Abstract
The paper deals with the synthesis and characterisation as plasticizers and/or lubricants of some unsymmetrical diesters of sebacic acid by using superior branched aliphatic alcohols, such as 2-ethyl-hexanol, isodecanol and isotridecanol, along with complex aliphatic-aromatic alcohols, like 2-phenoxyethanol, 2-[(o-sec-butyl)phenoxy]ethanol and 2-[(p-nonyl)phenoxy]ethanol, respectively. Valuable plasticizing and/or lubricating properties were recorded, as a function of the polar / unpolar ratio within each structure of the considered product. A semnificative improved thermal resistance was also observed. In this way, the valability and consistency of the theoretical premises admitted, like the asymmetry and polyfunctionality principles, were fully proved. Keywords: unsymmetrical sebacic diesters, plasticizers, lubricants, phenoxy-ethanols