Description

DOP oil, technically known as dioctyl phthalate (DOP), belongs to the phthalate group and is one of the most important plasticizers used in the rubber compound and granule industry.

This industrial oil is also known as plasticizing oil; when added to granules, it improves flexibility and processability. Dioctyl phthalate is an organic compound with the chemical formula C₆H₄(CO₂C₈H₁₇)₂.

Its main properties include a boiling point of 386°C, viscosity of 80 cP, melting point of −50°C, flash point of 109°F, and a specific gravity of 0.986 g/cm³. DOP is the most common phthalate used as a plasticizer.

DOP is colorless to light-colored, odorless, insoluble in water, and soluble in mineral oils.

Applications of DOP Oil:

Due to its reasonable price, DOP is widely used and produced in large volumes. It can be used as a hydraulic oil and as a solvent for many chemical substances.

DOP is one of the most important plasticizers used in PVC granules. PVC plastisols or vinyl dispersions are fluid suspensions of fine PVC resin particles in a plasticizer system.

It is also used as a plasticizer for non-PVC materials such as polyvinyl butyral (PVB), natural and synthetic rubber, chlorinated rubber, ethyl cellulose, and nitrocellulose. Additionally, DOP is used as a plasticizer in plastic blood bags and dialysis equipment.

Health and Environmental Hazards of DOP:

The use of DOP is environmentally hazardous and poses a serious threat to aquatic life. It accumulates in nature and is difficult to biodegrade; therefore, it must never be discharged into urban sewage systems. However, DOP itself is not flammable.