[DESCRIPTION]
[Invention Title]
PLASTICIZER COMPOSITION
5 [Technical Field]
The present invention relates to a plasticizer composition. More specifically,
the present invention relates to a plasticizer composition which comprises an esterbased
plasticizer and an ether compound, and exhibits improved workability and heat
loss in proportion to content of the ether compound.
10
[Background Art]
In general, a plasticizer is prepared by esterification reaction between an acid
and an alcohol. Examples of catalysts commonly used for esterification reaction
include organometallic compounds including titanium compounds, tin compounds and
15 the like, ion exchange resins, zeolite, heteropolyacids, sulfuric acid, para-toluene sulfonic
acid and the like.
There are differences in reaction rate and production of by-products between
these catalysts due to characteristics of the respective catalysts. An esterification reaction
for plasticizer synthesis is performed using an optimal catalyst selected while taking
20 these points into consideration. This catalyst is selected in view of reaction velocity as
well as ease of removal and process stability during purification. In reality, solid
catalysts have an advantage in that purification of products through simple filtering is
simplified in the purification process and homogeneous catalysts have an advantage of an
increased rate of reaction. However, esterification reaction is performed using optimal
25 catalysts selected in consideration of all circumstances.
1
Recently, upon sele^tioji_oX_c^ly.sts,-attempts-to-deVelop~aiM_apply~catalysts
capable of securing an eco-friendly preparation process are made and research associated
therewith is underway.
Catalyst development focuses on increase in rate of reaction, minimization of
5 by-products and simplification of purification processes. There is a need for continuous
research, which secures optimal plasticizer synthesis conditions while increasing rate of
reaction and preventing effects of by-products on product quality, when various catalysts
are used.
10 [Disclosure]
[Technical Problem 1
Therefore, the present inventors have completed the present invention through
research associated with plasticizers. It is an object of the present invention to provide
a plasticizer composition which comprises an ester-based plasticizer and an ether
15 compound and secures physical properties such as workability and heat loss.
[Technical Solution]
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other
objects can be accomplished by the provision of a plasticizer composition comprising
20 an ester-based plasticizer and an ether compound, wherein the ether compound is
present in an amount of 0.01 to 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the
plasticizer composition.
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.
First, a technical feature of the present invention is to provide a plasticizer
25 composition comprising specific contents of an ester-based plasticizer and an ether
compound.
Specifically, the content of the ether compound is 0.01 to 20% by weight, 0.1
to 9.5% by weight, or 1.5 to 6.5% by weight, based on the total weight of the plasticizer
composition. Within this range, meltability (workability) and heat loss of the
composition can be improved.
A gas chromatography retention time peak of the ether compound is plotted in
the middle of a retention time peak of the ester product and a retention time peak of the
alcohol according to boiling point and polarity of the ether compound. For reference,
when aliphatic and aromatic alcohols having 10 or more carbon atoms are used,
retention time is shifted backward, and when aliphatic and aromatic alcohols having 8
or more carbon atoms are used, a retention time is relatively shifted forward. In
addition, gas chromatography retention time peak may be changed according to gas
chromatography (G.C) analysis conditions.
For example, the ether compound may have a retention time peak at 6.5
minutes to 14 minutes, or at 6.8 minutes to 13 minutes, upon analysis on a HP-5
column and in the presence of helium as a carrier gas using Agilent 7890 GC (model
name) as a gas chromatography apparatus.
The ether compound may be derived from the product obtained through
esterification reaction, or may be a separately prepared ether compound per se. In
addition, the ether compound may have an alkyl group that is the same as or different
from an alkyl group of the ester-based plasticizer or an alkyl group of an alcohol added
during esterification reaction of the ester-based plasticizer. In a specific example, the
ether compound may be selected one or more.from an aliphatic compound having a Cl-
C20 alkyl group, an aromatic compound having a C1-C20 alkyl group, and a compound
containing an aliphatic moiety having a C1-C20 alkyl group and an aromatic moiety
3
having a C1-C20 alkyl group. —— ——
In another example, the ether compound may be selected from at least one
aliphatic compound having a C1-C20 alkyl group, at least one aromatic compound
having a C1-C20 alkyl group, and at least one compound containing an aliphatic moiety
having a C1-C20 alkyl group and an aromatic moiety having a C1-C20 alkyl group.
