Plasticizers are additives that soften the materials (usually a plastic or a concrete mix) they are added to. Although the same compounds are often used for both plastics and concretes, the desired effect is slightly different. The plasticizers for plastics soften the final product increasing its flexibility. Plasticizers for concrete soften the mix before it hardens, increasing its workability, and are usually not intended to affect the properties of the final product after it hardens. Household items made out of plastic. ... Concrete being poured, raked and vibrated into place in residential construction in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... The term plastics covers a range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic condensation or polymerization products that can be molded or extruded into objects or films or fibers. ... Concrete being poured, raked and vibrated into place in residential construction in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... Concrete being poured, raked and vibrated into place in residential construction in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ...

Plasticizers for plastics

Plasticizers for plastics are additives, most commonly phthalates, that give hard plastics like PVC the desired flexibility and durability. They are often based on esters of polycarboxylic acids with linear or branched aliphatic alcohols of moderate chain length. Plasticizers work by embedding themselves between the chains of polymers, spacing them apart (increasing of the "free volume"), and thus significantly lowering the glass transition temperature for the plastic and making it softer. For plastics such as PVC, the more plasticiser added, the lower its cold flex temperature will be. This means that it will be more flexible, though its strength and hardness will decrease as a result of it. Some plasticizers evaporate and tend to concentrate in an enclosed space; the "new car smell" is caused mostly by plasticizers evaporating from the car interior. General chemical structure of phthalates. ... Household items made out of plastic. ... Polyvinyl chloride Polyvinyl chloride, (IUPAC über Polychloroethene) commonly abbreviated PVC, is a widely used thermoplastic polymer. ... General formula of a carboxylate ester. ... Polymer is a term used to describe large molecules consisting of repeating structural units, or monomers, connected by covalent chemical bonds. ... A simplistic view of a materials glass transition temperature (Tg) is the temperature below which molecules have very little mobility. ... The new car smell many of us find pleasurable comes from chemicals that can pose health risks. ...

• Phthalate-based plasticizers are used in situations where good resistance to water and oils is required. Some common phthalate plasticizers are:
  • Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), used in construction materials, food packaging, children toys, medical devices, and cling wrap
  • Diisononyl phthalate (DINP), found in garden hoses, shoes, toys, and building materials
  • Bis(n-butyl)phthalate (DnBP, DBP), used for cellulose plastics, food wraps, adhesives, perfumes and also in cosmetics - about a third of nail polishes, glosses, enamels and hardeners contain it, together with some shampoos, sunscreens, skin emollients, and insect repellents
  • Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP) is found in vinyl tiles, traffic cones, food conveyor belts, artificial leather and plastic foams
  • Diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), used for insulation of wires and cables, car undercoating, shoes, carpets, pool liners
  • Di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP or DnOP), used in flooring materials, carpets, notebook covers, and high explosives, such as Semtex. Together with DEHP it was the most common plasticizers, but now is suspected of causing cancer
  • Diethyl phthalate (DEP)
  • Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)
  • Di-n-hexyl phthalate, used in flooring materials, tool handles and automobile parts

• Adipate-based plasticizers are used for low-temperature or resistance to ultraviolet light. Some examples are:
  • Bis(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (DOA)
  • Dimethyl adipate (DMAD)
  • Monomethyl adipate (MMAD)
  • Dioctyl adipate (DOA)

• Trimellitates are used in automobile interiors and other applications where resistance to high temperature is required. They have extremely low volatility.
  • Trimethyl trimellitate (TMTM)
  • Tri-(2-ethylhexyl) trimellitate (TEHTM-MG)
  • Tri-(n-octyl,n-decyl) trimellitate (ATM)
  • Tri-(heptyl,nonyl) trimellitate (LTM)
  • n-octyl trimellitate (OTM)

• Maleates
  • Dibutyl maleate (DBM)
  • Diisobutyl maleate (DIBM)

• Sebacates
  • Dibutyl sebacate (DBS)

• Benzoates

• Epoxidized vegetable oils

• Sulfonamides
  • N-ethyl toluene sulfonamide (o/p ETSA), ortho and para isomers
  • N-(2-hydroxypropyl) benzene sulfonamide (HP BSA)
  • N-(n-butyl) benzene sulfonamide (BBSA-NBBS)

• Organophosphates
  • Tricresyl phosphate (TCP)
  • Tributyl phosphate (TBP)

• Glycols/polyethers
  • Triethylene glycol dihexanoate (3G6, 3GH)
  • Tetraethylene glycol diheptanoate (4G7)

