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Plasticizers | additives feature


Stéphane Content, sector group manager of the European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates, examines the development of PVC plasticizers, responses to regulations, and what lies ahead


Plasticizers: past, present and future


Following years of research, experimentation and investments, plasticizers have become varied and versatile chemicals that form an integral part of modern life. They remain essential components of hundreds of everyday PVC applications, leading to strict scrutiny by regulators, the media and consumers. However, scientifi c and factual rigour is not always observed when communicating about this diverse family of chemicals. Accurate and technical data should always remain at the centre of the discussions regard- ing plasticizers, because their use directly impacts our everyday living.


Countless applications Although industrial plasticizers were fi rst synthesized in the late 19th


century, modern plasticizers came to


widespread use in the late 1920s after PVC became a commercially successful material. There are more than 300 di fferent types of plasticiz- ers of which about 50-100 are in commercial use today.


Over 90% of all plasticizers consumed in Europe are employed in fl exible PVC applications. The construction sector is the largest consumer of


fl exible PVC for indoor and outdoor cables, roofi ng membranes, fl ooring, wall coverings, fl exible tubing, hoses, mastics and sealants. Automotive producers employ PVC in a number of applications and compo- nents. For example, layers of PVC are used to protect the underbody of vehicles from road and weather conditions. Other uses include sun visors, synthetic leather seat coverings, seals, mud fl aps, as well as noise and vibration reduction components. Other everyday products include synthetic leather


for luggage or sports equipment, footwear, tablecloths, or stationery. Plasticizers are also used in other applications such as food wrapping, closures, medical devices and toys.


A large and diverse family Since the implementation of the EU’s REACH chemical regulation in 2007, up to 100 plasticizers have been registered. Ortho-phthalates are the most common of all plasticizers, followed by terephtha-


lates, adipates, benzoates, di-benzoates, cyclohexanoates, citrates and azelates. www.compoundingworld.com August 2014 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 43 Plasticizers


bring fl exibility to everyday


products such as garden hoses


Synthetic leather made from plasticized PVC is used in luggage, car interiors and sports equipment





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