additives feature | PVC plasticizers
such as viscosity, fusion time or fi lm strength. This is where the use of fast-fusing plasticizers is critical in PVC formulations. Historically the most common fast-fusers were the low molecular weight ortho-phtha- lates such as benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), which have been declared SVHCs.
Emerald Kalama Chemical says that dibenzoates are excellent replacement fast-fusers. As part of its effort to expand its dibenzoate platform, it introduced its K-Flex range in 2012. Since then, it has also developed several pre-commercial products for plastisols.
The gel fusion curve of Emerald Kalama’s K-Flex X-613 (in green) compared to other plasticizers
parameters,” the company claims. The latest introduction from Eastman is VersaMax.
Cullen describes it as an “enhanced” GP plasticizer. He says it enables faster and easier processing, with improved fusion characteristics compared to 168 and other plasticizers. “It can have a broader formulation window, it can also yield plastisols with lower viscosi- ties,” he says. The exact chemistry is not divulged, although Cullen says that it is “terephthalate based”. The European launch of VersaMax took place at
AMI’s PVC Formulation 2015 conference in Cologne, Germany, this March. At this event, Eastman described VersaMax as providing better effi ciency, improved dry times, and lower fusion temperatures than DINP. It is also said to be similarly advantaged against other non-phthalate plasticizers. At the same conference, Eastman also talked about its Effusion high solvator plasticizer for modifying the properties of DEHT and other GP plasticizers. It says that the additive helps plastisols and dry blends cure faster, while fusion and processing temperatures are lower and overall energy effi ciency is improved. In addition, Effusion increases the compatibility of the total plasticizer package in PVC formulations. The product, which was launched in 2013, is a terephthalic ester based on terephthalic acid and butanol, and thus also qualifi es as a non-phthalate. In many applications, the use of a GP plasticizer
alone is not suffi cient to obtain the end-product performance or the required processing characteristics
24 COMPOUNDING WORLD | August 2015
Emily McBride, K-Flex applications chemist/ supervisor at the company, says X-613 is a very high solvating plasticizer with a “unique” ability to also reduce plastisol viscosities; it has already been REACH registered and its TSCA listing will be complete this year. X-121 and X-124 are two developmental polymeric plasticizers, both of which are TSCA/REACH/DSL exempt. McBride says that they “serve as excellent alternatives to higher molecular weight phthalates and other plasticizers typically used in automotive under- body sealants and coatings, as well as in vinyl fi lm applications where high surface energies are desired.” According to Emerald Kalama’s research fellow William Arendt, new polymeric plasticizers are also expected to have signifi cantly lower VOCs than current dibenzoate products. X-815 is an experimental high- molecular-weight monomeric dibenzoate that so far demonstrates the potential for superior permanence and excellent solvation.
“Compared to DINP and DIHP in particular, dibenzo-
ates outperform in terms of stain and extraction resistance (equivalent to BBP), hardness development, and compatibility,” Arendt claims. This makes them suitable for applications such as resilient fl ooring, vinyl leather-cloth, tubing, and plastisol coated fabrics. This May, Oxea expanded its non-phthalate plasti- cizer portfolio with the introduction of Oxsoft L9TM, a linear trinonyltrimellitate. It says that the new grade is ideally suited for special applications such as resilient and durable high-temperature automotive cables. Oxsoft L9TM directly replaces conventional C8/C10 trimellitates. Jacco de Haas, commercial business director for specialty esters at Oxea, says that the supply situation for the natural C8/C10 alcohols from which C8/C10 trimellitates are derived is “very diffi cult. This results in continuously increasing prices and unreliable availabil- ity for the corresponding plasticizer.” Oxsoft L9TM is said to show very good resistance to
high temperatures, excellent cold temperature fl exibility and great resistance to migration while having good plasticizing effi ciency and processability. Other
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