[N-octanol supply and procurement] Plastic plasticizers: Introduction to phthalates and n-octanol

　Plastic plasticizer

Plasticizers are the largest category of plastic additives in terms of quantity, output, and consumption. Any substance added to plastics that can increase the plasticity of plastics can be called plastic plasticizers.

The main function of plasticizer is to weaken the secondary bonds between polymer molecules, that is, van der Waals forces, thereby increasing the mobility of the polymer molecular chain and reducing the crystallinity of the polymer molecular chain. That is, the plasticity of the polymer is increased, which is manifested in the decrease in the hardness, modulus, softening temperature and embrittlement temperature of the polymer, while the elongation, flexibility and flexibility are increased.

The ideal plasticizer should have the following conditions: good compatibility with the resin, that is, the material being processed can accommodate as much plasticizer as possible and form a uniform and stable system; plasticization High efficiency, fast plasticization speed; good durability (low volatility, low migration, high resistance to extraction); good environmental stability (light resistance, heat resistance, cold resistance, bacteria resistance, electrical insulation, chemical and resistance resistance) Good flammability); good hygiene (non-toxic to humans, livestock and crops, non-polluting, odorless); colorless, good miscibility; good electrical insulation; good viscosity stability; low price. In fact, no plasticizer can meet all the above conditions. In actual combination, two or more plasticizers are mostly used together to learn from each other’s strengths. Get the best plasticizing effect and meet all performance requirements.

Main plastic plasticizers – phthalates

Phthalates , that is, DOP category, including DOP, DIOP, DBP, DIBP, DMP, etc., the consumption accounts for more than 80% of plasticizers.

Advantages: The price is relatively low, and a complete market and industrial chain structure has been formed. This is the reason why this type of plasticizer dominates the market. The maturity of process technology, mature market, relatively low price, complete industrial structure, and huge beneficiary groups make people must consider these when considering the replacement of plasticizers. In terms of performance: good comprehensive performance, good mixing performance, and high plasticizing efficiency.

Disadvantages: carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, biological mutagenicity, imitating estrogen and anti-androgen, etc. Due to the formation of a complete market and industrial chain structure, there are huge vested interest groups. Reducing its application in food packaging faces resistance both in terms of policies and standards and in actual industrial production. This is not a problem that can be solved by one department. If the industry is not transferred from the production link to the source, even if such plasticizers are withdrawn from the market through administrative means, it will be difficult for new safe, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly plasticizers to satisfy the market demand. need. At the same time, many law-abiding companies will inevitably go bankrupt and countless people will be laid off. The huge industrial gap will inevitably lead to disorderly entry, the emergence of black workshops, underground industrial chains, etc., making it more difficult to guarantee product quality, and it is difficult to truly protect the interests of the people.

Phthalate ester is produced by the heating reaction of 1 mol of benzene and slightly more than 2 mol of the corresponding monohydric alcohol under the action of a strong acidic catalyst (Lewis acid, homopoly acid, heteropoly acid, ion exchange resin) of. The monohydric alcohols (or phenols) used include methanol, ethanol, n-butanol, isobutanol, octanol, n-octanol, isooctyl alcohol, sec-octanol, cyclohexanol, methylcyclohexanol, heptanol, and nonyl alcohol. Alcohol etc.

Among them, n-octanol is the main raw material for the production of high-performance plastic plasticizers

According to the supply Understanding octanol: n-octanol is a colorless liquid. Has a strong aromatic smell. Density 0.83. Refractive index 1.430. Melting point -16℃. Boiling point 196℃. Not miscible with water, but miscible with ethanol, ether and chloroform. Used in making flavors and cosmetics, and as solvents, antifoaming agents, plasticizers, antifreezes, lubricating oil additives, etc. It is a by-product of making lauric acid from coconut oil. It can also be obtained by catalytically controlled polymerization of ethylene and then hydrolysis and separation.