DBD treatment of PVC tubes to reduce plasticizer migration

In this work we discuss the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) treatment of soft polyvinylchloride (PVC) tubes in an argon atmosphere. The migration of the plasticizer diethylhexyl phthalate(DEHP) was measured by washing it out from the treated PVC surface and then quantifying it with infrared spectrometry. Thus we could observe a reduction of the migration of DEHP of up to 95%.