105,000 70,000 2,987 2,631 290 300 Tricresyl phosphate 50 105,000 , 70,000 2,270 1.779 .340 300 Mixture 50 parts of Aroclor 1254 and 50 parts tricresyl phosphate Tricresyl phosphate 45 Mixture 50 parts of Aroclor 1254 and 50 parts tricresyl phosphate Tricresyl phosphate V -. 35 45,000 70,000 45,000 70,000 45,000 70,000 4 5,000 70,000 2,631 3,130 1.991 2,349 3,912 4,057 3,060 3,415 265 285 295 305 120 160 210 230 .... -2- ,. 0627453 TOWOLDMON0040020 WATER_PCB-00024489 # These results show that Aroclor 1254 can be used advantageously as a plasticizer for poly vinylchloride provided that tricresyl phosphate is added to it. This is especially true when the plasticizer mixture is used at a level of at least 45 to 50 percent. COST COMPARISONS OF THE PLASTICS In computing costs the specific gravity and current selling price for each material as listed were used. Material Specific Gravity Selling Price Per Pound In Carload Quantity Polyvinylchloride................. . . . 1.35,..................................$ .33 Tricresyl phosphate. ....... 1.17........................................... 36 Aroclor 1254 ..........................1.54.............................................. 16 Assuming that the manufacturer desires to make a sheet of the plastics five feet wide. 0.01 feet thick and whatever length can be obtained from 100 pounds of polyvinylchloride, the cost per running foot for each plastics is given in the comparative Table U. . j, !<-. i' TABLE II. Plasticizer Composition Tricresyl phosphate Mixture 50 parts Aroclor 1254 and 50 parts tricresyl phosphate Tricresyl phosphate . Mixture 50 parts Aroclor 1254 -and 50 parts tricresyl phosphate Tricresyl phosphate Mixture 50 parts Aroclor 1254 and 50 parts trlcresyi'phosphete Plasticizer Percent ' 50 45 35 Pasties Materials Cost Per Running*Ft. for a Sheet 5 Feet Wide and 0.01 Foot Thick $ 1.350 . 1.253 $ 0.097 Savings $ 1.355 1.266 $ 0,089 Savings $ 1.360 . 1.302 $ 0.058 Savings The results indicate that the Aroclor-tricresyl phosphate plasticizer combination offers a saving of 10 cents n running foot when 50 percent plasticization is used. At 45 percent plasti* cization the saving is about 9 cents and at 35 percent the saving is about 6 cents a running foot. Use of increased amounts of Aroclor result in greater savings. 0627*54 TOWOLDMON0040021 WATER PCB-00024490 III. AROCLOR-TRICRESYL PHOSPHATE MIXTURES COMPARED WITH DIBUTYL PHTHALATE- . TRICRESYL PHOSPHATE MIXTURES Frequently, to accomplish better low temperature flexibility and "hand'* dibutyl phthalate or dibutyl sebacAte plasticizers are added to tricresyl phosphate. The data given in Table 111 shows the effectiveness of a dibutyl phthalate-tricresyl phosphate mixture as compared with a mixture of Aroclor 1254-tricresyl phosphate based on tensile strength and elongation characteristics. TABLE III. Molecular Weight of the Polyvinyl chloride 105,000 70,000 45,000 Plasti cizer Percent 50 40 50 45 40 45' " 43 40 35 Mixture of Dibutyl Phthalate and Tricresyl Phosphate;*. 23 parts - 77 parts'" Tensile Elongation Strength Percent Lbs/sq, in. 370 285 2,205 3.558 360 335 300 1,850 2,419 2.987 Mixture of Aroclor 1254 and Tricresyl Phosphate 50 parts - 50 parts Tensile Elongation Strength Percent Lbs/ sq. in. ISi 2.987 .. - 300 285 240 2.631 3,130 3,558 310 250 225 1,778 2,349 2.848 265 220 170 120 2,631 2.848 3,272 3,911 Comparison of the underlined values in Table 111 indicates that provided a greater percentage of the Aroclor-tricresyl phosphate mixture is used, it is possible to obtain tensile strength and elongation qualities similar to those offered by using the dibutyl phthalate-tricresyl phosphate plasticiser combination. , COST COMPARISON OF THE PLASTICS In the cost computations given in Table IV the current selling price for dibutyl phthalate at 35.5 cents a pound in carload quantity was used. The specific gravity value used for this plasticizer was 1.046. The table compares the cost of the plastics in terms of running feet for a sheet five feet wide and 0,01 foot thick. The cost comparisons are made against the efficiency of the plasticizer mixtures with reference to tensile strength and elongation qualities of the finished plastics as shown in Table HI. 0627455 TOWOLDMON0040022 WATER_PCB-00024491 TABLE IV. Polyvinylchloride Molecular Weight Plasticizer Composition Pla 6ticizer Percent 105,000 25 Parts dibutyl phthalate and 77 parts tricresyl phosphate 50 Parts Aroclor 1254 and 50 parts tricresyl phosphate 40 50 70,000 23 Parts dibutyl phthalate and 77 parts tricresyl phosphate 50 Parts Aroclor 1254 and 50 parts tricresyl phosphate 40 50 45,000 23 Parts dibutyl phthalate and 77 parts tricresyl phosphate 50 Parts Aroclor 1254 and 50 parts tricresyl phosphate 35 43 Plastics Materials Cost Per Running Foot for a Sheet 5 Feet Wide and 0.01 Foot Thick $ 1.339 1.25 2 $ .087 Savings $ 1.339 . 