Optimal Plasticisers for New Biobased Plastics Through a Combined Experimental and Molecular Simulations Approach
The purpose of the project is to lay the foundation for a “generic” model of plasticisation of polymers. For this a significantly better understanding of polymer plasticisation mechanisms and their dependence on molecular size, structure and polarity is needed. These are, in turn, linked to the free volume ratio and the molar refracivity of the plasticiser and the polymer. The methodology here to obtain a single fully generic model will be a combined experimental and simulations approach. With the model, it will be possible to determine how the next generation of “sustainable” plasticisers will look like, having high efficiency, zero migration and low health risks.