PVC plasticizers | additives feature
Jennifer Markarian reports on new developments in PVC plasticizers, including non-phthalate and bio-based additives
Soft and safe: the latest plasticizers for PVC
The trend to replace low molecular weight phthalate- based plasticizers continues, with ongoing pressure from both regulatory authorities and public opinion driving the change. In Europe, where use of some plasticizer types is being phased out under REACH regulations, high molecular weight phtha- lates have taken much of the volume previously held by low molecular weight phthalates, according to the European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates (ECPI).
Non-phthalate plasticizers are also growing in volume, with demand driven by health and safety concerns and, in the case of bio-based plasticizers, sustainability benefi ts. Non-phthalate plasticizers are fi nding most use in applications involving human contact, such as toys, medical devices, food packaging, and fl ooring, while high molecular weight phthalates are expected to continue to be important in industrial applications, including wire and cable plus fi lm and sheet.
Legislative update High phthalate plasticizers (such as DINP, DIDP, DPHP, DIUP, DTDP – see table for chemical names) have been registered under REACH regulations for sale in the EU and do not have any restrictions for most applications. Low phthalate plasticizers (including DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP) are considered toxic to reproduction, and only certain authorized applications will be allowed in the EU after February 2015. Producers of DEHP and DBP plan to seek authoriza-
tion, while BBP’s producer will not seek authorization and DBP’s producer has not publicized its intentions, according to a presentation given by the ECPI at AMI’s PVC Formulation 2013 conference, which was held in March in Düsseldorf, Germany. Toys are a small, but highly publicized, segment of the plasticizer market. Certain phthalate-based
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plasticizers (DEHP, BBP, DBP, DINP, DIDP, and DNOP) are banned for use (over 0.1%) in the EU in toys and childcare articles. In addition to plasticizers already categorized under
REACH, 11 plasticizers are targeted for evaluation under a Community Rolling Action Plan (CoRAP) in the new draft three-year plan (2013-2015). This was explained by Alfred Voskian of Syska-Voskian Consult- ing in a presentation at AMI’s Cables 2013 conference, which took place in March in Cologne, Germany. The science of plasticizers, particularly that involving reproductive toxicity testing, is very dynamic, noted Voskian, and users should closely follow the ongoing evaluations and regulatory proposals. Testing results and regulations do vary by region, bringing into question the true risk of phthalate plasticizers. Australia, for instance, published a report in September 2012 concluding that current risk assessments do not indicate a health concern from exposure of children to DINP in toys and childcare articles. In the US, use of DINP, DIDP, and DnOP over 0.1% in toys that can be placed in a child’s mouth and in childcare articles have been under an interim restric- tion since 2008. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel (CHAP) is currently studying the effect of phthalates and phtha-
Regulation and public opinion is driving
moves to high molecular weight
phthalate
plasticizers and phthalate
alternatives
August 2013 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 13
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