Thermal Stabilisation of Polyvinylchloride: Effect of Rubber Seed Oil Derivatives on the Thermal Degradation of Polyvinylchloride

563-568Thermal degradation of polyvinylchloride is studied under non-oxidative and oxidative conditions in the presence of epoxidised rubber seed oil and metal soaps of the oil. Changes in intrinsic viscosity and in the levels of unsaturation in the degraded polymer samples are used to assess the effect of the rubber seed oil derivatives on the thermal degradation of polyvinylchloride. It is found that the metal soaps of epoxidised rubber seed oil markedly reduce the level of unsaturation in the degraded polymer sample and the extent of polymer chain scission which is accompanied by dehydrochlorination. The stabilising ability of the rubber seed oil derivatives is compared with that of Jatropha seed oil