FTIR investigation of the specific migration of additives from rigid poly(vinyl chloride)

Commercial sunflower oil was epoxidized and used as organic costabiliser for rigid poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) containing zinc and calcium stearates as primary stabilisers and stearic acid as lubricant. For applications in the packaging of foodstuffs, migration testing must be realised. For that purpose, two food simulants were used (sunflower oil and 15% (v/v) aqueous ethanol). The test conditions were 12 days at 40 °C. Circular samples of rigid PVC were immersed in a well known volume of food simulant. A circular sample and 10 ml of food simulant were taken off every day to be analysed. The specific migrations of the additives were investigated by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The direct analysis of the food simulants was difficult because overlapping of the bands of the additives. However, the analysis of PVC films obtained by dissolution of the circular samples in tetrahydrofuran and evaporation of the solvent was more conclusive. The specific migrations of the metal carboxylates and epoxidized sunflower oil were evidenced.