Meanwhile, the ester-based plasticizer may have a retention time peak at 15
minutes to 20 minutes, 16 minutes to 19 minutes, or 17 minutes to 19 minutes, upon
analysis on an HP-5 column and in the presence of helium as a carrier gas using Agilent
7890 GC (model name) as a gas chromatography apparatus.
The ester-based plasticizer may be derived from the product obtained through
esterification reaction of an acid and an alcohol in an esterification catalyst, or may be a
separately prepared ether compound per se. In a specific example, the ester-based
plasticizer may be selected one or more from an aliphatic compound having a C1-C20
alkyl group, an aromatic compound having a C1-C20 alkyl group, and a compound
containing an aliphatic moiety having a C1-C20 alkyl group and an aromatic moiety
having a C1-C20 alkyl group.
The acid, for example, may be selected one or morejrom carboxylic acid such
as terephthalic acid, (iso)phthalic acid, phthalic anhydride, hydrocyclic phthalate,
succinic acid, citric acid, trimellitic acid, (iso)butyric acid, maleic anhydride, 2-
ethylhexanoic acid, benzoic acid, adipic acid and azelic acid, phosphoric acid and
phosphorous acid.
For example, the alcohol may be selected one or more from an aliphatic
alcohol having a C1-C20 alkyl group and an aromatic alcohol having a C1-C20 alkyl
group.
In a specific example, the alcohol may have a retention time peak at 1 to 6.4
4
minutes or 1 to 6 minutes, upon arialysis_pjLM^-Hfc5_column-and~in"the"pres^eTice~irf
helium as a carrier gas using Agilent 7890 GC (model name) as a gas chromatography
apparatus.
In another example, the alcohol may be selected one or more from monovalent
5 to trivalent aliphatic alcohols having a C1-C20 alkyl group and isomers thereof, such as
methanol, ethanol, propanol, n-butanol, iso-butanol, tert-butanol, pentanol and isomers
thereof, hexanol and isomers thereof, heptanol and isomers thereof, octanol and isomers
thereof, nonanol and isomers thereof, decanol and isomers thereof, undecanol and
isomers thereof, and dodecanol and isomers thereof, monovalent to trivalent aromatic
10 alcohols having a C1-C20 alkyl group such as phenol, benzyl alcohol and
hydroquinone, and aromatic alcohols having a hydrocarbon chain.
In another example, the alcohol may comprise 10 to 40% by weight of an
aliphatic or aromatic alcohol having a C3-C4 alkyl group and 90 to 60% by weight of
an aliphatic or aromatic alcohol having a C8-C10 alkyl group.
15 The catalyst, for example, may be selected one or more from acid catalysts such
as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid, paratoluenesulfonic
acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, propanesulfonic acid, butanesulfonic
acid and alkyl sulfuric acid, metal salts such as aluminum lactate, lithium fluoride,
potassium chloride, cesium chloride, calcium chloride, iron chloride and aluminum
20 phosphate, metal oxides such as heterpolyacids, natural/synthetic zeolites, cation and
anion exchange resins, and organometallic compounds such as tetraalkyltitanate and
polymers thereof.
In a specific example, when at least one sulfonic acid-based catalyst selected
from paratoluenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid,
25 propanesulfonic acid and butanesulfonic acid is used in liquid form as the catalyst, it is
possible to improve rate of reaction, and—reduce—reaetion--temperatufe-_ciuring
esterification reaction, inhibit corrosion in a reactor, reduce stickiness and thereby
improve handling.
