Phthalate Plasticizers: Low vs High Molecular Weight Ortho-Phthalates, 14 Types Compared

Phthalate plasticizers are esters of ortho-phthalic acid (1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid) that are mixed into PVC to make it soft and flexible, and the industry splits the 14 types used in plastics into low molecular weight (LMW) types with 3 to 6 backbone carbons in the alcohol chain and high molecular weight (HMW) types with 7 to 13. The split matters because the low molecular weight group, including DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP, is classified in the EU as toxic for reproduction, while the high molecular weight group, including DINP and DIDP, carries no such classification, so which phthalate belongs where, and what may it still be used for?

Western Europe produces about 1 million tonnes of phthalates a year, and more than 900,000 tonnes of it go into PVC, making phthalates the largest single chemical class among plastic additives used for softening plastics. Flexible PVC is by far the largest outlet, but the same ortho-phthalate esters also plasticize cellulose acetate and, at low dosage, NBR rubber compounds.

This guide compares the two groups across identity, mechanism, efficiency, permanence, use, regulation, replacement and supply. It defines the 3 to 6 and 7 to 13 backbone-carbon split, tables all 14 phthalate plasticizers with their CAS numbers and regulatory status, compares their weight loss under heat ageing, maps where each is used in flexible PVC, states the EU and US limits with their dates and instruments, names the substitutes for the four restricted types, and lists the producers behind the main trade names. The hub on plasticizers for plastics covers every plasticizer class, from phthalates to citrates and phosphate esters.

• 14 phthalate plasticizers are compared on this page, from DEHP to DTDP
• About 85 % of Western European ortho-phthalate production is high molecular weight (European Plasticisers)
• 0.1 % by weight is the REACH Annex XVII entry 51 limit for DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP in plasticised articles, combined, since 7 July 2020
• 0.6 mg/kg is the EU food-contact group SML for DBP, DIBP, BBP and DEHP as DEHP equivalents, since Regulation (EU) 2023/1442

What Are Phthalate Plasticizers?#

Phthalate plasticizers are diesters of ortho-phthalic acid and one or two alcohols, used as primary plasticizers in PVC, and in EU and US regulation the word "phthalate" refers only to these ortho (1,2) esters. ASTM D883 defines a plasticizer in general as a substance incorporated into a plastic or elastomer to increase its flexibility, workability or distensibility, and phthalates meet that definition well enough to be used alone: they are primary plasticizers, compatible enough with PVC that no secondary plasticizer is required. Where this page uses the word "phthalate" without qualification, it means the ortho isomer only; the UK spelling "phthalate plasticiser" refers to the same substance class.

How are phthalate plasticizers made?#

Phthalate plasticizers are made by esterifying an acid or anhydride with an alcohol over a catalyst, then distilling, neutralising and testing the ester, and the alcohol chosen decides which product results. The reaction runs as a four-step process from phthalic anhydride to a finished, quality-controlled ester.

1. React phthalic anhydride with an excess of the chosen alcohol or alcohol blend over an acid or organometallic catalyst
2. Distill off unreacted alcohol and reaction water to drive the esterification to completion
3. Neutralise residual acid and wash the crude ester to remove catalyst residues and colour bodies
4. Test the finished ester for acid value, colour, moisture and assay before it is released as a plasticizer grade

The alcohol sets the identity of the product: butanol gives DBP, 2-ethylhexanol (C8, linear backbone C6) gives DEHP, C9-rich isononanol gives DINP, C10-rich isodecanol gives DIDP and 2-propylheptanol gives DPHP. Because isononanol and isodecanol are themselves oxo-alcohol blends, DINP and DIDP are UVCBs (substances of unknown or variable composition), each carrying two CAS numbers in EU 10/2011. DINP's isomer make-up runs about 40-45 % dimethyl heptanols, 35-40 % methyl octanols, 5-10 % methyl ethyl hexanols and up to 10 % n-nonanol (PubChem/HSDB).

