PVC Plasticizers and Stabilizers Following Safer Sustainable Path!

TAGS:  PVC, Plasticizers and Sustainability      Sustainability / Natural Solutions    

1. PVC Plasticizers Overview
2. Value-added PVC Plasticizer Options
3. PVC Stabilizers Overview
4. Value-added PVC Stabilizer Options

PVC Plasticizers Overview

Plasticizers are for, the most part, phthalate-based ester additives that impart elasticity to PVC (PolyVinyl Chloride) to soften it, make it flexible and bendable for application development purposes.

The current major trend in PVC plasticizers is to move away from very efficient low molecular weight variants due to increased regulations around negative human endocrine system absorption, most evident currently in Europe that will eventually spread to other global geographies.

Traditional low molecular weight plasticizer types include:

• DEHP (DiEthylHexylPhthalate)
• DIBP (DiIsoButylPhthalate)
• DBP (DiButylPhthalate), and
• BBP (BenzylButylPhthalate)

High molecular weight orthophthalates and alternative bio-based plasticizers are the emerging replacement choices.

The existing in place REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of CHemicals) Annex XIV regulation has restricted low molecular weight plasticizer use in Europe. Additionally, the 2020 implementation of a new REACH Annex XVII is targeted at severely reducing low molecular weight plasticizers being imported into Europe.

From another European perspective Regulation, ((EU) 2017/745) in 2021 will further restrict DEHP plasticizer in medical device use. Going further, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has set plasticizer public health daily intake limits in food-contact materials for DEHP, DBP, BBP, and DINP (DiIsoNonylPhthalate) at 50 μg/kg (microgram per kilogram) of body weight, as well as 150 μg/kg for DIDP (DiIsoDecylPhthalate).

Taken together, these plasticizer limits have generated significant interest in non-low molecular weight plasticizer alternatives in medical device and food packaging application development that will be outlined further.


Delving a bit further from a phthalate research standpoint, Scotland’s Edinburgh University is completing a risk assessment study on DBP and DINP plasticizers as endocrine disruptors for use in medical applications.

In a similar vein, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently performing low molecular weight plasticizer risk assessments on DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, and DIBP. Also, the EPA, as requested by the key suppliers ExxonMobil Chemical, Evonik, Teknor Apex, and supported by their American Chemistry Council trade group, will risk assess evaluate high molecular weight DIDP and DINP plasticizers over the next three years. This evaluation is expected to come back positive for these two high molecular weight plasticizers, and they will be declared safe for use.


Let’s now turn our attention to three value-added PVC plasticizer options that exceed the emerging requirements of REACH and European Union (EU) regulation.

Value-added PVC Plasticizer Options

Evonik’s Plasticizer Products for Improved Gelation for Soft PVC Formulations

Starting, Evonik offers three plasticizer products of note, namely:

• VESTINOL® 9 DINP is a very cost-effective, general-purpose plasticizer very useful in soft PVC formulations with a broad processing temperature window.
• ELATUR® DPT (DiPentylTerephthalate) plasticizer has very low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) residue build-up, has a low viscosity, and is fast fusing upon gelation.
• ELATUR® CH (cyclohexanoate), when blended with ELATUR® DPT, can attain gelation, nearly equivalent to genera-purpose VESTINOL® 9 and is an environmental improvement for use in plasticizing soft PVC and PVC plastisols.

Evonik's ELATUR® DPT and ELATUR® CH Blends (Light Purple Box, 3rd Line from Top at 100°C) Improve Gelation to VESTINOL® 9 Level (Orange Star, 2nd Line from Top at 100°C) 

BASF’s Environment Friendly PVC Plasticizers for Medical Products

Continuing, BASF Industrial Petrochemicals keeps expanding and developing its environmentally friendly orthophthalate PVC plasticizer product lines. Its low toxicity Palatinol® DOTP (DiOctylTerePhthalate) is growing rapidly, especially in the children’s toy market that is converting to this alternative plasticizer in light of the aforementioned increasing global regulatory enactments.

Additionally, BASF offers other key plasticizers that have significant childcare market application penetration and have enjoyed extensive end-use brand owner and retailer acceptance. These plasticizers include:

• Hexamoll® DINCH (DiIsoNonyl ester of 1,2-CycloHexane dicarboxylic acid) and
• ATBC (AcetylTriButylCitrate)

The United States-based Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has defined Safer Choice criteria that in turn feed into listings in the CleanGredients database, which ultimately creates a material hazard assessment referred to as GreenScreen, an accepted measure of a product’s sustainability. BASF’s Palatinol® DOTP plasticizer has a GreenScreen low toxicity rating. Hexamoll® DINCH also has a substantial sustainability plasticizer grading.