The sulfonic acid-based catalyst may be sequentially or simultaneously used in
5 combination with at least one non-sulfonic acid-based catalyst. The non-sulfonic
acid-based catalyst is for example sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid,
nitric acid, alkyl sulfuric acid, aluminum lactate, lithium fluoride, potassium chloride,
cesium chloride, calcium chloride, iron chloride, aluminum phosphate, metal oxides
such as heterpolyacids, natural/synthetic zeolites, cation and anion exchange resins, and
10 tetraalkyl titanate and a polymer thereof. An amount of the used catalyst is for
example, for a homogeneous catalyst, 0.001 to 5 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by
weight of the acid and, for a heterogeneous catalyst, 5 to 200 parts by weight, based on
100 parts by weight of the acid.
For example, the esterification reaction may be performed at a temperature of
15 80 to 300°C using a batch reactor, a mixed flow reactor or a tubular reactor.
In a specific example, the esterification reaction is performed at a temperature
of 100 to 300°C for 2 to 14 hours.
When the reaction temperature is lower than the range defined above, rate of
reaction is excessively low and reaction is inefficient, and when the reaction
20 temperature is higher than the range, products are thermally decomposed and color of
the product may be degraded. In another example, the reaction temperature is 130 to
280°Corl30to240°C.
In addition, when the reaction time is shorter than the range defined above,
reaction is insufficient and conversion ratio and yield may thus, be low, and when the
25 reaction time exceeds this range, conversion ratio reaches about a thermodynamically
6
available level and additional reaction may thus be meaningless. In a specific
example, the reaction time may be 4.5 to 8 hours.
The esterification reaction may be performed further using an entrainer as a
substance which functions to discharge water produced during esterification reaction to
the outside of a reaction system. In a specific example, esterification reaction is
carried out by feeding 1 to 20 parts by weight of a liquid entrainer or a gas entrainer,
with respect to 100 parts by weight of the total esterification reactant at a flow rate of
0.1 to 100 times a reactor volume per hour.
The entrainer may for example be an organic solvent including n-hexane,
toluene or xylene, or an inert gas such as nitrogen.
After completion of the esterification reaction, for example, unreacted raw
material is removed by distillation under reduced pressure or the like, and is neutralized
with a basic solution such as an aqueous solution of NaOH, KOH or NajCCb, The
neutralized substance is washed with water, is optionally dried by dehydration under
reduced pressure and is filtered through an absorbent material.
The plasticizer composition may be obtained by preparing and blending
respective components, or may be a mixture blended through esterification of a suitable
alcohol mixture with terephthalic acid.
In a specific example, the ether compound may be selected one or more from
bis(2-ethylhexyl) ether, butyl(2-ethylhexyl) ether and dibutyl ether.
In another example, the ether compound may be an ether composition
comprising 20 to 70% by weight or 40 to 70% by weight of bis(2-ethylhexyl) ether, 10
to 70% by weight or 10 to 50% by weight of butyl(2-ethylhexyl) ether, and 0.1 to 50%
by weight or 10 to 20% by weight of dibutyl ether.
In addition, the ester-based plasticizer for example may be selected one or more
7
from terephthalic, phthalic anhydride, citrate, benzoate, adipate,; phosphate, phosphite,
azelate and trimellitate plasticizers.
In a specific example, the ester-based plasticizer may be a terephthalate
plasticizer represented by the following Formula 1:
The ester-based plasticizer is for example obtained by the following method
including: mixing an alcohol solvent with terephthalic acid; adding a catalyst to the
mixture, followed by reaction under a nitrogen atmosphere; removing the unreacted
alcohol and neutralizing the unreacted acid; and performing dehydration by distillation
under reduced pressure, followed by filtration, to obtain a terephthalate compound.
The alcohol solvent may be a CIO alcohol such as 2-propylheptyl alcohol, a C9
alcohol such as 2-isononyl alcohol, or a C8 alcohol such as 2-ethylhexyl alcohol, and
the acid may be terephthalic acid and may be used in combination of carboxylic acid,
polycarboxylic acid or an anhydride thereof.
