Performance of Di-n-hexyl phthalate in flexible vinyl formulations

Low-molecular-weight esters have been available to the PVC compounder for many years. They have found a significant niche in the performance vs. permanence compromise as a compound ingredient that provides manufacturing efficiency or some special property with adequate permanence for many vinyl applications. In many respects, low-molecular-weight esters are the processing aids of the plasticizer family. This group of plasticizers may be said to include C-4 to C-7 dialkyl phthalates, the benzyl phthalates and the benzoic acid esters. This paper will introduce and compare di-n-hexyl phthalate (DNHP) to other phthalates against which it will directly compete.