The plasticizers DOP (dioctyl phthalate) and DOTP (dioctyl terephthalate) have the following differences in their applications:
• Plasticizing Efficiency: DOP has a higher plasticizing efficiency, resulting in softer products; DOTP has a slightly lower plasticizing effect, resulting in harder products.
• Electrical Properties: DOTP has better electrical insulation properties than DOP, with a volume resistivity 20 times that of DOP. Therefore, DOTP is more suitable for applications requiring high electrical insulation performance, such as cable materials.
• Heat Resistance: DOTP has a flash point 10°C higher than DOP, maintaining more stable electrical properties after heating. Furthermore, under the same conditions, the residual volatile content of DOTP is only half that of DOP, making it more suitable for manufacturing high-temperature-resistant PVC cable materials.
• Cold Resistance: DOTP is more cold-resistant than DOP. While not as good as DOA (dioctyl adipate) and DOS (dioctyl sebacate), it is relatively inexpensive, making it a better choice for applications requiring cold resistance, such as automobiles, refrigerators, and door and window seals.
• Environmental Protection: DOP contains phthalates, which are considered environmentally unsafe. Even small amounts of inhalation can cause harm to the human body, such as shortness of breath, increased heart rate, and central nervous system disorders. In severe cases, it can affect fetal development. European and American countries have imposed strict restrictions on its use. DOTP, on the other hand, does not contain phthalates and complies with environmental regulations such as the EU RoHS and the US SGS, making it a more environmentally friendly plasticizer.
•Application areas: DOP is a general-purpose plasticizer, mainly used in the processing of polyvinyl chloride resin. It can also be used in the processing of chemical fiber resin, acetate resin, ABS resin, rubber and other polymers. It can also be used in the production of paints, dyes, dispersants, etc.; In addition to being used in large quantities as a plasticizer for cable materials and PVC, DOTP can also be used in the production of artificial leather films, plasticization of acrylonitrile derivatives, polyvinyl butyral, nitrile rubber, cellulose nitrate, etc. It can also be used as a plasticizer for synthetic rubber, paint additive, precision instrument lubricant, lubricant additive, paper softener, etc.