ABSTRACT
The use of epoxy compounds as stabilizers for plastics was discovered during the early 1930s [1], but did not become commercially significant until the finding of synergism with cadmium and zinc carboxylate stabilizers in the early 1950s [2]. The combination of their stabilizing and plasticizing action made their outlet in these areas commercially significant. By 1970, total use amounted to 90 million pounds [3]. Since then, it has risen typically by 3–4% per year. In 1977, sales of epoxidized oils, mostly epoxidized soybean oil (ESO)*, were estimated to be 100 million pounds. Epoxidized alkyl fatty acid esters, mostly isooctyl epoxytallate, accounted for another 30 million pounds. In comparison, consumption of phthalate ester and polyester (polymeric) plasticizers were 1.2 billion and 50 million pounds, respectively [4]. The estimated breakdown, in millions of pounds, for 1981 930was 75 for soybean oil, 15 for tallates, 7 for linseed oil, and 3 for all others.
