Phthalate Plasticizers Covalently Bound to PVC: Plasticization with Suppressed Migration

The internal plasticization of PVC by displacement of chlorine with phthalate-based thiol additives, that is, the covalent attachment of the plasticizer to the PVC chain, is described for the first time. Using this methodology, a good plasticization efficiency is achieved although flexibility is reduced compared with that of commercial PVC−phthalate systems. However, the migration is completely suppressed. This approach may open new ways to the preparation of flexible PVC with permanent plasticizer effect and zero migration.