Alternatives to traditionally used DEHP (DiEthylHexylPhthalate) plasticizer are always of interest in the highly regulated medical plastic devices and broader healthcare applications. However, change of any kind in the medical products field is a slow go due to its own regulatory constraints and the accompanying high conversion costs.

Yet with a new 2021 European medical regulation coming into effect, the pace of alternative to traditional DEHP plasticizer use will be accelerated. This regulation will classify plasticizer ingredients as CMR (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, or toxic to Reproduction) 1a and 1b (DEHP included here), which in turn restricts their use unless a major justification waiver is approved. In any case, such waivers will be closely monitored, with alternative plasticizers sought out for DEHP replacement.

The European Pharmacopoeia has now been updated to include alternatives to DEHP plasticizers in medical device use, such as:

• DOTP
• DINCH, and
• Newer variants like TOTM ((2-ethylhexyl) TriMellitate) and BTHC (n-Butyryl-Tri-n-Hexyl Citrate)

Perstorp’s Measures Renewable Content of PVC Plasticizer via Mass Balance Concept

Finally, Sweden’s Perstorp has developed a renewably sourced, non-phthalate-based PVC plasticizer with its new Pevalen™ Pro, a PETV (PentaErythritol TetraValerate) product. The Pevalen™ Pro plasticizer product line is composed of three grades ranging from 8% to 36% renewable content.

Perstorp measures renewable content via an internally designed mass balance concept that they refer to as traceable mass balance, whereby they can product trace both physically and chemically.

• Physical traceability refers to the fact that a production process is built into the Perstorp manufacturing site that details where the renewable content from which the Pevalen™ Pro plasticizer is made originates.
• Chemical traceability stoichiometrically defines the connection between the renewable content and the end-plasticizer product.

For example, in the Pevalen™ Pro 36 grade, 9 of 25 total fossil fuel-based carbon atoms are changed to green carbon atoms renewably sourced from biogas/bioacetaldehyde/biomethanol. Perstorp is currently working on developing a 100% renewable content Pevalen™ Pro plasticizer.

Also View: Eastman's non-phthalate plasticizers product portfolio for everyday products

PVC Stabilizer Overview

PVC (PolyVinyl Chloride) stabilizers such as lead, mixed metals, and tin traditionally represent the key critical additives used in PVC manufacturing to eliminate PVC plastic decomposition during the heating process. Again, Europe, through its dominant European Stabilizer Producers Association (ESPA), is prioritizing safety and performance by strongly encouraging PVC stabilizer development where no substances of high-concern such as traditional leads and other mixed metals are used.

ESPA’s nine-member companies represent 97% of all European stabilizer producers. ESPA’s goal here is to be proactive in developing PVC stabilizer systems using additive ingredients that avoid future regulatory restrictions. To assist in stabilizer product development, ESPA created an Additive Sustainability Footprint tool, a ten-step approach that permits suppliers to define sustainable production and assess alternatives across the entire PVC stabilizer life cycle.

Other key European industry groups supporting this new and novel Additive Sustainability Footprint tool include VinylPlus and its non-governmental organization, environmental advisor, the Natural Step.


Stabilizers are a key central additive in PVC plastic formulations. Flexible PVC materials are built upon liquid mixed metal soaps that are the most commonly used stabilizers. However, emerging solid stabilizers are rapidly increasing in importance due to demanding technical performance requirements harnessed to regulatory calls for reduced emissions.

Get Inspired: PVC Stabilizers - Decoding the Black Box to meet Processing & Quality Needs

For example, Reagens, a major European PVC stabilizer producer, has a full product range of liquid stabilizers as well as solid calcium, organic systems that include self-lubricating and non-lubricating types. Reagans’ product such as the new liquid Reagens 600 & 900 Series meet:

• Low phenol
• Low odor, and
• Low emission criteria

They are also absent of chemicals that could be restricted by REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of CHemicals) regulation, as in CMR (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, toxic for Reproduction) category 1 and 2, PBT (Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic) and ED (Endocrine Disruptor), and to include other undesirable chemicals.

