additives | PVC plasticisers
Figure 1: Oil extraction test results for Adeka’s ADK CIZER PN-7160 plasticiser compared to DOP
Oil extraction test* Extraction (%)
Elongation retention (%) 100% modulus (MPa)
* ASTM No.2 oil, 96 hours at 100˚C
ADK CIZER PN-7160 18.2 53
12.2
DOP 20.2 35
12.3 Source: Adeka
at 25°C) and excellent low temperature performance with a flexibility temperature (Tf) of around -24°C in a PVC formulation containing ca 50 phr of the plasticiser. Availability and pricing of various types of plasticis-
ers has been affected in recent months by significant events in Europe and China. In Europe, a fatal explosion and fire last October at the North Harbour at BASF’s Ludwigshafen production site in Germany damaged various pipelines, limiting raw material supply to the company’s plasticiser plants. A reconstruction plan for the pipelines was approved at the beginning of May, and BASF says the reconstruction work should be finished by the end of the third quarter. “The reconstruction of the pipeline trench is an important step towards the complete reopening of the
North Harbour,” a company spokesperson told Compounding World. “Thereafter, we expect to get back to normal production levels with our plasticiser production.” Meanwhile, In China an event of a very different type has had big implications for availability of bio-based plasticiser DOS – di(2-ethyl hexyl) sebacate. DOS is derived from sebacic acid, which is mainly produced from castor oil. And most industrial castor oil produc- tion is located in China and India. Last December, the Chinese government ordered a
shutdown of factories in north-east China as part of a programme designed to reduce the region’s heavy air pollution. Several plants producing sebacic acid were affected by this measure, with the shutdowns followed by a series of ‘force majeure’ declarations. While supply has subsequently eased, China’s restrictions on air pollution are becoming stricter, so a repeat of the situation cannot be ruled out next winter.
Alternative sourcing Emery Oleochemicals believes it has a solution in its new Edenol DOZ plasticiser, which it claims can replace
European regulatory update
DINP – diisononyl phthalate DINP is a general purpose plasticiser accounting for approximately 30% of the total European plasticisers consumption. In 2014, the Danish EPA said it would submit a dossier proposing the classifica- tion and labelling on DINP as toxic to reproduction. The dossier was published on the ECHA website in April, kicking off a public consultation which lasted until 19 May. European Plasticisers, which represents numerous plasticiser producers, contends that, “based on a thorough analysis of the available toxicological data,” a classification of DINP is not warranted. Danish EPA is preparing a response to the public comments for review by ECHA Risk Assessment Committee (RAC).
ATBC – acetyl tributyl citrate In autumn 2016, ECHA published the PACT/RMoA’s (Risk Management Option Analysis) conclusion document on ATBC. The report states that “ATBC is an alternative to phthalates in various
46 COMPOUNDING WORLD | August 2017
applications, especially in sensitive ones like medical devices or toys” and that, based on the existing data, there is no need to initiate further regulatory risk management action at this time.
DEHP, DBP, BBP, DIBP In June, ECHA announced that the Socio-Economic Assessment Committee (SEAC) supports the position earlier expressed by its Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) calling for the restric- tion of the use of DEHP, DBP, BBP and DiBP in articles either imported or manufactured in Europe. European Plasticisers says it “wel-
comes the establishment of a level playing field for the European industry versus importers of articles manufac- tured outside the EU. Nevertheless, the very broad scope of the restriction may undermine the Authorisation of DEHP which is still pending after two and a half years from the sunset date and despite the favourable opinion of both ECHA com- mittees on Authorisation.” Manufacturing
of articles from recycled flexible PVC will also be affected by the restrictions decision, with implications for the circular economy, says the association. The opinion of the two ECHA commit-
tees will be evaluated by the European Commission, which should take a final decision on the restriction before October. The proposed restriction will apply three years after the decision is published on the Official Journal and comes into force. Despite the “sunset date” for DEHP having passed in February 2015, and despite RAC and SEAC having issued favourable opinions to grant authorisation for DEHP, authorisation is still pending.
l Update provided by European Plasticis- ers, which is a sector group of CEFIC, the European chemical industry trade association. Its members include eight leading European plasticiser producers: BASF, Deza, Evonik Performance Materials, ExxonMobil, Grupa Azoty, Lanxess and Perstorp. ❙
www.plasticisers.org
www.compoundingworld.com
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