In another example, the ester-based plasticizer may be a plasticizer
composition comprising: 20 to 70% by weight of a terephthalate compound represented
by the following formula 1; 0.1 to 50% by weight of a terephthalate compound
represented by the following formula 2; and 10 to 70% by weight of a terephthalate
For example, the ester-based plasticizer is for example obtained by the
following method including: mixing terephthalic acid in a mixed solvent of alcohol;
adding a catalyst to the mixture, followed by reaction under a nitrogen atmosphere;
5 removing the unreacted alcohol and neutralizing the unreacted acid; and performing
dehydration by distillation under reduced pressure, followed by filtration, to obtain a
terephthalate composition comprising the terephthalate compound represented by
Formula 1, the terephthalate compound represented by Formula 2 and the terephthalate
compound represented by Formula 3.
10 In a specific example, the alcohol mixed solvent may comprise 10 to 80% by
weight of C3-C4 alcohol such as n-butanol and 90 to 20% by weight of C8-C10 alcohol
such as 2-ethylhexyl alcohol, and the acid may be terephthalic acid and may be used in
combination of carboxylic acid, polycarboxylic acid or an anhydride thereof. A content
ratio of products may be controlled by controlling a molar ratio of the alcohols, and the
15 content ratio of the compounds of Formulas 1, 2 and 3 may be for example a weight
ratio of 40 to 70:5 to 10:10 to 50.
The plasticizer composition according to the present invention may be present
in an amount of 5 to 150 parts by_weight,_or-l-0-to4-00-parts-by"weight7^TtHTsespecT*to
100 parts by weight of the resin. The resin for example may be selected one or more
from resins such as ethylene vinyl acetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl
chloride, polystyrene, polyurethane, thermoplastic elastomers and polylactic acid.
Optionally, the resin composition may further comprise 0.5 to 7 parts by
weight of a stabilizer, 0.5 to 3 parts by weight of a lubricant, and at least one additive
selected from a plasticizer, a flame retardant, a cross-linking agent and a filler such as
carbon black.
The resin composition may be applied by compound prescription or sheet
prescription. The resin composition provides heat loss and workability suitable for
application to manufacturing of products such as wires, automobile interior materials,
sheets or tubes, in proportion to content of ether in the composition.
[Advantageous Effects]
Advantageously, the present invention provides a plasticizer composition
which comprises an ester-based plasticizer and an ether compound and has improved
workability and heat loss.
[Best Mode]
Now, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the
following examples. These examples are provided only to illustrate the present invention
and should not be construed as limiting the scope and spirit of the present invention.
Example 1
332.2g of terephthalic acid and 781.2g of 2-ethylhexyl alcohol were added to a 2
liter four-neck round bottom flask_ equipped-with~a-stirrer—a-column^for^elmb'ving*
produced water and a condenser, 8.1g of para-toluene sulfonic acid was added thereto,
and esterification reaction was performed at an elevated temperature to 200°C while
adding nitrogen thereto at a rate of 100 ml/min to obtain a reaction product.
5 Total reaction time was about 6 hours and the reaction product was analyzed with
a GC-mass spectrometer (Agilent 7890, maintenance at initial temperature of 70°C for 3
minutes, and then elevation in temperature to 280°C at a rate of 10°C/min and
maintenance for 5 minutes, column: HP-5, carrier gas: helium). As a result, it was
identified that the reaction product comprised 3.358% of bis(2-ethylhexyl) ether and
10 96.642% of a di-2-ethylhexyl terephthalate compound represented by Formula 1.
[Formula 1]
In addition, when the reaction product was analyzed using a gas chromatography
apparatus produced by Agilent Technologies (model name: Agilent 7890 GC, column:
15 HP-5, carrier gas: helium), retention time peaks at 5.36 minutes, 10.30 minutes and 18.13
minutes were identified. It was identified that the peak at a retention time of 5.36
minutes corresponds to a peak of the 2-ethylhexyl alcohol used for reaction, and the peak
at 18.13 minutes corresponds to a peak of an esterification reaction product produced by
esterification reaction. Accordingly, it was identified that the peak at 10.30 minutes
corresponds to a peak of an ether compound produced during reaction.
