PLASTIFICATION OF FILM-FORMING POLYMERS (LITERATURE SURVEY),

A literature survey on the plastification of film-forming polymers is presented. The survey extends up to the year 1966 and mentions a total of 58 papers. Two different plastification processes are noted, viz., the molecular process and the structure-forming process. The former, known in the literature as the molecular plastification mechanism, involves the formation of a true solution between polymer and plasticizer. The second process involves a supermolecular distribution of plasticizer in the polymer. It is noted that, of the two mechanisms, the molecular plastification mechanism is the more frequently studied and, hence, better known. The effect of different plasticizers on the physical properties of polymers is discussed. It is concluded that the enhanced elasticity of polymeric films, resulting from the addition of plasticizer, is due to the prevention of cross-linkages, i.e., formation of supermolecular structures between the polymer molecules by the plasticizer molecules. Author