DINCH
Encyclopedia
1,2-Cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester is a plasticizer
for the manufacture of flexible plastic articles in sensitive application areas such as toys, medical devices and food packaging. From a chemical point of view it belongs to the group of aliphatic ester
s.
In 2002 BASF
started selling 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester under the tradename of Hexamoll DINCH as an alternative for phthalate plasticizers. According to BASF
, Hexamoll DINCH is the "most widely used phthalate substitute in the world".
of a maleic acid ester with 1,3-butadiene followed by hydrogenation. In the case of the catalytic hydrogenation the aromatic part of the diisononyl phthalate is transformed to a cyclohexane ring by a formal addition
of 6 hydrogen atoms while the alkyl and ester groups are not affected by the hydrogenation.
the European Food Safety Authority has approved 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester for a wide variety of food contact applications in October 2006. In 2007 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester has been added to Annex III of the "Directive 2002/72/EC relating to plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food".
and Learning Curve confirmed to NPR they were substituting phthalates with Hexamoll DINCH and citrate
-based plasticizers.
In the European Union 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester is not listed in directive 2005/84/EC which bans the use of certain phthalates in toys and childcare articles and thus can be used safely in toy and childcare articles.
Plasticizer
Plasticizers or dispersants are additives that increase the plasticity or fluidity of the material to which they are added; these include plastics, cement, concrete, wallboard, and clay. Although the same compounds are often used for both plastics and concretes the desired effects and results are...
for the manufacture of flexible plastic articles in sensitive application areas such as toys, medical devices and food packaging. From a chemical point of view it belongs to the group of aliphatic ester
Ester
Esters are chemical compounds derived by reacting an oxoacid with a hydroxyl compound such as an alcohol or phenol. Esters are usually derived from an inorganic acid or organic acid in which at least one -OH group is replaced by an -O-alkyl group, and most commonly from carboxylic acids and...
s.
In 2002 BASF
BASF
BASF SE is the largest chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Germany. BASF originally stood for Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik . Today, the four letters are a registered trademark and the company is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, and Zurich Stock...
started selling 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester under the tradename of Hexamoll DINCH as an alternative for phthalate plasticizers. According to BASF
BASF
BASF SE is the largest chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Germany. BASF originally stood for Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik . Today, the four letters are a registered trademark and the company is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, and Zurich Stock...
, Hexamoll DINCH is the "most widely used phthalate substitute in the world".
Production
The two commercial routes to manufacture 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester are the catalytic hydrogenation of diisononyl phthalate and the Diels-Alder reactionDiels-Alder reaction
The Diels–Alder reaction is an organic chemical reaction between a conjugated diene and a substituted alkene, commonly termed the dienophile, to form a substituted cyclohexene system. The reaction can proceed even if some of the atoms in the newly formed ring are not carbon...
of a maleic acid ester with 1,3-butadiene followed by hydrogenation. In the case of the catalytic hydrogenation the aromatic part of the diisononyl phthalate is transformed to a cyclohexane ring by a formal addition
Addition reaction
An addition reaction, in organic chemistry, is in its simplest terms an organic reaction where two or more molecules combine to form a larger one....
of 6 hydrogen atoms while the alkyl and ester groups are not affected by the hydrogenation.
Food contact
In the European UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
the European Food Safety Authority has approved 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester for a wide variety of food contact applications in October 2006. In 2007 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester has been added to Annex III of the "Directive 2002/72/EC relating to plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food".
Toys
A US federal law was passed in 2008 banning the use of some phthalates in children's toys. When the law took effect in February 2009, MattelMattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
and Learning Curve confirmed to NPR they were substituting phthalates with Hexamoll DINCH and citrate
Citrate
A citrate can refer either to the conjugate base of citric acid, , or to the esters of citric acid. An example of the former, a salt is trisodium citrate; an ester is triethyl citrate.-Other citric acid ions:...
-based plasticizers.
In the European Union 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester is not listed in directive 2005/84/EC which bans the use of certain phthalates in toys and childcare articles and thus can be used safely in toy and childcare articles.