Example 2
The same process as in the Example 1 was repeated except that the amount of
5 para-toluenesulfonic acid used was changed to 16.2 g.
The total reaction time was 4.5 hours. As a result of analysis of a reaction
product using a GC-mass spectrometer after reaction, it was identified that the reaction
product comprised 3.505% of bis(2-ethylhexyl) ether and 96.495% of the di-2-ethylhexyl
terephthalate compound of Formula 1.
10
Example 3
The same process as in Example 2 was repeated except that methanesulfonic
acid was used, instead of the para-toluenesulfonic acid.
Total reaction time was 10 hours. As a result of analysis of a reaction product
15 using a GC-mass spectrometer, it was identified that the reaction product comprised
6.563% of bis(2-ethylhexyl) ether and 93.437% of the di-2-ethylhexyl terephthalate
compound of Formula 1.
Example 4
20 332.2g of terephthalic acid and l,300g of 2-ethylhexyl alcohol were added to a 3
liter four-neck round bottom flask equipped with a stirrer, a column for removing
produced water and a condenser, 32.6g of para-toluene sulfonic acid was added thereto,
and esterification reaction was performed at an elevated temperature of 200°C.
Total reaction time was 24 hours. As a result of analysis of a reaction product
25 using a GC-mass spectrometer, it was identified that the reaction product comprised
9.562% of bis(2-ethylhexyl) ether and 90.438% of the di-2-ethylhexyl terephthalate
compound represented by Formula 1.
Example 5
5 332.2g of terephthalic acid and 2,600g of 2-ethylhexyl alcohol were added to a 5
liter four-neck round bottom flask equipped with a stirrer, a column for removing
produced water and a condenser, 65.2g of para-toluene sulfonic acid was added thereto,
and esterification reaction was performed at an elevated temperature of 200°C.
Total reaction time was 24 hours. As a result of analysis of a reaction product
10 using a GC-mass spectrometer, it was identified that the reaction product comprised
17.852% of bis(2-ethylhexyl) ether and 82.148% of the di-2-ethylhexyl terephthalate
compound represented by Formula 1.
Example 6
The same process as in Example 1 was repeated except that 4.0g (0.36%) of
15 tetraisopropyl titanate (TiPT) was added, instead of the para-toluenesulfonic acid,
reaction was performed for 2 hours and 1% of methanesulfonic acid was further then
added.
Total reaction time was about 6 hours. As a result of analysis of a reaction
product using a GC-mass spectrometer, it was identified that the reaction product
20 comprised 0.72% of bis(2-ethylhexyl) ether and 99.28% of the di-2-ethylhexyl
terephthalate compound represented by Formula 1.
Example 7
The same process as in Example 1 was repeated except that 4.0g (0.36%) of
25 tetraisopropyl titanate (TiPT) was added, instead of the para-toluenesulfonic acid.
Total reaction time was 8 hours. As a result of analysis of a reaction product
using a GC-mass spectrometer, it was identified that the reaction product comprised an
extremely small amount (lower than 0.01%) of bis(2-ethylhexyl) ether and the balance of
the di-2-ethylhexyl terephthalate compound represented by Formula 1. A bis(2-
5 ethylhexyl) ether compound was further added until a concentration of bis(2-ethylhexyl)
ether in the final product reached 3.5%.
Example 8
The same process as in Example 1 was repeated except that 4.0g (0.36%) of
10 tetraisopropyl titanate (TiPT) was added, instead of the para-toluenesulfonic acid.
Total reaction time was 8 hours. As a result of analysis of a reaction product
using a GC-mass spectrometer, it was identified that the reaction product comprised an
extremely small amount (lower than 0.01%) of bis(2-ethylhexyl) ether and the balance of
the di-2-ethylhexyl terephthalate compound represented by Formula 1. A bis(2-
15 ethylhexyl) ether compound was further added until a concentration of bis(2-ethylhexyl)
ether in the final product reached 6.56%.
