Sustainability in NBR compounds through replacement of phthalates by vegetable oil derived plasticizer
by A. Gibbs and C. Bergmann, Ergon; J. Araujo-Morera, W. Dierkes and Anke Blume, University of Twente; and N. White, Process Oils. – Replacement of a commonly used phthalate, diisononyl phthalate (DINP), with the vegetable oil derived Aurora PHFree in nitrile butadiene rubber production is studied.
Plasticizers play a crucial role in rubber compounding by facilitating processing and improving the flexibility and durability of the final product. The amount of plasticizer used in a formulation can be adjusted to achieve the desired in-rubber properties. Among various plasticizers on the market, phthalates have been widely favored in nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) compounding due to their compatibility, low cost, availability and high plasticizing efficiency. By lowering the glass transition temperature of rubber, phthalates increase the free volume between polymer chains, improving their mobility and enhancing performance in both hot and cold environments. For these reasons, phthalates have traditionally been a preferred choice for many applications.