Identification and assessment of alternatives to selected phthalates

Table 2.2
Summary on application and technical properties of concerned phthalates
Chemical name Abb. Use and technical properties
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate DEHP Offers a good all-round performance and is therefore used for a great many costeffective,
general purpose products including building material such as flooring, cables,
profiles and roofs, as well as medical products such as blood bags and dialysis equipment
The content of DEHP in flexible polymer materials varies, but is often around 30%
(w/w).
Di-n-butyl phthalate DBP Is a specialist plasticiser often used in combination with other high molecular weight
phthalates.
It is a fast fusing plasticiser which by itself it is too volatile for PVC applications. It is
frequently used as a gelling aid in combination with other plasticisers.
DBP is used extensively in the adhesives industry to plasticise polyvinyl acetate (PVA)
emulsions and used solvent for many oil-soluble dyes, insecticides, peroxides and other
organic compounds. It is used as an antifoam agent and as a fibre lubricant in textile
manufacturing.
Butyl benzyl phthalate BBP Butyl benzyl phthalate is an unusual plasticiser because of its chemical asymmetry
which results in unique performance properties.
One of the manufacturing benefits of using BBP is that it allows PVC transformers to
operate with less energy input than with many similar plasticisers.
It is used widely by the flooring industry because it adds surface properties to flooring
materials that minimise maintenance and give it a prolonged life.
More than 90% of BBP is used for plasticising PVC or other polymers. Butyl benzyl
phthalate is also used in seals for insulating double glazing
Diisononyl phthalate DINP General, all-purpose plasticiser. Wide range of indoor and outdoor applications. 95 per
cent of DINP is used as a plasticiser for flexible PVC used for construction and industrial
applications, and durable goods (wire and cable, film and sheet, flooring, industrial
hoses and tubing, footwear, toys, food contact plastics).
Heat resistance, low temperature resistance and volatility resistance are some of its
main properties that make it suitable for a wide range of applications (ECPI, 2009)
Diisodecyl phthalate DIDP Diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) is a common phthalate plasticiser, used primarily to soften
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The typical content of DIDP in flexible PVC products is between
25 and 50% (w/w).
It has properties of volatility resistance, heat stability and electric insulation and is typically
used as a plasticiser for heat-resistant electrical cords, leather for car interiors, and
PVC flooring (ECPI, 2009).
Di-n-octyl phthalate DNOP The principal use of DNOP is as a plasticiser in the production of PVC resins and other
polymers, such as cellulose esters and polystyrene resins, as a dye carrier in plastic
production (primarily PVC), and as a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of adhesives,
plastisols, and nitrocellulose lacquer coatings (ATSDR, 2005)
DNOP may represent 5 to 60% of the total weight of the plastics and resins (ATSDR,
2005)
No actual confirmation of the use of DNOP in the EU today has been identified
Diisobutyl phthalate DIBP Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) is a specialist plasticiser often used in combination with
other high molecular weight phthalates.
It is a fast fusing plasticiser which by itself it is too volatile for PVC applications. It is
frequently used as a gelling aid in combination with other plasticisers.
A plasticiser for nitrocellulose, cellulose ether, and polyacrylate and polyacetate dispersions.
Has very similar application properties to DBP and may therefore be used to substitute
for DBP in most, if not all, of its applications.
The main alternatives to DEHP have been the two phthalates di-isononyl
phthalate (DINP) and di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP). As illustrated in Figure
2.3 in Sweden the shift from DEHP to first of all DINP took mainly place in
the period 1999 to 2002.
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