Dioctyl phthalate

PROPERTIES

Dioctyl phthalate (DOP, DEHP), is clear, colourless, viscous liquid with a slight, characteristic odor. Soluble in ethanol, ether, mineral oil and the majority of organic solvents. Immiscible with water, resistant to hydrolysis and air oxygen activity.

Its high plasticizing efficiency, fusion rate, visosity, low volatility, UV-resisting property, water-extracting proof, cold-resisting property, and also good softness and electric property found a lot of applications in many offshoots of the industry.

APPLICATIONS

PLASTIC INDUSTRY

PLASTICIZERS

Dioctyl phthalate can be used as a softening agent , such as to make the product easier to rebound and harder to undergo form change under pressure, without affecting of the plastics. DOP possesses its good plasticizing properties thanks to the ability to make the long polimers molecules to slide against one another.

It is extensively used in processing polyvinyl choride and ethylcellulose resins to produce plastic film, imitation leather, electric wire, cable wearer, sheet, planet, mould plastic products and used in nitrocellulose paints. It has the applications in the industry of automotive, building and construction material, flooring, medical device.

WOOD COATING

It is used in the industrial wood coating to enhance the performance properties of the wood coatings formulations.

MEDICAL DEVICES

Dioctyl phthalate is used a plasticiser in the manufacture of medical and sanitary products, such as blood bags and dialysis equipment. It has a further and unique role in blood bags because it actually helps to prolong the life of the blood itself. DEHP also stabilises the membranes of red blood cells enabling blood product storage in PVC blood bags for several weeks.

Plastics may contain from 1% to 40% of DOP.

Other uses:

It is also used as a hydraulic fluid and as a dielectric fluid in capacitors.

DOP also finds the application as a solvent in lightsticks.