Identification and assessment of alternatives to selected phthalates

The data shows a steep decrease i the use of DBP in "flooring materials",
"casting materials", " printing inks", "adhesives" and "other".
Table 2.5
Uses of DBP registered in the Danish product register (SPIN, 2009)
Product group Registered consumption, tonnes DBP/year
2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000
Paint, lacquers and varnishes 64.7 69.4 67.0 29.0 27.8 27.9 63.4
Binding agents 9.1 1.4 0.8 21.1 13.3 21.4 21.7
Filling materials 0.2 0.2 0.2 2.7 51.1 49.1 50.2
Hardeners, curing agents 1.7 2.0 2.0 5.9 9.8 10.3 28.6
Flooring materials (joint-less floors) 0.0 0.1 0.1 18.3 18.9 19.0 19.0
Corrosion inhibitors, anticorrosive paints, underseal
materials, incl. cavity seals
3.9 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.7
Casting materials 0.5 0.1 0.1 3.3 4.2 4.3 6.1
Surface treatment for non-metals 0.0 0.1 0.1 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7
Polishing agents 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.6 0.0 0.0 1.2
Printing inks 0.7 0.9 0.1 0.7 0.3 0.3 102.0
Adhesives 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.4 0.2 0.2 16.8
Other 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.7 22.4 29.5 8.7
Total 81 75 71 97 150 164 320
2.4 Application of BBP
The following information is, if nothing else is mentioned, extracted from an
assessment of the manufacturing and use of butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) recently
published by European Chemicals Agency (COWI, 2009c).
The total manufactured tonnage in 2007 in the EU was below 18,000 tonnes.
A significant part of the manufactured tonnage is exported to countries outside
the EU. BBP seems to represent less than 1% of the production. The
market for BBP has been decreasing over the last decade. In the period 1994-
1997, the total reported Western European manufacture of BBP was 45,000
tonnes/year whereas for 2004 a production volume of 19,500 tonnes/year was
reported.
More than 70% of the BBP was in 2007 used as a plasticiser in polymer products,
mainly PVC for flooring. BBP is, according to industry, an unusual plasticiser
because of its chemical asymmetry which results in unique performance
properties.
BBP is typically used together with other plasticisers e.g. DEHP or DINP. It
has not been possible to identify information on typical concentration of BBP
in the final materials, but examples of formulations indicate that the concentration
may be in the range of 5-20%. As an example Eastman (2001) compares
two different BBP/DINP plastisol formulations with other formulation.
One of the formulations has 12 parts BBP and 28 parts DINP (together with
other additives) to 100 parts PVC whereas the other has 24 parts BBP and 56
parts DINP to 100 parts PVC.
BBP is used widely by the flooring industry because it speeds up production
and adds surface properties to flooring materials that minimise maintenance
and give it a prolonged life.
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