ChemFlexx 108 (Benzyl Benzoate)

TCC’s ChemFlexx 108, benzyl benzoate, is a non-phthalate plasticizer. It is a non-toxic, colorless, liquid compound at temperatures above 17 ºC that has a variety of uses. It is primarily used as a plasticizer in the manufacture of commercially used polymeric materials.

Plasticizers have been used to make things soft and bendable for thousands of years. Water has been used to soften clay since the early evolution of man, and oils have been used for centuries to soften pitch for waterproofing boats. Those are just two examples of early plasticizing systems.

Modern plasticizers are colorless, odorless liquids that are major functional additives that determine and improve the physical properties of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). More than 90 percent of all plasticizers are employed in flexible PVC applications, largely for the construction, automotive and wire & cable industries.

Phthalates are the most commonly used plasticizers in the world. They can be found in a range of everyday items that include electrical cables, hoses, flooring, wall covering, coated textiles, luggage, sports equipment, roofing membranes, pool liners, footwear as well as life saving medical devices such as tubing and blood bags. In addition, some phthalates are used in non-PVC applications such as coatings, rubber products, adhesives and sealants.

In recent years, phthalates have been scrutinized for possible environmental and health issues. Although science does not support the concerns, phthalates have suffered from an unwarranted stigma that has had an adverse effect on the phthalate market. Consequently non-phthalate plasticizers have been developed to allay any concerns.

TCC’s ChemFlexx 108 is one of many new non-phthalate plasticizers that have been introduced to the marketplace. The non-phthalate plasticizer is a colorless, odorless, non-toxic, liquid compound that meets the requirements to replace a range of general purpose phthalate plasticizers.