Ortho-phthalates vs terephthalates and isophthalates#

Ortho-phthalates carry their two ester groups on neighbouring ring carbons (1,2), terephthalates on opposite carbons (1,4) and isophthalates in between (1,3), and only the ortho form counts as a "phthalate" in EU and US regulation. DEHP, DNOP, DIOP and DOTP all share the formula C24H38O4 and a molecular weight of 390.6 g/mol: they are positional isomers of one another, differing only in where the two ester arms sit on the benzene ring. Because the para-substituted terephthalates cannot form the same stable monoester intermediate as ortho-phthalates, their metabolism differs, and regulators treat them as a separate, non-restricted class; the terephthalate plasticizers group, led by DOTP/DEHT (CAS 6422-86-2), is covered on its own page.

Is DOTP a phthalate?#

No: DOTP (DEHT, CAS 6422-86-2) is a terephthalate, so it is a phthalate ester only in the broad chemical sense and not an ortho-phthalate, and it does not appear on the REACH Candidate List or in Annex XVII entries 51 or 52. Its EU 10/2011 entry (FCM 798) carries an SML of 60 mg/kg, the generic limit, rather than a phthalate-specific SML. Identity and full regulatory status are covered on the DOTP (dioctyl terephthalate) substance page.

How Do Phthalate Plasticizers Soften PVC?#

Phthalate plasticizers soften PVC by slipping between its chains and weakening the dipole and van der Waals forces that hold them together, which lowers the glass transition temperature and turns rigid PVC into flexible vinyl. Because a phthalate ester is not chemically bound to the polymer, this softening is reversible in principle and the ester can migrate back out of the part; the aromatic ortho-diester structure of a phthalate gives it high compatibility with PVC and fast gelation compared with aliphatic esters. Sears and Darby, in The Technology of Plasticizers (Wiley, 1982), trace this behaviour to four classical theories of plasticization: lubricity, gel formation, free-volume increase and a mechanistic solvation-desolvation cycle, later reviewed by Daniels in the Journal of Vinyl and Additive Technology (2009, vol. 15, pages 219-223). Compatibility itself follows a numeric rule: a phthalate stays in solution with PVC when the solubility-parameter difference between the two is no more than about ±1.5 (cal/cm³)^0.5 (Hallstar).

Four structure rules decide how a given phthalate behaves once it is in the PVC compound.

• Alcohol chain length: a longer chain lowers polarity, compatibility and volatility, and raises viscosity and low-temperature flexibility
• Branching: a more branched alcohol worsens low-temperature performance, raises volatility and lowers oxidative stability and volume resistivity
• Aromatic ortho-diester core: the 1,2-substitution pattern gives phthalates their characteristic polarity and gelation speed
• Absence of a covalent bond to the polymer: because the ester only solvates PVC, it can migrate, evaporate or be extracted over the life of the part

Below about 15 phr, this same mechanism runs in reverse: too little plasticizer interferes with chain packing without adding enough free volume to compensate, an effect called antiplasticization that raises stiffness instead of lowering it. The full set of compatibility and solubility-parameter models behind this behaviour is worked through under how plasticizers work.

Low vs High Molecular Weight Phthalates: What Is the Difference?#

Low molecular weight (LMW) phthalates have 3 to 6 carbon atoms in the backbone of their alcohol chains and include the four EU-restricted reprotoxic plasticizers DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP, while high molecular weight (HMW) phthalates have 7 to 13 backbone carbons, include DINP, DIDP and DPHP, and carry no harmonised reproductive-toxicity classification. The two groups also diverge sharply in market share and volatility, as Table T1 shows.

DCHP is a solid ester (melting point 66 °C) grouped here with the LMW phthalates because it shares their Repr. 1B classification and SVHC status, even though it is not always named alongside DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP in industry definitions. DIOP, a branched C8 isomer of DEHP, is not assigned to either group in the verified source library and is listed in Table T2 as "C8 branched" without a molecular-weight group.

Low molecular weight phthalates (3-6 backbone carbons)#

Low molecular weight phthalates, namely DEHP, DBP, DIBP, BBP and DCHP, are the reprotoxic group: all five carry a harmonised EU Repr. 1B classification, and DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP are on the REACH Candidate List of substances of very high concern. Their harmonised hazard statements differ by substance and drive their downstream restrictions.