• Polymeric plasticizers

Some other chemicals working as plasticizers are nitrobenzene, carbon disulfide and β-naphthyl salicylate. bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (also BEHP, di-2-ethyl hexyl phthalate, DEHP, or dioctyl phthalate, DOP) is a phthalate , a branched-chain dioctyl ester of phthalic acid. ... Plastic wrap, known as cling-film in the United Kingdom, is a thin polymer material, roughly 0. ... Pink nail polish. ... Several shampoos on a shower window Shampoo (Hindi: शम्पू) is a hair care product used for the removal of oils, dirt, skin particles, environmental pollution and/or other contaminant particles that gradually build up in hair. ... Sunscreen (also known as sunblock, suncream, suntan lotion) is a lotion, spray or other topical product that helps protect the skin from the suns ultraviolet radiation, and which reduces sunburn and other skin damage, ultimately leading to a lower risk of skin cancer. ... Emollients soften skin (and moisturisers add moisture). ... Commercial insect repellents. ... Benzylbutylphthalate Benzylbutylphthalate (BBzP), also called n-butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) or benzyl butyl phthalate, is a phthalate, an ester of phthalic acid, benzyl alcohol and n-butanol. ... Insert non-formatted text here Point of contact between a power transmission belt and its pulley. ... DJ Semtex is also a BBC hip-hop disc jockey and producer from the UK. Semtex is a general-purpose plastic explosive. ... Diisobutyl Phthalate (DIBP, Cas No:84-69-5, Einecs No:2015532) is prepared by esterification process of isobutyl alcohol and phthalic anhydride. ... Adipate (-OOC-(CH2)4-COO-) is the ionized form of adipic acid. ... The solar corona as seen in deep ultraviolet light at 17. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Dioctyl adipate or DOA is a plasticizer. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Dibutyl sebacate (DBS) is an organic chemical, a dibutyl ester of sebacic acid. ... The benzoate ion is C6H5COO− (benzoic acid minus one hydrogen ion). ... An epoxide is a cyclic ether with only three ring atoms. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with cooking oil. ... In chemistry, the sulfonamide functional group is -S(=O)2-NH2, a sulfone group connected to an amine group. ... An organophosphate (sometimes abbreviated OP) is the general name for esters of phosphoric acid and is one of the organophosphorus compounds. ... Tri-o-cresyl phosphate Tricresyl phosphate (TCP), also called tricresylphosphate, tri-o-cresyl phosphate (TOCP), tritolyl phosphate, tolyl phosphate, or tri-o-tolyl ester of phosphoric acid, is an organic compound, an organophosphate, an ester of phosphoric acid. ... Tributyl phosphate (TBP), n-tributyl phosphate, or tri-n-butyl phosphate, is an odorless liquid, colorless to pale yellow in appearance, with applications in industrial and nuclear chemistry. ... Ethylene glycol (monoethylene glycol (MEG), IUPAC name:ethane-1,2-diol) is an alcohol with two -OH groups (a diol), a chemical compound widely used as an automotive antifreeze. ... Ether is the general name for a class of chemical compounds which contain an ether group — an oxygen atom connected to two (substituted) alkyl groups. ... Nitrobenzene, also known as nitrobenzol or oil of mirbane, is a poisonous organic compound with an almond odor and chemical formula C6H5NO2. ... Carbon disulfide is a colorless liquid with the formula CS2. ...

Some plasticizers, eg. DEHP and DOA, were found to be carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. The term carcinogen refers to any form of substance, radionuclide or radiation which is an agent in the promotion or direct involvement in the facilitation of cancer or genomic instability due to the disruption or damage of cellular metabolic changes. ... Endocrine disruptors are substances which interfere with the endocrine system by mimicking, blocking or otherwise disrupting the function of hormones. ...

Safer plasticizers with better biodegradability and less biochemical effects are being developed. Some such plasticizers are: Biodegradation is the decomposition of organic material by microorganisms. ...

• Acetylated monoglycerides; these can be used as food additives

• Alkyl citrates, used in food packagings, medical products, cosmetics and children toys
  • Triethyl citrate (TEC)
  • Acetyl triethyl citrate (ATEC), higher boiling point and lower volatility than TEC
  • Tributyl citrate (TBC)
  • Acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC), compatible with PVC and vinyl chloride copolymers
  • Trioctyl citrate (TOC), also used for gums and controlled release medicines
  • Acetyl trioctyl citrate (ATOC), also used for printing ink
  • Trihexyl citrate (THC), compatible with PVC, also used for controlled release medicines
  • Acetyl trihexyl citrate (ATHC), compatible with PVC
  • Butyryl trihexyl citrate (BTHC, trihexyl o-butyryl citrate), compatible with PVC
  • Trimethyl citrate (TMC), compatible with PVC

For energetic materials, especially propellants (eg. smokeless powders), plasticizers based on nitrates are frequently employed. Some such plasticizers are: Food additives are substances added to food to preserve flavour or improve its taste and appearance. ... Chemical strucutre of citric acid. ... An ink is a liquid containing various pigments and/or dyes used for colouring a surface to render an image or text. ... A propellant is a material that is used to move an object by applying a motive force. ... Smokeless powder Smokeless powder is the name given to a number of gunpowder-like propellants used in firearms which produce negligible smoke when fired, unlike the older black powder which it replaced. ... An electrostatic potential map of the nitrate ion. ...