Example 9
440 g of terephthalic acid, 302 g of n-butanol and 530 g of 2-ethylhexanol were
20 reacted using 32g of 70% methanesulfonic acid at 140 to 200°C in a five-neck round
bottom flask equipped with a temperature sensor, a mechanical stirrer, a condenser, a
decantor and a nitrogen injection apparatus, followed by neutralizing with NaaCGx
washing with water once, heating under reduced pressure and dealcoholizing, to obtain a
reaction product. ' '
25 Total reaction time was about 5 hours. As a result of analysis of the reaction
product using a GC-mass spectrometer, it was identified that the reaction product
comprised 3.2% of three types of ethers, i.e., bis(2-ethylhexyl) ether, butyl(2-ethylhexyl)
ether and dibutyl ether, and 96.8% of three types of terephthalate compounds represented
by the following Formulas 1, 2 and 3.
A weight ratio of bis(2-ethylhexyl) ether, butyl(2-ethylhexyl) ether and dibutyl
ether was 60:10:30 and a weight ratio of three terephthalate compounds of the following
Formulas 1, 2 and 3 was 40:10:50.
[Formula 1]
In addition, when the reaction product was analyzed using a gas chromatography
apparatus produced by Agilent Technologies (model name: Agilent 7890 GC, column:
HP-5, carrier gas: helium), it was identified that retention time peaks at 6.8 minutes, 8.9
5 minutes and 10.30 minutes correspond to peaks of three types of ether compounds
produced during reaction.
Example 10
The same process as in the Example 9 was repeated except that the amounts of
10 terephthalic acid, n-butanol and 2-ethylhexanol were changed to 498.3g, lll.Og and
976.5g, respectively, and esterification reaction was performed while slowly elevating
temperature from 140°C to 180°C, to obtain a reaction product.
Total reaction time was about 5 hours. As a result of analysis of the reaction
product using a GC-mass spectrometer, it was identified that the reaction product
15 comprises 3.5% of three types of ethers, i.e., bis(2-ethylhexyl) ether, butyl(2-ethylhexyl)
ether and dibutyl ether, and 96.5% of three types of terephthalate compounds represented
by the following formulas 1, 2 and 3.
A weight ratio of bis(2-ethylhexyl) etherr-butyl^ethylhexyl^theFancI dibutyl
ether was 60:10:30 and a weight ratio of three terephthalate compounds of the following
formulas 1, 2 and 3 was 19.2:5.1:75,7.
5 Comparative Example 1
The same process as in Example 1 was repeated except that 4.0g (0.36%) of
tetraisopropyl titanate (TiPT) was added, instead of the para-toluenesulfonic acid,
reaction was performed for 2 hours and 1% of methanesulfonic acid was then further
added. Total reaction time was 8 hours. It was identified by gas chromatography that
10 the ether compound was present in an extremely small amount lower than 0.01%. It
was identified that the extremely small amount of produced ether was bis(2-ethylhexyl)
ether.
When the obtained reaction product was analyzed using a gas chromatography
apparatus produced by Agilent Technologies (model name: Agilent 7890 GC, column:
15 HP-5, carrier gas: helium), peaks were observed at retention times of 5.36 minutes and
18.13 minutes. It was identified that the peak at a retention time of 5.36 minutes
corresponds to a peak of 2-ethylhexyl alcohol used for the reaction, and the peak at 18.13
minutes corresponds to a peak of an esterification product obtained by esterification
reaction. These results are consistent with the fact that the ether compound was present
20 in an extremely small amount lower than 0.01%.
Comparative Example 2
The same process as in Example 1 was repeated except that 4.0g (0.36%) of
tetraisopropyl titanate (TiPT) was added instead of the para-toluenesulfonic acid.