• DEHP: H360FD (may damage fertility, may damage the unborn child); Annex XIV entry 4
• DBP: H360Df and H400 (very toxic to aquatic life); Annex XIV entry 6
• BBP: H360Df, H400 and H410 (very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects); Annex XIV entry 5
• DIBP: H360Df; Annex XIV entry 7
• DCHP: H360D and H317 (may cause an allergic skin reaction); SVHC since 27 Jun 2018, not on Annex XIV

DBP, DIBP and BBP also serve as fast fusers in PVC plastisols, where they raise paste viscosity as they age in storage. Inclusion dates for all five substances are tracked on the SVHC Candidate List page.

High molecular weight phthalates (7-13 backbone carbons)#

High molecular weight phthalates, such as DINP, DIDP, DPHP, DUP and DTDP, make up about 85 % of Western European ortho-phthalate production and are today's general-purpose and low-volatility PVC plasticizers. None of them carries the harmonised reproductive-toxicity classification of the LMW group.

• DINP: the main DEHP replacement in flooring, cable and film, near 1:1 substitution by dosage (Klotz et al., 2024, Environmental Science & Technology)
• DIDP: longer C10 chains reduce volatility and improve permanence at the cost of plasticizing efficiency
• DPHP: low-volatility grade for cable, roofing membranes and automotive parts
• DNOP: a minor, linear C8 isomer with no known commercial use as a pure substance
• DUP/DIUP: C11 esters for wire, cable and automotive parts, registered at 1,000-10,000 t/a under REACH
• DTDP: the heaviest phthalate at 530.8 g/mol, used in high-temperature automotive wire
• DIOP: a branched C8 isomer of DEHP used as a minor PVC plasticizer

DINP is also the subject of an ongoing ECHA evaluation of its endocrine-disrupting and persistence properties (Klotz et al., 2024); this is an open evaluation, not a finding, and no reproductive-toxicity or endocrine-disruption classification currently applies to DINP, DIDP, DPHP or DTDP.

Why is DEHP grouped with the low molecular weight phthalates?#

DEHP is grouped with the low molecular weight phthalates because its 2-ethylhexyl alcohol has 8 total carbon atoms but a linear backbone of only 6, and the European industry classification counts backbone carbons, not total carbons. The branch point in 2-ethylhexanol sits off the main chain, so only the six carbons in the straight run are counted toward the 3-6 LMW range. Some exposure studies, such as the US National Research Council report of 2008, instead group DEHP with the high molecular weight phthalates by total molecular weight, so readers comparing sources across disciplines should check which convention a given source uses.

What Are the 14 Phthalate Plasticizers Used in Plastics?#

The 14 phthalate plasticizers used in plastics are five low molecular weight types (DEHP, DBP, DIBP, BBP, DCHP), seven types with 7 or more backbone carbons (DINP, DIDP, DPHP, DIOP, DNOP, DUP, DTDP) and two short-chain types for cellulosics (DMP, DEP). Table T2 gives identity, group, main use and EU and US status for all 14 in one place.

The 8 phthalates FDA still authorises as food-contact plasticizers after the final rule of 20 May 2022 are DINP, DIDP, DEHP, DCHP, BPBG, DEP, EPEG and DIOP. BPBG and EPEG have no substance page on this site.

Request quotes for DINP, DIDP, DPHP or other phthalate plasticizers: grade or CAS, volume, application, country. Send a request through the plastic additive supplier finder.

1. Low molecular weight: DEHP, DBP, DIBP, BBP and DCHP#

The five low molecular weight phthalates are DEHP, the historical general-purpose PVC plasticizer, and four faster-fusing or specialty esters: DBP, DIBP, BBP and the solid DCHP.

• DEHP typically makes up 2-35 wt% of plastic materials (ECHA mapping) and up to 40 wt% of PVC medical devices; its estimated global production was about 3.24 million tonnes in 2018 (Ceresana estimate)
• DBP typically makes up 10-35 wt% of plastic materials as a fast-fusing plasticizer for PVAc and nitrocellulose
• DIBP acts mainly as a gelling aid, present at up to 15 % in water-based adhesive dispersions
• BBP is a strong solvator used historically in vinyl flooring and PVC foams
• DCHP is a solid ester, melting at 66 °C, used in heat-seal coatings and adhesives rather than flexible PVC

Adhesive, ink and lacquer uses for these five esters sit outside the plastics border covered here and are named only in passing.