• Nitroglycerine (NG)
• Butanetriol trinitrate (BTTN)
• Metriol trinitrate (METN)
• Diethylene glycol dinitrate (DEGN)
• Bis(2,2-dinitropropyl)formal (BDNPF)
• Bis(2,2-dinitropropyl)acetal (BDNPA)
• 2,2,2-Trinitroethyl 2-nitroxyethyl ether (TNEN)

Due to the secondary alcohol groups, NG and BTTN have relatively low thermal stability. METN, DEGN, BDNPF and BDNPA have relatively low energies. NG and DEGN have relatively high vapor pressure. [1] Nitroglycerin (also nitroglycerine, trinitroglycerin, or glyceryl trinitrate) is a chemical compound, a heavy, colorless, poisonous, oily, explosive liquid obtained by nitrating glycerol. ... 1,2,4-Butanetriol trinitrate (BTTN), also called butanetriol trinitrate, is an important military propellant. ...

Plasticizers for concrete production

Superplasticizers are chemical admixtures that can be added to concrete mixtures to improve workability. Strength of concrete is inversely proportional to the amount of water added or water-cement (w/c) ratio. In order to produce stronger concrete, less water is added, which makes the concrete mixture very unworkable and difficult to mix, necessitating the use of plasticizers and superplasticizers. Concrete being poured, raked and vibrated into place in residential construction in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... Concrete being poured, raked and vibrated into place in residential construction in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ...

Superplasticizers are also often used when pozzolanic ash is added to concrete to improve strength. This method of mix proportioning is especially popular when producing high strength concrete and fiber reinforced concrete. Pozzolanic ash is an alumino-siliceous material which reacts with calcium hydroxide in the presence of water to form compounds possessing cementitious properties at room temperature, producing C-S-H. This allowed it to be used in the Roman Empire to make cement by combining with lime and water. ...

Adding 2% superplasticizer per unit weight of cement is usually sufficient. However, note that most commercially available superplasticizers come dissolved in water, so the extra water added has to be accounted for in mix proportioning. Adding an excessive amount of superplasticizer will result in excessive segregation of concrete and is not advisable. Some studies also show that too much superplasticizer will result in a retarding effect.

Plasticizers are commonly manufactured from lignosulfonates, a by-product from the paper industry. Superplasticizers have generally been manufactured from sulfonated naphthalene formaldehyde or sulfonated melamine formaldehye, although new generation products based on polycarboxylic ethers are now available. Traditional lignosulfonate based plasticisers and naphthalene and melamine based superplasticisers disperse the flocculated cement particles through a mechanism of electrostatic repulsion (see colloid). In normal plasticisers, the active substances are adsorbed on to the cement particles, giving them a negative charge, which leads to repulsion between particles. Naphthalene and melamine superplasticisers are organic polymers. The long molecules wrap themselves around the cement particles, giving them a highly negative charge so that they repel each other. Paper is a thin material produced by the amalgamation of plant fibres, which are subsequently held together without extra binder, largely by hydrogen bonds and fiber entanglement. ... It has been suggested that Sulfonic acid/Temp be merged into this article or section. ... Naphthalene (not to be confused with naphtha) (also known as naphthalin, naphthaline, tar camphor, white tar, albocarbon, or naphthene), is a crystalline, aromatic, white, solid hydrocarbon, best known as the primary ingredient of mothballs. ... Melamine Melamine is a strong organic base with chemical formula C3H6N6, with the IUPAC name 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine. ... In general, a colloid or colloidal dispersion is a substance with components of one or two phases, a type of mixture intermediate between a homogeneous mixture (also called a solution) and a heterogeneous mixture with properties also intermediate between the two. ... Adsorption is a process that occurs when a gas or liquid or solute (called adsorbate) accumulates on the surface of a solid or more rarely a liquid (adsorbent), forming a molecular or atomic film (adsorbate). ...

Polycarboxylate Ethers (PCE), the new generation of superplasticisers are not only chemically different from the older sulphonated melamine and naphthalene based products but their action mechanism is also different, giving cement dispersion by steric stabilisation, instead of electrostatic repulsion. This form of dispersion is more powerful in its effect and gives improved workability retention to the cementitious mix. Furthermore, the chemical structure of PCE allows for a greater degree of chemical modification than the older generation products, offering a range of performance that can be tailored to meet specific needs.

In ancient times, the Romans used blood as a superplasticizer for their concrete mixes. This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ... Human blood smear: a - erythrocytes; b - neutrophil; c - eosinophil; d - lymphocyte. ...

External links

• Glass transition
• DIDP, DINP, and DBP - Risk Assessment Reports by the European Chemicals Bureau (ECB).
• Scientific facts on phthalates - summary by GreenFacts of the above ECB reports.