Analysis of market and requirements of plasticizers for flexible PVC - With a focus on Perstorp’s non-phthalate plasticizer Pevalen

Abstract: Flexible Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a plastic material commonly used in today’s society and a fundamental material for a lot of sectors. It has advantages over other polymers such as energy-efficient production, flame retardancy, durability and cost-effective. The one important component in flexible PVC that gives it is flexible properties is the plasticizer. The most common plasticizers used are ortho-phthalates. Concerns about some ortho-phthalates toxicity to humans and other living organism has induced a movement away from using ortho-phthalates as a plasticizer. The chemical company Perstorp AB has developed a non-phthalate plasticizer called Pevalen, which is a general-purpose plasticizer intended for close-to-human applications of flexible PVC. Pevalen has shown to have favorable qualities both for processing and in the final application and has a low toxicity profile. This thesis work includes the status of the plasticizer market, regional differences between Eu-rope, USA and China and market requirements for the following of close to human flexible PVC applications; coated fabrics, flooring, wall covering, pool liner and food contact material. These requirements have then been compared to internal work and knowledge at Perstorp regarding Pevalen. To find opportunities for the plasticizer to be successful in each segment and identify possible needs to further complement with strengthening technical information and data. The market analysis showed that the plasticizer market is very price driven and constantly looking for ways to reduce costs. The most used plasticizers are still the ortho-phthalates due to low production cost and high availability. There is a movement away from using ortho-phthalates with DOTP being the most used non-phthalate plasticizer. Use of DOTP is increasing rapidly on the market and considered the main competitor to Pevalen among the non-phthalates. Europe is at the forefront of moving away from phthalates and are increasingly interested in the environmental impact and the toxicity of plasticizers. The USA focuses on non-phthalates but is not are so much concerned about sustainable and environmentally friendly products. China is still mainly using ortho-phthalates, but DOTP is increasing. Production speed is one of the most important things here since the market is very competitive, so they are willing to try new plasticizers that can increase productivity. For a new plasticizer to compete on the market, it has been found crucial that either the product reduces cost by performing better during the process, that the plasticizer is more efficient, or thirdly that the plasticizer has valuable properties that reduce the need for expensive additives or specialty plasticizers. The analyze of the application segments showed that flooring and wall coverings have similar key requirements; low VOC, abrasion resistance, dimensional stability, chemical resistance, fire retardancy and low smoke generation. Their application market is hard to enter due to it being very price concerned as well as having high production rates. For food contact materials, the following key requirements have been found important: high flexibility, cleanability, abrasion resistance, migration resistance and chemical resistance. This market is very regulated with stringent requirements. Coated fabrics are considered a promising industry for Pevalen since it gives the material a very soft touch, has low toxicity, low VOC, and good UV-stability which are all factors of high importance in this field. The positive aspects of Pevalen positive aspects are highly valuable in this industry. Perstorp has done quite an extensive research and laboratory work. However, there are a few gaps, such as abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, and dimensional stability linked to the selected applications that can complement this data. It is also important to always compare with relevant benchmark plasticizers when performing a test. Overall, Pevalen has shown good results in the properties that are important for the researched segments but needs to push more on the cost reducing properties.