In this study, we synthesized an aromatic ester plasticizer with ether oxygen bonds called bis[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl]phthalate (BMEP), which could dissociate sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN) by a coordination effect between the ether oxygen bond and the Na+ cations. An antistatic plasticizer (AP) for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was then prepared by the mixture of BMEP and NaSCN. The surface resistivity, tensile strength, elongation at break, and hardness of the PVC composites with AP were studied. The addition of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) was favorable for enhancing the conductivity and elongation at break of the PVC composites. The antistatic ability of the PVC composites was slightly sensitive to the relative humidity (RH). The dependence of the surface resistivity of the AP-plasticized PVC composites on temperature was in good accordance with the Arrhenius equation, and the surface resistivity of the composites effectively decreased about one order of magnitude in the temperature range 40-80 degrees C. The surface resistivity of the antistatic PVC composites containing 40 phr DBP and 60 phr AP reached 10(8)Omega/sq orders of magnitude at an RH of 0.1%, and the corresponding tensile strength, elongation at break, and hardness reached 8.12 MPa, 416%, and 53 A, respectively. Such antistatic PVC composites, therefore, have large potential applications in corresponding antistatic fields, such as the packaging of electrical devices. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 116: 1718-1724, 2010