Plasticiser

About This Product

Plasticisers are liquids added to a rigid polymer, overwhelmingly PVC, to make it flexible. They work physically rather than chemically: the plasticiser molecules position themselves between polymer chains and screen the attractive forces holding them together, so the chains can slide past one another and the compound becomes pliable. Selection is a set of trade-offs rather than a single answer, and four properties compete. Efficiency is how much flexibility a given weight delivers, and low molecular weight materials win on that. Permanence is how well the plasticiser stays put rather than migrating, evaporating or being extracted, and high molecular weight materials win instead; this is why articles stiffen with age and why car windscreens fog. Low-temperature flexibility depends on backbone flexibility and favours aliphatic adipates over aromatic phthalates. Regulatory status has become decisive in consumer applications, with the ortho-phthalates DEHP, DBP and BBP classified as reproductive toxicants and restricted, while terephthalates, adipates, trimellitates, citrates and DINCH are not. Most commercial compounds use a blend to balance these. The range covers general-purpose, high-temperature, low-temperature, food-contact and non-phthalate grades. Bio Green Chem supplies plasticiser grades against the required efficiency, permanence, temperature range, migration limits and regulatory status for the destination market.