2. High molecular weight: DINP, DIDP, DPHP, DIOP, DNOP, DUP and DTDP#

The seven phthalates with 7 or more backbone carbons range from DINP, the main DEHP replacement in flooring and cable, to DTDP, the heaviest phthalate at 530.8 g/mol, used for high-temperature automotive wire.

• DINP is the general-purpose HMW workhorse for flooring, cable, film and hose, measured at 34.9-48.7 wt% in PVC medical tubing (Bernard et al., 2018, PLoS One)
• DIDP trades some efficiency for lower volatility in cable, automotive interiors and calendered film
• DPHP typically makes up 10-35 wt% of plastic materials (ECHA mapping) in low-volatility cable and roofing grades
• DIOP is a branched C8 isomer of DEHP used as a minor PVC plasticizer
• DNOP has no known commercial use as a pure substance and appears mainly as a component of C6-10 linear phthalate blends
• DUP/DIUP is registered under REACH at 1,000-10,000 t/a for wire, cable and automotive parts
• DTDP is the highest-molecular-weight phthalate on this list, reserved for high-temperature automotive wire and cable

3. Short-chain phthalates: DMP and DEP#

DMP and DEP, the C1 and C2 phthalates, are used in cellulose esters rather than PVC. DEP plasticizes and dissolves cellulose acetate and remains one of the eight FDA-authorised phthalate plasticizers under 21 CFR 181.27. DMP plasticizes cellulose esters and also serves as a phlegmatiser for MEKP peroxide initiators, supplied as a 40-60 % solution in DMP; its FDA food-contact authorisation was revoked on 20 May 2022.

How Do Phthalate Plasticizers Compare in Efficiency and Permanence?#

Phthalate plasticizers trade efficiency against permanence: short-chain types such as DBP soften PVC with less material but evaporate and migrate faster, while long-chain types such as DIDP need more phr but lose far less weight in service. Table T3 quantifies this trade-off using NBR weight loss under accelerated heat ageing, a standard proxy for volatility.

Source: Hallstar, "The Function and Selection of Ester Plasticizers." Data measured in NBR; PVC values differ.

Substitution factors compare how many phr of a plasticizer match the hardness of DEHP, taken as the reference at 1.00: longer-chain phthalates such as DIDP need more phr than DEHP for the same softness, while shorter-chain esters need less. As a worked example, replacing 50 phr of DEHP with a longer-chain phthalate at a typical factor above 1.00 requires proportionally more than 50 phr to hold hardness constant. A dedicated plasticizer substitution calculator converts phr between phthalates using these typical factors.

Where Are Phthalate Plasticizers Used?#

Phthalate plasticizers are used almost entirely in flexible PVC: in Western Europe more than 900,000 tonnes of the roughly 1 million tonnes produced each year go into PVC flooring, cable, film, coated fabrics, hose and plastisols. Table T4 maps the main applications to the phthalates typically used in each.

Every plasticizer class used in vinyl, not only phthalates, is compared on plasticizers for PVC. Fast-fusing behaviour and viscosity control in plastisol pastes are covered in more depth under plasticizers for PVC plastisol.

How much phthalate plasticizer does flexible PVC contain?#

Flexible PVC contains 5-65 wt% plasticizer at a hardness of Shore A 50 to 90, and DEHP is typically present at 2-35 wt% of the compound (ECHA mapping), while DINP was measured at 34.9-48.7 wt% in French PVC medical tubing (Bernard et al., 2018). The industry rule of thumb is a minimum of about 15 phr before PVC becomes flexible at all. Converting between the two common dosage units follows a fixed rule: wt% equals the phr of one ingredient divided by the total phr of the formulation, multiplied by 100. As a worked example, 50 phr of DINP in a compound of 100 phr PVC and no other ingredients equals 50 divided by 150, multiplied by 100, or 33.3 wt%. Complete plasticizer, stabilizer and filler recipes by application are collected under flexible PVC formulations.

