- are man-made organic chemicals;
- They are added to plastic,to make it flexible, resilient and easier to handle:
- They include endocrine disrupting and controversial phthalates:
Claims as to the number of plasticisers out there vary from 300 different types of plasticisers to approximately 50.
Over the last 60 years more than 30,000 different substances have been evaluated for their plasticising properties. After meeting the rigorous performance, cost, availability, health and environmental requirements which are imposed by the market, users and regulators only 50 are in use.
The most common plasticisers include esters such as adipates, azelates, citrates, benzoates, orthophthalates, terephthalates, sebacates, and trimellitates.
In 1999, the global volume of plasticizers was approximate 10 billion lbs, or about $5 billion.The market has an average yearly growth rate of 2-3%.
Of the ester plasticizers, standard phthalate esters comprise over 85% or the tonnage produced every year. They command the market due to their low cost and easy availability. Other common plasticizers include specialty phthalate esters, adipates, and trimellitates (which are used for low-temperature applications).
Over 90% of the plasticizer volume produced every year goes into Poly(Vinyl Chloride), or PVC. This polymer is found in anything from food packaging to construction materials to toys to medical
Category | Name | Accronym | Used in | Classified |
Acetate | Hexanedioic acid, polymer with 1,2-propanediol, acetate | Film and sheet, Food packaging – Cling Wrap | ||
Adipates | Di isobutyl adipate (DIBA) | DIBA | Not class. | |
Adipates | Di-2-ethylhexyl adipate (DEHA) | DEHA | Flooring, Wall coverings, Cladding and Roofing, Film and sheet, Automotive , Tubes & Hoses, Coated Fabrics, Inks and waxes, Food packaging – Cling Wrap, Toys | Not class. |
Adipates | Di-isodecyl adipate (DIDA) | DIDA | Not class. | |
Adipates | Di-isononyl adipate (DINA) | DINA | Adhesives & Sealants, Food packaging – Cling Wrap | Not class. |
Adipates | Di-tridecyl adipate (DTDA) | DTDA | Not class. | |
Azelates | Di-2-ethylhexyl azelate (DOZ) | DOZ | Not class. | |
Azelates | Di-isodecyl azelate (DIDA) | DIDA | Automotive , Adhesives & Sealants | |
Benzoate | Di-ethylene glycol dibenzoate | Flooring | Not class. | |
Benzoate | Di-propylene glycol dibenzoate | Flooring | No harmonised C&L | |
Benzoate | Isodecyl Benzoate (IDB) | IDB | Flooring, Wall coverings, Automotive , Adhesives & Sealants, Inks and waxes | No harmonised C&L |
Benzoate | Isononyl Benzoate (INB) | INB | Not class. | |
Benzoate | Isononyl Benzoate (INBB) | INBB | Flooring, Film and sheet | Not class. |
Benzoate | Tri-ethylene glycol dibenzoate | |||
Citrates | acetyl tributyl citrate | Food packaging – Cling Wrap, Toys, Medical Applications | ||
Citrates | acetyl triethyl citrate | Not class. | ||
Citrates | tri-2-ethylhexyl citrate | Not class. | ||
Citrates | tributyl citrate | Not class. | ||
Citrates | triethyl citrate | Not class. | ||
Cyclohexanoate | Di-isononyl cyclohexane dicarboxylate (DINCH) | DINCH | Flooring, Wall coverings, Film and sheet, Automotive , Adhesives & Sealants, Tubes & Hoses, Coated Fabrics, Food packaging – Cling Wrap, Toys, Medical Applications | Not class. |
ESO | epoxidised linseed oil (ELO) | ELO | Not class. | |
ESO | epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO) | ESBO | Automotive , Food packaging – Cling Wrap | Not class. |
