Plasticizing polymers with small-molecule additives: a not so simple picture revealed by a simple molecular model

Processing and manufacturing of many polymer products require the addition of plasticizers for tuning the flow properties of the melt as well as the thermo-mechanical properties of the product (lower Tg and improved material flexibility and ductility). These effects are often collectively described as plasticizers reducing the inter-chain friction and ”softening” the material. However, a detailed molecular mechanism has not been fully revealed. …