How Are Phthalate Plasticizers Regulated?#

In the EU, the four reprotoxic phthalates DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP are restricted to 0.1 % by weight in plasticised articles and require authorisation for continued use, while in the US eight phthalates are prohibited above 0.1 % in children's toys and childcare articles and eight remain authorised as food-contact plasticizers. This page states each rule per phthalate in short form; product-by-product scopes and exemptions are compared in full on phthalate restrictions worldwide.

EU REACH: SVHC, Annex XIV and Annex XVII entries 51 and 52#

Under REACH, DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP are limited to 0.1 % by weight in the plasticised material of all articles since 7 July 2020 (Annex XVII entry 51, Regulation (EU) 2018/2005), and DINP, DIDP and DNOP are limited to 0.1 % only in toys and childcare articles that children can put in their mouths (entry 52). Table T5 sets the full REACH and CLP picture for eight of the fourteen phthalates side by side.

DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP reached the Annex XIV Authorisation List with a latest application date of 21 Aug 2013 and a sunset date of 21 Feb 2015; endocrine-disrupting properties were added to each Annex XIV entry by Regulation (EU) 2021/2045. DEHP in medical devices carries its own timeline under Regulation (EU) 2023/2482: latest application date 1 Jan 2029, sunset date 1 Jul 2030. In November 2023, ECHA's PVC investigation of 63 additives recommended a REACH restriction on ortho-phthalate plasticisers as a group; this remains a recommendation, with no Commission decision yet in force. The full text of entries 51 and 52 is reproduced on REACH Annex XVII restrictions, and every listed phthalate's Annex XIV sunset date appears on the REACH Annex XIV authorisation list.

EU food contact: phthalate limits in Regulation (EU) No 10/2011#

Since Regulation (EU) 2023/1442 entered into force on 1 August 2023, DEHP may migrate into food at no more than 0.6 mg/kg, DBP at 0.12 mg/kg and BBP at 6 mg/kg, and DINP plus DIDP together at 1.8 mg/kg. Table T6 sets the FCM numbers and both the old and the current specific migration limits.

As a worked example, a migrate containing 0.05 mg/kg DBP and 0.2 mg/kg DEHP counts as 0.05 x 5 plus 0.2 x 1, or 0.45 mg/kg DEHP equivalents, inside the 0.6 mg/kg group 36 limit. The full SML table and generic migration limits appear on EU 10/2011. Gasket and cling-film cases specific to plasticizers are covered under plasticizers in food contact materials.

United States: FDA, TSCA, CPSIA and Proposition 65#

In the US, 8 phthalates remain authorised as food-contact plasticizers after FDA's final rule of 20 May 2022, and 8 phthalates are prohibited above 0.1 % in children's toys and child care articles under 16 CFR 1307. Four federal instruments govern phthalate plasticizers in the US.

• FDA (21 CFR, final rule 20 May 2022, 87 FR 31080): revoked 23 phthalate authorisations, leaving DINP, DIDP, DEHP, DCHP, BPBG, DEP, EPEG and DIOP authorised as plasticizers; on 27 May 2026, FDA proposed a cumulative-assessment group covering DEHP, DCHP, DIOP and DINP (docket FDA-2026-N-5776, comments extended to 26 Jul 2026), a proposal, not a ban. Full 21 CFR sections are decoded on FDA food contact rules
• TSCA: final risk evaluations for BBP, DBP, DCHP, DEHP and DIBP were released in December 2025, with a Federal Register notice on 6 Jan 2026 (91 FR 373), finding unreasonable risk under specific conditions of use, mainly to workers; DINP's evaluation (15 Jan 2025, 90 FR 3828) found risk to workers only, from four spray-application conditions of use, with no consumer, general-population or environmental risk; DIDP's evaluation (6 Jan 2025, 90 FR 638) found risk to female workers of reproductive age for 6 of 49 conditions of use. Every evaluation is tracked on the TSCA and plastic additives page
• CPSIA, 16 CFR 1307: DEHP, DBP and BBP are permanently prohibited above 0.1 % in children's toys and child care articles; DINP, DIBP, DPENP, DHEXP and DCHP were added from 25 Apr 2018; DIDP and DNOP are not restricted. Testing exemptions are listed on the CPSIA phthalate limits page
• Proposition 65: DEHP was listed for cancer on 1 Jan 1988 and for developmental and male reproductive toxicity on 24 Oct 2003; DBP and BBP were listed on 2 Dec 2005; DIDP for developmental toxicity on 20 Apr 2007; DINP for cancer on 20 Dec 2013, with an NSRL of 146 µg/day; DIBP and DCHP are not listed. Safe-harbour levels are collected on California Proposition 65