Ester | 1,2,3-Propanetricarboxylic acid, 2-(1-oxobutoxy)-trihexyl ester (BTHC) | BTHC | Medical Applications | |
Ester | 2,2′-ethylenedioxydiethyl-bis-(2-ethylhexanoate) | Film and sheet | ||
Ester | Alkylsulphonic acid ester with phenol (ASE) | ASE | Adhesives & Sealants, Food packaging – Cling Wrap, Toys | No harmonised C&L |
Ester | Hexanedioic acid, polymer with 1,2-propanediol, octyl ester | Film and sheet, Food packaging – Cling Wrap | ||
Ester | Hexanedioic acid, polymer with 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol and 1,2-propanediol, isononyl ester | Film and sheet, Food packaging – Cling Wrap | ||
Ester | Isosorbide Diesters | Flooring, Food packaging – Cling Wrap | ||
Ester | Pentaerythritol ester of valeric acid | Flooring, Automotive , Toys | ||
Ester | TXIB (2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3pentanediol di-isobutyrate) | TXIB | Flooring, Adhesives & Sealants, Toys | |
Glycerol ester | Fully acetylated monoglyceride | Food packaging – Cling Wrap, Toys, Medical Applications | Not class. | |
Orthophthalate | Benzyl 3-isobutyryloxy-1-isopropyl-2,2-dimethylpropyl phthalate | Coated Fabrics | ||
Orthophthalate | Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) | BBP | Flooring | Repr. 1B Aquatic acute 1 Aquatic chronic 1 |
Orthophthalate | Benzyl C7-9-branched and linear alkyl phthalate | Flooring, Adhesives & Sealants | ||
Orthophthalate | bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) | DEHP | Repr. 1B | |
Orthophthalate | Butyl cyclohexyl phthalate (BCP) | BCP | Not class. | |
Orthophthalate | Butyl decyl phthalate (BDP) | BDP | Not class. | |
Orthophthalate | Di(2-Propyl Heptyl) phthalate (DPHP) | DPHP | Flooring, Wall coverings, Cladding and Roofing, Cables and wires, Film and sheet, Automotive , Tubes & Hoses, Coated Fabrics | Not class. |
Orthophthalate | Di(n-octyl) phthalate (DNOP) | DNOP | Not class. | |
Orthophthalate | Di-C16-18 alkyl phthalate | Cables and wires | ||
Orthophthalate | Di-isotridecyl phthalate | |||
Orthophthalate | Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) | DBP | Flooring, Automotive , Inks and waxes | Repr. 1B Acute aquatic 1
|
Orthophthalate | Di-n-hexyl phthalate (DNHP) | DNHP | No harm. C&L RAC opinion: Repr. 1B; H360FD | |
Orthophthalate | Di-n-pentyl phthalate (DNPP) | DNPP | Repr. 1B Aquatic acute 1 | |
Orthophthalate | Di-n-propyl phthalate (DPP) | DPP | No harmonised C&L | |
Orthophthalate | Diallyl phthalate (DAP) | DAP | Acute tox. 4 Aquatic acute 1 Aquatic chronic 1 | |
Orthophthalate | Dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP) | Flooring, Toys | No harm. C&L Reg.of intention: Repr. 1B; H360FD Skin Sens. 1; H317 | |
Orthophthalate | Diethyl phthalate (DEP) | DEP | Not class. | |
Orthophthalate | Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) | DIBP | Automotive , Adhesives & Sealants, Inks and waxes | Repr. 1B |
Orthophthalate | Diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) | DIDP | Flooring, Cladding and Roofing, Cables and wires, Film and sheet, Automotive , Tubes & Hoses, Coated Fabrics, Inks and waxes | Not class. |
Orthophthalate | Diisoheptyl phthalate (DIHP) | DIHP | Repr. 1B | |
Orthophthalate | Diisohexyl phthalate (DHP) | DHP | RAC opinion: Repr. 1B, H360FD | |
Orthophthalate | Diisononyl phthalate (DINP) | DINP | Flooring, Wall coverings, Cladding and Roofing, Cables and wires, Film and sheet, Automotive , Tubes & Hoses, Coated Fabrics, Inks and waxes | Not class. |
Orthophthalate | Diisooctyl phthalate (DIOP) | DIOP | No harmonised C&L | |
