BASF Plasticizer Hexamoll® DINCH Comes Out Ahead in Eco-Efficiency Analysis

The BASF product Hexamoll® DINCH has the highest eco-efficiency in a comparison of the top five non-phthalate plasticizers on the market today. So say the results of a BASF eco-efficiency analysis, verified by the impartial German organization TÜV Rheinland. Plasticizers are added to PVC (polyvinylchloride) to make this naturally hard, brittle material soft and elastic. BASF analyzed the eco-efficiency of non-phthalate plasticizers for three everyday product groups: children's balls, tubes for medical devices, and garden hoses. The eco-efficiency analysis assesses the ecological properties of a product over its complete life cycle from manufacture to disposal, incorporating the costs of production and use.

"Hexamoll DINCH is by far the best researched plasticizer on the market. The eco-efficiency analysis shows that the product has the lowest environmental impact throughout its life cycle, so we are helping our customers to achieve sustainable development," says Dr. Albert Heuser, President Petrochemicals Division. In a bid to meet rising demand, BASF increased annual Hexamoll DINCH production capacity at the Ludwigshafen site last year from 25,000 to 100,000 metric tons.

The competitor products investigated in the eco-efficiency analysis alongside Hexamoll DINCH were the commercially available non-phthalate plasticizers diethylhexylterephthalate (DEHTP), alkylsulphonic phenyl ester (ASE), acetyltributyl citrate (ATBC) and acetylated castor oil derivative. Non-phthalate plasticizers were developed for sensitive areas such as medical devices, toys and food packaging. Results for Hexamoll DINCH were above average in all categories, especially so in terms of toxicity and risk potential, energy use and emissions. Other eco-efficiency criteria included material use and area required for production. The eco-efficiency analysis method has been validated by the TÜV Rheinland Berlin Brandenburg (ID 5711150561).

You are at the site for answers and solutions to all your problems in natural rubber latex processing and manufacturing of industrial, household and medical gloves, condoms, catheters, baby teats and baby pacifiers, toy balloons, latex foam products, latex threads etc.

How to improve resistance to air permeability of Natural Rubber latex products?

Air Bladders Manufacturer: We manufacture a range of bladders using natural rubber latex. For some products the air permeability is too high resulting in premature deflation and therefore failure of the products. Can you suggest some quick solutions?

John Woon (Senior Latex Consultant): This question has been raised and answered at this site before.

If you don't already know, natural rubber has quite poor resistance to air permeability compared to most synthetic rubbers. You could try blending NR latex with other synthetic rubber latices such as Polychloroprene (e.g. Neoprene) and Nitrile latex but this normally requires quite a high level of the synthetic latex leading to the undesirable loss of flexibility, resilience and elongation.

Your best bet is to do "laminate dipping" whereby an over-dip with synthetic latex is carried out after the first NR latex dip. The sequence of the two dips can be changed depending whether you want the synthetic layer to be the external or internal surface. Products with an external polychloroprene layer could also render the products more resistant to ageing especially against ozone attack.

To further enhance the air impermeability, you could also add some laminar types of fillers an example of which is silica.

You are at the site for answers and solutions to all your problems in natural rubber latex processing and manufacturing of industrial, household and medical gloves, condoms, catheters, baby teats and baby pacifiers, toy balloons, latex foam products, latex threads etc.

Beware of Hairbands Made from Used Condoms and Threads

Used condoms have been reported to have ended up being recycled into hair bands in certain Asian country. This poses as a threat to spread sexually-transmittable diseases to innocent users. These rubber hair bands have been selling very well in markets and beauty salons in some cities.

Despite being recycled, the hair bands could still contain bacteria and viruses.
A bag of ten of the recycled bands sells for just three cents, very much cheaper than other competitive products.

You are at the site for answers and solutions to all your problems in natural rubber latex processing and manufacturing of industrial, household and medical gloves, condoms, catheters, baby teats and baby pacifiers, toy balloons, latex foam products, latex threads etc.

The Language of Rubber – Part 6 (Flex Resistance) - By John Woon (Senior Latex Consultant)

"Flex" refers to distortion force applied repeatedly to the elastomer (rubber) such as stretching, bending and compression. In rubber language, the rubber is being "fatigued", hence the result is sometimes referred to as "flex fatigue".

The usual symptom observed is surface cracking commonly known as "flex cracking". A good example is the characteristic surface cracking of an old tyre especially when it has been under-inflated. Other examples include shoe soles and beltings.

The "flex resistance" is compromised when the rubber is heavily loaded with cheapening fillers.

You are at the site for answers and solutions to all your problems in natural rubber latex processing and manufacturing of industrial, household and medical gloves, condoms, catheters, baby teats and baby pacifiers, toy balloons, latex foam products, latex threads etc.