CITRATE PLASTICIZERS

Citrate plasticizers are made of citrates which are esters of citric acid. They can be found in oily liquid form and they are practically colourless and odourless. They are used in paints, coatings and inks but also in food packaging products, cling wrap, toys and medical applications. It can also be used to increase gelation speed in PVC-plastisols. They have been used mainly as plasticizers with cellulosics, PVC, polyvinyl acetate, and other polymers used in medical plastics and food contact packaging. Some citrate esters find specialty use in blood bags and food wraps. Citrates are also used in toys produced by the plastisol process.

Citric acid based plasticizers are one of the major contenders to replace phthalates(especially targeted to replace DOP). Some properties of materials plasticized with citrates can match those plasticized with DOP but the cost of their production is substantially higher.

Tri Butyl Citrate

Tri Butyl Citrate is a high boiling substance, is used as a solvent and plasticizer for polymers especially for PVC and its copolymers which are subsequently applied to food wrapping film. It is an excellent plasticizer for both cellulosic derivatives and vinyl resins. Tri Butyl Citrate is effective to keep stable colour maintance when processed with resins due to property of heat stable. It does not support fungal growth.

Applications

It is a plasticizer permitted in the field of food additives, food contact material, medical and pharmaceuticals.
It is widely used in cosmetics, lacquers and as a fragrance Carrier.
It is used as plasticizers and humectants for cigarette filters.
It is also an excellent de-foaming agent in protein solutions

Tri Octyl Citrate

Tri Octyl Citrate is a colorless transparent oily liquid that is soluble in most organic solvents. But insoluble in water. It is widely used as a non-toxic plasticizer. It has high cold resistance, light resistance and water resistance. It can be used in polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and various cellulose resins with good compatibility, high plasticizing efficiency, non-toxic, small volatility and with resistance to rotation. It can be used for food packaging and health care products and children's toys and other fields, to replace the carcinogenic effect of phthalates plasticizer. In addition, it can also be used as defoamer of protein solution.

Applications

Can be used in innocuous PVC grain
It can be used in polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and various cellulose resins
It can be used for food packaging and health care products and children’s toys and other fields,
It is used as defoamer of protein solution.