Orthophthalate | Diisotridecyl phthalate (DTDP) | DTDP | Cables and wires, Automotive | Not class. |
Orthophthalate | Diisoundecyl phthalate (DIUP) | DIUP | Cladding and Roofing, Cables and wires, Automotive | Not class. |
Orthophthalate | Dimethyl phthalate (DMP) | DMP | Not class. | |
Orthophthalate | Ditridecyl phthalate (DTDP) | DTDP | Not class. | |
Orthophthalate | Diundecyl phthalate (DUP) | DUP | Cladding and Roofing, Cables and wires | Not class. |
Orthophthalate | n-Octyl n-decyl phthalate (ODP) | ODP | Not class. | |
Phosphate ester | 2-ethyhexyl diphenyl phosphate | Not class. | ||
Phosphate ester | TPP (Triphenyl phosphate) | TPP | Flooring, Wall coverings | |
Phosphate ester | Tris (2-ethylhexyl) phosphate | Not class. | ||
Sebacates | Di-2-ethylhexyl sebacate (DOS) | DOS | Not class. | |
Sebacates | Di-isodecyl Sebacate (DIDS) | DIDS | Not class. | |
Sebacates | Dibutyl sebacate (DBS) | DBS | ||
Sebacates | Dimethyl sebacate (DMS) | DMS | Adhesives & Sealants | |
Terephthalate | Di iso Butyl terephthalate (DBT) | DBT | Adhesives & Sealants | Not class. |
Terephthalate | Di octyl terephthalate (DOTP or DEHTP) | DOTP | Flooring, Food packaging – Cling Wrap, Toys, Medical Applications | Not class. |
Trimellitate | Tris-2-ethyhexyl trimellitate | Cables and wires, Film and sheet, Medical Applications | Not class. |
Most Common Phthalates In Use (Wikkipedia)
Name | Abbreviation | Structural formula | Molecular weight (g/mol) | CAS No. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dimethyl phthalate | DMP | C6H4(COOCH3)2 | 194.18 | 131-11-3 |
Diethyl phthalate | DEP | C6H4(COOC2H5)2 | 222.24 | 84-66-2 |
Diallyl phthalate | DAP | C6H4(COOCH2CH=CH2)2 | 246.26 | 131-17-9 |
Di-n-propyl phthalate | DPP | C6H4[COO(CH2)2CH3]2 | 250.29 | 131-16-8 |
Di-n-butyl phthalate | DBP | C6H4[COO(CH2)3CH3]2 | 278.34 | 84-74-2 |
Diisobutyl phthalate | DIBP | C6H4[COOCH2CH(CH3)2]2 | 278.34 | 84-69-5 |
Butyl cyclohexyl phthalate | BCP | CH3(CH2)3OOCC6H4COOC6H11 | 304.38 | 84-64-0 |
Di-n-pentyl phthalate | DNPP | C6H4[COO(CH2)4CH3]2 | 306.40 | 131-18-0 |
Dicyclohexyl phthalate | DCP | C6H4[COOC6H11]2 | 330.42 | 84-61-7 |
Butyl benzyl phthalate | BBP | CH3(CH2)3OOCC6H4COOCH2C6H5 | 312.36 | 85-68-7 |
Di-n-hexyl phthalate | DNHP | C6H4[COO(CH2)5CH3]2 | 334.45 | 84-75-3 |
Diisohexyl phthalate | DIHxP | C6H4[COO(CH2)3CH(CH3)2]2 | 334.45 | 146-50-9 |
Diisoheptyl phthalate | DIHpP | C6H4[COO(CH2)4CH(CH3)2]2 | 362.50 | 41451-28-9 |
Butyl decyl phthalate | BDP | CH3(CH2)3OOCC6H4COO(CH2)9CH3 | 362.50 | 89-19-0 |
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate | DEHP, DOP | C6H4[COOCH2CH(C2H5)(CH2)3CH3]2 | 390.56 | 117-81-7 |
Di(n-octyl) phthalate | DNOP | C6H4[COO(CH2)7CH3]2 | 390.56 | 117-84-0 |
Diisooctyl phthalate | DIOP | C6H4[COO(CH2)5CH(CH3)2]2 | 390.56 | 27554-26-3 |
n-Octyl n-decyl phthalate | ODP | CH3(CH2)7OOCC6H4COO(CH2)9CH3 | 418.61 | 119-07-3 |
Diisononyl phthalate | DINP | C6H4[COO(CH2)6CH(CH3)2]2 | 418.61 | 28553-12-0 |
Di(2-propylheptyl) phthalate | DPHP | C6H4[COOCH2CH(CH2CH2CH3)(CH2)4CH3]2 | 446.66 | 53306-54-0 |
Diisodecyl phthalate | DIDP | C6H4[COO(CH2)7CH(CH3)2]2 | 446.66 | 26761-40-0 |
Diundecyl phthalate | DUP | C6H4[COO(CH2)10CH3]2 | 474.72 | 3648-20-2 |
Diisoundecyl phthalate | DIUP | C6H4[COO(CH2)8CH(CH3)2]2 | 474.72 | 85507-79-5 |
Ditridecyl phthalate | DTDP | C6H4[COO(CH2)12CH3]2 | 530.82 | 119-06-2 |
Diisotridecyl phthalate | DIUP | C6H4[COO(CH2)10CH(CH3)2]2 | 530.82 | 68515-47-9 |