The key is to be REACH friendly today and REACH friendly tomorrow in PVC stabilizer development. Liquid mixed metal stabilizer systems such as barium/zinc and calcium/zinc can be manufactured to have zero phenol emission like the Reagens 600 & 900 Series stabilizers.

Also, emerging micronized, powder form, solid calcium organic stabilizers are aiding in easy PVC formulation dispersion with low emission capability. These preceding stabilizer types are ideal for indoor applications like flooring and wall coverings.



Let’s now finally look at three value-added PVC stabilizer options that exceed the emerging requirements of REACH regulation and ESPA guideline suggestions.

Value-added PVC Stabilizer Options

Galata’s Solid & Liquid Stabilizers Compounded with Plasticizers Show High Stability

Galata Chemicals has developed, patented, and commercialized a family of high productivity liquid and solid stabilizers. These new stabilizer products will cost-effectively work in tandem with Galata’s Drapex® Alpha 200 and Drapex® Alpha 215 bio-based plasticizers in PVC compounds.

Their new solid stabilizer grades, namely Mark® 3600, Mark® 3601 and Mark® 3602, are designed for use in such applications as in PVC cable and tarpaulin compounds with their Drapex® Alpha 200 plasticizer. These Mark® series stabilizers can be compounded at 65-85% lower loading levels as compared to traditional Calcium/Zinc (Ca/Zn) stabilizer equivalents when compounded with standard, general-purpose plasticizers. Importantly, the Mark® series heat stabilizers have superior transparency accompanied by long term heat stability.

Similarly, the new Mark® 3610 and Mark® 3611 liquid stabilizer grades, again when plasticized with Drapex® Alpha 200, have 55-65% lower loadings as compared to traditional Calcium/Zinc (Ca/Zn) and Barium/Zinc (Ba/Zn) stabilizer systems, and come with excellent transparency and heat stability.



Also, Galata’s Drapex® Alpha bio-based plasticizers exhibit 7-20% greater plasticizing efficiency versus traditional DOTP and DINCH plasticizer competitors. Finally, both the solid and liquid Mark series stabilizers are approved for certain food-contact applications used in the United States.

IKA’s GreenStab Stabilizers Maximizing PVC Performance with New Patented Technology

Continuing, IKA has further developed its GreenStab stabilizers. These stabilizer systems are targeted at:

• Building and construction
• Wire and cable, and
• Sheet applications

GreenStab is metal-free, maintains excellent color brightness, heat aging stability, and surface finish.

For example, the characteristics of PVC products like window profiles or pipes depend on the selected stabilizer. PVC is hard and brittle and is only moldable with the addition of a plasticizer and stabilizer. Stabilizers make the processing of PVC possible and safe in the finished product from environmental effects such as heat, ultraviolet light and oxygen.

Further, what’s truly unique here is that IKA stabilizers can be delivered in powder, compacted granules, or their new S-granules. The S-granule patented technology with its continuous underwater granulation eliminates secondary stabilizer component reactions, thus simultaneously maximizing the broadest possible PVC recipe formulation accompanied by the highest stabilizer performance.

Chemson’s Specialty Stabilizer Tablet Systems for Building & Construction Industry 

Finally, there is a technological trend towards dust-free stabilizer tablets. Chemson’s 1K tablet product balances core PVC stabilizers, sensitive co-stabilizers, and specialty lubricant packages that combined produce an overall strong additive stabilizer package. Such specialty tablet systems can be tailored to specific plastic manufacturer’s process and converting lines.

This approach is particularly applicable to the various stabilizer in the broadly based end-use applications found in the building and construction industry, where very differentiated PVC compound formulation occurs in, for example, from window profiles through biaxially oriented pipe and everything in between finished part wise.

Additives (Plasticizers, Stabilizers, etc.) for Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

View a wide range of PVC additives available today - heat and light stabilizers, plasticizers, etc., analyze technical data of each product, get technical assistance or request samples.

Ease Your PVC Stabilizer Selection Process to meet Today’s Processing & Quality Needs

Take the course by our industry expert Michael Schiller who will help you decode the black box of stabilizer one-pack (co-stabilizers, lubricants, light stabilizers, processing aids, colorants...) to ease your selection process – what to use, what to avoid by applying systematic investigations.




PVC Heat Stabilizers – Get Selection Tips

Selecting PVC Light Stabilizers – Learn More

Plasticizers for PVC – Stay Updated