Plastisation

Plastisation is a process used to make plastics more flexible and easier to process. It involves the addition of plasticizers to a polymer, which reduces the polymer's glass transition temperature. This makes the material softer and more pliable, allowing it to be molded, extruded, or otherwise shaped more easily. Plasticizers are typically low-molecular-weight compounds that do not react with the polymer but rather disperse within it, creating free volume that allows the polymer chains to move more freely.

The choice of plasticizer depends on the specific polymer and the desired properties of the final product. Common plasticizers include phthalates, adipates, and citrate esters, which are often used in the production of PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Other polymers that may undergo plastisation include cellulose acetate, nitrocellulose, and certain types of rubber.

Plastisation is widely used in the plastics industry to create a variety of products, from flexible PVC pipes and cables to soft plastics used in toys and medical devices. However, the use of certain plasticizers, particularly phthalates, has raised environmental and health concerns due to their potential to leach out of products and migrate into the environment or the human body. As a result, there is ongoing research into developing safer alternatives and regulations to limit the use of harmful plasticizers.