Research Progress of Polyester Plasticizers in Polyvinyl Chloride

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is widely used in cables, building materials, artificial leather and packaging fields due to its excellent mechanical properties and good processability. However, because of its high rigidity, it needs to rely on plasticizers to endow flexibility. This paper systematically summarizes the research progress on the performance regulation of PVC by polyester plasticizers, with a focus on the structural design, synthesis methods and their application effects. Through comparative analysis of different molecular structures, branching structures and end group functionalization strategies, the influence mechanisms of polyester plasticizers on the thermal stability, mechanical properties, migration behavior and processing rheology of PVC are summarized. The results show that the rational design of the molecular structure of polyester can significantly improve the plasticizing efficiency and compatibility, and reduce the risk of plasticizer migration and volatilization. The conclusion holds that the source of bio⁃based monomers and green synthesis technology are the key directions for the development of polyester plasticizers. In the future, efforts should be focused on multi⁃functional collaborative design and large⁃scale preparation to promote their application in fields such as medical care, cables, and packaging, and achieve the sustainable development of high⁃performance and environmentally friendly PVC materials.