BENZYLCELLULOSE AS A THERMOPLAST .2. STAB ILIZATION AND PLASTICIZATION

By addition of a stabilizer (4-benzyloxyphenol) the oxidative thermal decomposition of benzylcellulose during melt processing was reduced. T he minimum stabilizer concentration was 5 wt.-%. Plastification with d iethyl phthalate reduced the glass transition temperature and the proc essing temperature and imparted softness and flexibility of the inhere ntly brittle benzylcellulose. The required plasticiser concentration ( 5-10 wt.-%) is lower than that required for other cellulose ethers lik e ethylcellulose (10-20 wt.-%) or cellulose acetates (20-30 wt.-%).