OBTAINING PLASTICIZERS FOR PVA FROM LOCAL RAW MATERIALS AND STUDYING THEIR PROPERTIES

Abstract

This study investigates the possibility of producing plasticizers for poly(vinyl acetate) (PVA) polymers using locally available raw materials from Uzbekistan, specifically cottonseed oil and sunflower oil. Both oils were subjected to epoxidation with peracetic acid and subsequently modified with phthalic anhydride to yield two novel plasticizer compounds designated EMPF-1 and EMKF-2. The synthesized plasticizers were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, viscometry, and thermogravimetric analysis. Their compatibility with PVA was evaluated through tensile strength, elongation at break, and glass transition temperature measurements. The results demonstrated that both EMPF-1 and EMKF-2 significantly improved the flexibility of PVA films without substantially reducing tensile strength, performing comparably to the imported reference plasticizer dioctyl phthalate (DOP). Notably, the locally produced plasticizers exhibited lower volatility than DOP under equivalent conditions. This work establishes a technically viable and economically attractive route toward import substitution of PVA plasticizers using domestic resources available within Uzbekistan.