25 Total reaction time was 8 hours. It was identified by gas chromatography that
the ether compound was present in an extremely_small-amount4owerthan~0.0T%. It
was identified that the extremely small amount of produced ether was bis(2-ethylhexyl)
ether. Bis(2-ethylhexyl)ether was further added such that a content of bis(2-
ethylhexyl)ether in the final product was 25%.
Specimens were produced using plasticizer compositions of Examples 1 to 10,
and Comparative Examples 1 to 2 and physical properties of specimens were tested. In
order to confirm effects of ether content on final product quality, workability was
evaluated by absorption velocity (fusion test) and heat loss at a high temperature was
measured according to the following method.
; a mixer temperature was previously
set at 80°C, a predetermined amount of resin was added and mixing was performed for 5
minutes. Then, a predetermined amount of plasticizer was added and a time at which
the plasticizer was completely absorbed was measured.
: Products of Examples and Comparative
Examples were processed together with resins to produce specimens with a thickness of 1
mm, a loss level was measured at 100°C for 168 hours and the results are shown in the
following Table 1.
As can be seen from Table 1, it was demonstrated that, in Examples 1 to 10, an
increase in ether content improved workability (as a result of fusion test).
Meanwhile, it was seen that Examples 1 to 3 and 6 exhibited substantially
5 identical heat loss and Examples 4 and 5 exhibited superior workability, but relatively
high heat loss.
In addition, Example 6 in which two different types of catalysts are substantially
used provided a suitable range of ether content. Furthermore, it was seen that Examples
7 and 8, in which an ester-based plasticizer and an ether compound are separately
10 blended, provided improvement in heat loss and workability which fall within ranges
defined in the present invention.
Meanwhile, Examples 9 and 10 comprising three types of ester-based
plasticizers and three types of ether compounds exhibited similar or high absorption
velocity in spite of relatively low ether contents, as compared to Example 3. This is
15 thought to be affected by ether containing butanol or alcohol with a low molecular
weight.
Meanwhile, Comparative Example 1 having an extremely low ether content
exhibited similar heat loss, but poor workability, as compared to Example 1 to 3. This
is because an ether content was relatively low, which indicates that ether affects
20 workability.
In addition, in Comparative Example 2 having an ether content exceeding 20%
by weight, since the ether compound has a much lower boiling point than an ester
compound constituting the ester-based plasticizer, evaporation increases during resin
processing, product quality cannot be satisfied to an extent that measurement of heat loss
is impossible, and deterioration in weatherability caused-by-migration-andbleedingin-the "~
process of obtaining final products may occur.
Consequently, it was demonstrated that, when an ether content is controlled to
an optimal level, workability can be improved without affecting heat loss, as compared to
products comprising ester only.

[CLAIMS]
[Claim 1] A plasticizer composition comprising an ester-based plasticizer and
an ether compound,
wherein the ether compound is present in an amount of 0.01 to 20% by weight,
based on the total weight of the plasticizer composition.
[Claim 2] The plasticizer composition according to claim 1, wherein the ether
compound is selected one or more from an aliphatic compound having a C1-C20 alkyl
group, an aromatic compound having a C1-C20 alkyl group, and a compound
containing an aliphatic moiety having a C1-C20 alkyl group and an aromatic moiety
having a C1-C20 alkyl group.
[Claim 3] The plasticizer composition according to claim 1, wherein the ether
compound has a retention time peak at 6 minutes to 14 minutes, upon analysis on an
HP-5 column and in the presence of helium as a carrier gas using Agilent 7890 GC as a
gas chromatography apparatus.
[Claim 4] The plasticizer composition according to claim 1, wherein the ether
compound is present in an amount of 0.1 to 9.5% by weight, based on the total weight of
the plasticizer composition.
[Claim 5] The plasticizer composition according to claim 1, wherein the ether
compound is a compound contained in a product obtained by esterification reaction of an
acid with an alcohol in an esterification catalyst.
