The effects of several popular plasticizers, with and without an
antioxidant, in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) jacket and insulation for wire and cable
on PVC compounding, processing, aging and mechanical properties were studied.
The plasticizers used were dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and diisodecyl phthalate
(DIDP) at a concentration of 45 phr level. Studies showed that the formulation
containing DOP increased the plasticization efficiency and elongation at break,
and decreased the torque measurement during compounding and processing
stages. The low retention of the elongation at break after aging of the formulation
containing DOP was improved by the antioxidant. The formulation containing
DIDP decreased the volatile loss into air and the cycle time of the compounding
stage, and provided excellent retention properties even without the antioxidant.
The rheological behavior of the two formulations was similar and provided the
same output.