1.252 $ ,087 Savings $ '1.345 "" " 1.272 $ .073 Savings While more Aroclor 1254-tricresyl phosphate mixture was required to give the same plastici zation as accomplished with dibutyl phthalate-tricresyl phosphate, the cost iigures in Table IV show a decided economy in favor of using the Aroclor plasticizer combination. The economic advantage is about 9 cents a running foot of plastics when the plasticizers are used at a level of about SO percent. At lower plasticizer concentrations this advantage is about 7 cents a running foot. IV. AROCLOR-DIOCTYL PHTHALATE MIXTURE COMPARED WITH DIOCTYL PHTHALATE PLASTICIZER FOR POLYVINYLCHLORIDE In the following Table V the composition and comparative physical properties of polyvinyl chloride plasticized with dioctyl phthalate and a 50-50 mixture of Aroclor 1262 and dioctyl phthalate are given. The formulations are typical wire coating compositions. Each contained 100 parts of polyvinylchloride. The amount and type of stabilizer and clay used in each form ula was identical. 0627*56 | TOWOLDMON0040023 WATER_PCB-00024492 TABLE V. PROPERTIES OF TYPICAL PVC WIRE COATING COMPOSITIONS Properties Dioctyl Phthalate 50-50 Aroclor 1262 Dioctyl Phthalate Parts Plasticizer/100 Resin Plasticizer. Percent Shore A Hardness Tensile Strength, l.bs/ sq. in. Elongation, Percent Modulus of Elasticity at 100 Percent Elongation, Lbs/sq. in. Flex. Temp., C. % Water Absorption (24 Hrs.) % Extracted Flammability, sec. Volume Resistivity, 509G^ , 7. Volatile (24 Hf. 105C.) . -t 50 33.3 82 2710 385 1660 -19 .34 .02 75 5.0 * 101} 4.1 80 44.4 79 ' 2475 375 1475 -15 0.33 0.05 3 8.8 x 1013 6.8 The composition containing Aroclor 1262 plasticiser is far superior to the similar composi tion plasticised with dioctyl phthalate reference to resistance to burning. Also,.,the Aro clor composition offers Improved initiation resistance. In other respects the properties of the two compositions appear similar. COST COMPARISON OF THE WIRE COATING COMPOSITIONS The comparative costs of the compositions in terms of a cubic foot of plastics are given in Table VI. The specific gravity value for dioctyl phthalate was taken as 0.980 and the current selling price of 42.5 cents a pound in carload quantities was used. Plasticizer Composition TABLE VI. Percent . Plasticizer Plastics Costs Per Cubic Foot 50-50 Aroclor 1262Dioctyl Phthalate .... ................. 44.4................. ...................... 25.34 $ 1.70 Savings The comparative cost figures given in Table VI reflect a saving of $1.70 per cubic foot of plastics or per 100 pounds of polyvinylchloride when the Aroclor-dioctyl phthalate plasticiser mixture is used. TOWOLDMON0040024 WATER_PCB-00024493 V. CONCLUSIONS 1. It is definitely Indicated to utilize Aroclors (chlorinated biphenyls) as plasticisers (or polyvinylchloride provided that tricresyl phosphate or dioctyl phthalate plasticisers are added to it. 2. In using Aroclor combination plasticisers the total plasticiser content of the plastics mate rial will be increased. The use of Aroclors offers attractive savings in the costs of the fin* ished plastics materials and results in a substantial saving of tricresyl phosphate, dibutyl phthalate and dioctyl phthalate. 3. In our present economy, and probably for sometime to come, these ester type plasticisers are both short in supply and substantially more expensive than they were in former years. 4. Aroclors are relatively inexpensive and the materials are immediately available in large ' quantity. When used in the suggested combinations with other plasticisers, the Aroclors are efficient and economical for manufacturing polyvinylchloride plastics materials. *** * TOWOLDMON0040025 WATER_PCB-00024494 For further information about Aroclors ot co-plastlciiers for polyvinylchloride, contact the nearest Monsanto office MONSANTO CHEMICAL COMPANY ST. LOUIS BIRMINGHAM BOSTON CHARLOTTE CHICAGO CINCINNATI CLEVELAND DETROIT e LOS ANGELES NEW YORK PHILADELPHIA PORTLAND (ORE.) SAN FRANCISCO MONSANTO(CANADA) LTD. MONTREAL Representatives in the Principal Cities of the World. Q 0627459 | TOWOLDMON0040026 WATER_PCB-00024495