Eliminating DEHP Plasticizer in Medical-Grade PVC

  • Magazine Article
  • TBMG-19859
Published June 01, 2014 by Tech Briefs Media Group in United States
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  • English

The plasticizers used to render PVC flexible constitute about a third of the vinyl compound by weight and have a significant effect on overall properties and performance. The most widely used plasticizer in medical applications, DEHP (di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate), has been shown to engender biological activity when metabolized in rodents (though not in humans). As a result, there is pressure on medical manufacturers to identify the best alternative plasticizers from a defensive public perception standpoint.