Poly(1,2-propylene glycol adipate) (PPA) was used as an environmentally friendly plasticizer in flexible poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). Thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties of the PVC/PPA blends were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, tensile test, scanning electron microscopy and small amplitude oscillatory shear rheometry. The results showed that PPA lowered the glass transition temperature of PVC. The introduction of PPA could decrease tensile strength and Young's modulus of the PVC/PPA blends; however, elongationat-break was dramatically increased due to the plastic deformation. The plasticization effect of PPA was also manifested by the decrease of dynamic storage modulus and viscosity in the melt state of the blends. The results indicated that PPA had a good plasticizing effect on PVC.

Keywords: poly(vinyl chloride); poly(1,2-propylene glycol adipate); plasticizer; blends; mechanical properties.