Other jurisdictions: Canada, Japan, China, RoHS and medical devices#

Outside the EU and US, Canada and Japan limit DEHP, DBP and BBP in toys to 0.1 % (1,000 mg/kg), and extend the same limit to DINP, DIDP and DNOP in parts a child can put in the mouth.

• Canada: SOR/2016-188 (in force 22 Jun 2016) limits DEHP, DBP and BBP to 1,000 mg/kg in the vinyl of toys and childcare articles, and DINP, DIDP and DNOP to 1,000 mg/kg in mouthable parts
• Japan: MHLW Notification No. 336 (issued 6 Sep 2010, applicable from 6 Sep 2011) limits DEHP, DBP and BBP to 0.1 % in designated toys and DINP, DIDP and DNOP to 0.1 % in mouthable parts; DINP is additionally barred from PVC toy materials outright
• China: GB 6675-2025 applies from 1 Nov 2026 with tightened phthalate requirements for toys; the specific limits are not yet established in verified sources
• RoHS (Directive (EU) 2015/863): limits DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP to 0.1 % in homogeneous materials of electrical and electronic equipment, from 22 Jul 2019 (categories 8 and 9 from 22 Jul 2021)
• EU MDR (Regulation (EU) 2017/745, Annex I, §10.4): requires justification and labelling wherever a device contains more than 0.1 % w/w of a CMR 1A/1B or endocrine-disrupting substance, alongside the Toy Safety Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 (OJ 12 Dec 2025), which bans CMR and endocrine-disrupting substances in toys from 1 Aug 2030

Allowed alternatives by market are collected under plasticizers for toys, and the 2030 DEHP medical-device transition is covered under plasticizers for medical devices.

Is DINP banned in the EU?#

No: DINP is not banned in the EU; it is restricted to 0.1 % only in toys and childcare articles that children can put in their mouths (REACH Annex XVII entry 52), and it may be used in food-contact plastics within the 1.8 mg/kg group limit it shares with DIDP. DINP received a favourable RAC opinion on 9 March 2018, which found no classification for reproductive toxicity warranted. Outside those two specific scopes, DINP remains a general-purpose PVC plasticizer with no EU-wide weight restriction.

Which Plasticizers Replace Restricted Phthalates?#

Restricted low molecular weight phthalates are replaced either by high molecular weight phthalates such as DINP and DIDP, which keep similar PVC processing, or by non-phthalate plasticizers such as DOTP, DINCH, TOTM and citrates where the use is regulated for toys, food contact or medical devices. Table T7 sets out the typical replacement for each restricted LMW phthalate.

The European Pharmacopoeia lists DINCH, BTHC, TOTM and DEHT as DEHP alternatives for PVC blood containers, and the Danish EPA has named DEHT, DINCH and COMGHA the most promising alternatives overall. Toy applications lean on ATBC, DEHT, TXIB, DINCH and ESBO (Wiesinger et al., 2024). DINP itself functions as a near 1:1 substitute for DEHP in flooring by dosage (Klotz et al., 2024). Every non-phthalate class that avoids ortho-phthalates entirely is covered under non-phthalate plasticizers. Side-by-side performance and regulatory data for the leading substitutes sit in the plasticizer comparison: DEHP vs DINP vs DOTP vs DINCH vs TOTM.

How Are Phthalate Plasticizers Tested?#

Phthalate plasticizers are tested in two ways: content tests such as CPSC-CH-C1001-09.4 and IEC 62321-8 check whether an article stays under the 0.1 % limits, and permanence tests such as ASTM D1203 and ISO 177 measure how much plasticizer is lost by evaporation or migration. Table T8 lists the purpose of each standard alongside its designation.

