Plasticizer Characterization by TG-IR

Plasticizers are additives that are added to polymeric material to increase flexibility. For example, phthalates are usually added to hard PVC plastics to make it soft. Many properties of the polymer will be changed by the addition of a plasticizer, such as the glass transition temperature (Tg) which will be reduced dramatically; the hardness which will be reduced; the strength which will decrease and the processability which will be improved. In this note, a complex mixture of solvent, plasticizer and polymers from a paint and varnish producer, who require data concerning the plasticizer and its percentage, is analyzed using ThermoGravimetric Analysis (TGA) and FT-IR.