[Claim 6] The plasticizer composition according to claim 1, wherein the esterbased
plasticizer is selected one or more from an aliphatic compound having a C1-C20
alkyl group, an aromatic compound having a C1-C20 alkyl group, and a compound
containing an aliphatic moiety having a C1-C20 alkyl group and an aromatic moiety
having a C1-C20 alkyl group.
[Claim 7] The plasticizer composition according to claim 1, wherein the esterbased
plasticizer has a retention time peak at 15 minutes to 20 minutes, upon analysis
on an HP-5 column and in the presence of helium as a carrier gas using Agilent 7890
GC as a gas chromatography apparatus.
[Claim 8] The plasticizer composition according to claim 1, wherein the esterbased
plasticizer is a product obtained by esterification reaction of an acid with an
alcohol in an esterification catalyst.
[Claim 9] The plasticizer composition according to claim 5 or 8, wherein the
alcohol has a retention time peak at 1 minutes to 6.4 minutes, upon analysis on an HP-5
column and in the presence of helium as a carrier gas using Agilent 7890 GC as a gas
chromatography apparatus.
[Claim 101 The plasticizer composition according to claim 8, wherein the alcohol
is selected one or more from an aliphatic alcohol having a C1-C20 alkyl group and an
aromatic alcohol having a C1-C20 alkyl group.
'laim 11] The plasticizer composition according—to—claim dO~wherein~"tlTe
ihol comprises 10 to 80% by weight of an aliphatic alcohol or aromatic alcohol
ing a C3-C4 alkyl group and 90 to 20% by weight of an aliphatic alcohol or aromatic
alcohol having a C8-C10 alkyl group.
[Claim 12] The plasticizer composition according to claim 5 or 8, wherein the
acid is selected one or more from terephthalic acid, (iso)phthalic acid, phthalic
anhydride, hydrocyclic phthalate, succinic acid, citric acid, trimellitic acid, (iso)butyric
acid, maleic anhydride, 2-ethylhexanoic acid, benzoic acid, adipic acid, azelic acid,
phosphoric acid and phosphorous acid.
[Claim 13] The plasticizer composition according to claim 5 or 8, wherein the
esterification catalyst is selected one or more from paratoluenesulfonic acid,
methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, propanesulfonic acid, butanesulfonic acid,
sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid, alkyl sulfuric acid,
aluminum lactate, lithium fluoride, potassium chloride, cesium chloride, calcium
chloride, iron chloride, aluminum phosphate, heteropolyacids, natural zeolite, synthetic
zeolite, cation exchange resins, anion exchange resins and tetraalkyl titanate.
[Claim 14] The plasticizer composition according to claim 1, wherein the esterbased
plasticizer is selected one or more from terephthalic, phthalic anhydride, citrate,
benzoate, adipate, phosphate, phosphite, azelate, and trimellitate plasticizers.
[Claim 15] The plasticizer composition according to claim 1, wherein the esterbased
plasticizer is a terephthalate plasticizer represented by the following Formula 1.
[Claim 16] The plasticizer composition according to claim 1, wherein the esterbased
plasticizer comprises 20 to 70% by weight of a terephthalate compound
5 represented by the following formula 1, 0.1 to 50% by weight of a terephthalate
compound represented by the following formula 2, and 10 to 70% by weight of a
terephthalate compound represented by the following formula 3.
[Formula 1]
[Claim 17] The plasticizer composition according to claim 1, wherein the ether
5 compound is selected one or more from bis(2-ethylhexyl) ether, butyl(2-ethylhexyl) ether
and dibutyl ether.
[Claim 18] The plasticizer composition according to claim 1, wherein the ether
compound is an ether composition comprising 20 to 70% by weight of bis(2-ethylhexyl)
10 ether, 10 to 70% by weight of butyl(2-ethylhexyl) ether and 0.1 to 50% by weight of
dibutyl ether.
[Claim 19] The plasticizer composition according to claim 1, wherein the
plasticizer composition is applied to at least one resin selected from ethylene vinyl
acetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyurethane,
thermoplastic elastomers and polylactic acid.