Rosin and rosin derivatives as green and renewable plasticizers

Plasticizers from renewable sources is the next step in the green transition of plastics. There are a number of biodegradable plastics from renewable sources, like PLA, PBS and PHA and there is a need to find alternative plasticizers for complete green plastic materials. One of the side-streams from pulp production are the extractives, with rosin acids as one class of compounds that gives us the starting point for this project. With a carboxylic acid functionality that can be transformed to a relevant ester, the compound class can be modified with partly similar
structural features as the phthalate esters.

The main purpose is to evaluate TOR (tall oil rosin) and abietic acid (major component of TOR) as starting materials for green plasticizer for polymers like PVC and PLA and to assess whether TOR can effectively replace traditional plasticizers in the usual formulations, improving the polymer's mechanical properties, processing characteristics, and overall usability while maintaining its environmental benefits. The study will contribute to the broader goal of enhancing sustainability of plastic materials that can result in wider adoption of bio-based materials in various sectors, leading to increased commercial and industrial applications of bio-based plastics and reduce reliance on fossil-based material.