EU food-contact migration is tested against the generic overall migration limit of 10 mg/dm² alongside the substance-specific SML set in Regulation (EU) No 10/2011. Sample preparation and limits of detection for each standard are detailed under phthalate testing in plastics.

Who Makes Phthalate Plasticizers?#

Phthalate plasticizers are made by BASF (Palatinol), Evonik Oxeno (Vestinol), ExxonMobil (Jayflex), Eastman (Kodaflex) and Lanxess (Unimoll), together with Asian producers such as Nan Ya Plastics, Aekyung, LG Chem and Hanwha. Table T9 maps the most common trade names to the substances behind them.

Table T9 records "same substance, different brand," not a claim of performance equivalence between grades. Buyers should compare phthalate grades by CAS number, because DINP and DIDP are UVCBs sold under two CAS numbers each and a trade name alone does not confirm the isomer distribution. Plants and grades by company are catalogued in the directory of plasticizer manufacturers and suppliers.

China's DOP price fell by RMB 1,700 to 1,750 per tonne between January and November 2025, alongside a 42 % drop in Chinese DOP imports and a 35 % rise in exports over the same January-September period (ResourceWise). A 15 % US tariff now applies to Evonik Oxeno's DINP exports, and new DINP capacity has come online at Deza in the Czech Republic; ResourceWise's 2026 outlook describes the market as "ample supply, flat demand." Price drivers across the phthalate and non-phthalate market are tracked in the guide to plasticizer prices.

Request quotes for any grade in this table: send one request to several producers with the plastic additive supplier finder.

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Are Phthalate Plasticizers Harmful?#

The hazard of a phthalate plasticizer depends on its type: the low molecular weight phthalates DEHP, DBP, BBP, DIBP and DCHP are classified in the EU as toxic for reproduction (Repr. 1B), while DINP carries no reproductive-toxicity classification after the ECHA RAC opinion of March 2018. DEHP additionally carries an IARC Group 2B classification (possibly carcinogenic to humans). In animal studies, in utero exposure to certain LMW phthalates produces a cluster of effects in male rats known as phthalate syndrome, including reduced fetal testosterone, hypospadias, cryptorchidism, shortened anogenital distance and nipple retention. Exposure routes, biomonitoring data and the health literature in full are summarised under phthalates: health effects.

Do phthalate plasticizers leach out of plastic?#

Yes: phthalate plasticizers are not chemically bound to PVC, so they migrate into contacting materials, evaporate slowly and are extracted by fats and oils over the life of a part. Permanence in service is therefore a function of volatility, extraction resistance and migration rate together, not any single property. In a 2021-22 survey of Swiss flooring, 21 % of samples contained restricted ortho-phthalates above the legal threshold, mainly DEHP, and mostly traceable to recycled content rather than to new production (Wiesinger et al., 2024). Causes and prevention of this behaviour are covered in depth under plasticizer migration.

Does all plastic contain phthalates?#

No: phthalates are used almost only in flexible PVC and a few cellulosics, and the US CPSC has determined that unadditivated PP, PE, general-purpose and high-impact polystyrene and ABS do not contain the regulated phthalates when made only with the additives listed in 16 CFR 1308. Rigid, unplasticized plastics of these types carry no plasticizer of any kind, phthalate or otherwise.

What does "phthalate-free" mean?#

"Phthalate-free" on a PVC product means it is plasticized with non-ortho-phthalate plasticizers such as DOTP, DINCH or citrates, although the claim has no single legal definition and is explained in more detail on our consumer page. The full discussion of what the claim does and does not guarantee is on our phthalate-free plastics page.

A short history of phthalate plasticizers#

Phthalate plasticizers date from the early 1930s: Waldo Semon at B.F. Goodrich made the first plasticized PVC in 1926, dibutyl phthalate was already in commercial use by 1933, and DEHP went into commercial production in Japan around 1933 and in the United States in 1939. Global phthalate production grew from about 2.7 million tonnes in the 1980s to about 5.5 million tonnes by 2015 (OECD, 2018), before the shift toward high molecular weight and non-phthalate plasticizers began to reshape the market.

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