Flexibility without compromise

SyncroflexTM

At the heart of better plastics

Low migration

Reasons to buy

Low extractabilityPhthalate free

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Flexibility without compromise

Syncroflex speciality plasticisers

Plasticisers can be defined as additives that increase the plasticity or fluidity of a polymer. The SyncroflexTM range of plasticisers from Croda Polymer Additives includes both monomeric and polyester based polymeric plasticisers. Monomeric plasticisers due to their small size, offer the benefits of increased physical and mechanical properties through rapid absorption and adsorption to the polymer surface. Polymeric plasticisers offer superior resistance to volatility, migration and weathering over time which is ideal for applications where long term stability is needed.

Croda’s Syncroflex range of plasticisers offer significant benefits in many speciality applications. Our range of monomeric plasticisers and polymeric plasticisers can be used in a variety of applications, ranging from low temperature environments to food contact. Syncroflex plasticisers can provide solutions for many demanding applications that require flexibility without compromise.

Syncroflex 3155Delivery of long lasting plasticiser performance is a high priority for products which require long service lives. This is true of a manufacturer of electrical wiring and cable who approached Croda Polymer Additives to reduce the instances where the PVC insulation cracked exposing the wiring.

The manufacturer was producing wiring for wind turbines which were often coming into contact with lubricating oils, so Croda suggested Syncroflex 3155 as a plasticiser which has excellent mineral oil resistance.

Syncroflex 3155 helped the manufacture maintain excellent flexibility through plasticisation, whilst also offering improved oil resistance of cables and wires.

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Product name Chemical description

Physical form at 25°C

Raw material origin

Recommended uses

Monomeric plasticisers

Syncroflex™ 1562 Di-fatty acid ester

Liquid Vegetable/Synthetic Low temperature applications where low viscosity is required.

Syncroflex 3019 Di-fatty acid ester

Liquid Vegetable/Synthetic Low temperature applications including refrigerator seals

ATBC Citrate ester Liquid Synthetic Phthalate alternative when food contact approvals are needed

Polymeric plasticisers

Syncroflex 3114 Polyadipate ester

Liquid Vegetable/Synthetic Food contact applications including gaskets, seals and o-rings

Syncroflex 3142 Polyazelate ester

Liquid Vegetable/Synthetic Leisure and clothing applications including coated fabrics and sports equipment

Syncroflex 3155 Polyadipate ester

Liquid Vegetable/Synthetic Construction applications including roofing membranes and electrical wiring

Syncroflex 3157 Polyadipate ester

Liquid Vegetable/Synthetic Construction applications including roofing membranes and electrical wiring

Syncroflex 3159 Polyadipate ester

Liquid Vegetable/Synthetic Automotive applications including oil & petrol hoses and oil & heat resistant cables

Product name Chemical description

Physical form at 25°C

Raw material origin

Recommended uses

Monomeric plasticisers

Syncroflex™ 1562 Di-fatty acid ester

Liquid Vegetable/Synthetic Low temperature applications where low viscosity is required.

Syncroflex 3019 Di-fatty acid ester

Liquid Vegetable/Synthetic Low temperature applications including refrigerator seals

ATBC Citrate ester Liquid Synthetic Phthalate alternative when food contact approvals are needed

Polymeric plasticisers

Syncroflex 3114 Polyadipate ester

Liquid Vegetable/Synthetic Food contact applications including gaskets, seals and o-rings

Syncroflex 3142 Polyazelate ester

Liquid Vegetable/Synthetic Leisure and clothing applications including coated fabrics and sports equipment

Syncroflex 3155 Polyadipate ester

Liquid Vegetable/Synthetic Construction applications including roofing membranes and electrical wiring

Syncroflex 3157 Polyadipate ester

Liquid Vegetable/Synthetic Construction applications including roofing membranes and electrical wiring

Syncroflex 3159 Polyadipate ester

Liquid Vegetable/Synthetic Automotive applications including oil & petrol hoses and oil & heat resistant cables

PVCIn PVC the short distances between molecules results in strong intermolecular forces, which cause PVC to be rigid at room temperature. Plasticisers act by migrating between the PVC molecules preventing them from coming into close contact with each other, the resulting effect is that at room temperature the PVC remains soft and flexible.

Monomeric plasticisersKey benefitsl Low temperature flexibilityl Low viscosityl Phthalate free

Croda’s monomeric plasticisers are alternatives to traditional monomeric based plasticisers offering superior low temperature stability and in some cases having food contact approvals. Syncroflex 3019 for example has a much improved brittle point which is ideal for applications that require low temperature stability. For food contact applications where phthalate usage is prohibited, ATBC is an excellent like for like replacement having properties similar to DOP.

Polymeric plasticisersKey benefitsl Low extractability (water, solvent, oil and detergent)l Low volatilityl Low migration

The polymeric plasticisers in the Syncroflex range were tested in a PVC polymer and compared to a standard industry phthalate (DOP), the PVC and plasticiser compounds were made to a Shore A hardness of 75. At this Shore A hardness all compounds exhibited similar mechanical properties, however the volatility and extraction resistance of the Syncroflex products showed significantly better performance than DOP.

The table below is intended to be used as a tool for selecting the most appropriate product for your chosen application. To identify the optimum product as in the case study above select the parameters which are most relevant to your chosen application.

Croda were approached by a customer looking for a plasticiser to use in coated fabrics in oilfield protective clothing. The customer had experienced problems with traditional phthalates migrating out of the fabric when in contact with oils causing the fabric coating to crack dramatically, which reduced the working life of the clothing. From the table below the customer was able to identify Syncroflex 3155 and Syncroflex 3114 as the products with the best oil extraction resistance. As a secondary parameter the customer also stated that they would like good detergent resistance, as the items of clothing could come into contact with them during cleaning. Again using the table they were able to differentiate between Syncroflex 3155 and Syncroflex 3114 based on detergent extraction with Syncroflex 3155 showing improved detergent extraction when compared to Syncroflex 3114.

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Product Brittle point (°C)

Volatillity (%) Detergent extraction (%)

Mineral oil extraction (%)

Soybean oil extraction (%)

Petrol extraction (%)

Dyn. viscosity (cP)

DOP -29 -10 -6.1 -8.1 -12.2 -20 -

Syncroflex 3114

-22 -1.1 -7.5 -1.8 -1.9 -1.9 3000-3500

Syncroflex 3142

-23 -0.9 -1.4 -7.1 -0.3 -0.6 35000-45000

Syncroflex 3155

-16 -2.1 -2.4 -0.1 -2.6 -5 8500-10500

Syncroflex 3157

-20 -1.6 -4.6 -3.8 -1.1 -1.5 4200-5000

Syncroflex 3159

-21 -1.3 -5.4 -4.9 -0.7 -0.5 35000-45000

Excellent Moderate Fair

Non-warranty:The information in this publication is believed to be accurate and is given in good faith, but no representation or warranty as to its completeness or accuracy is made. Suggestions for uses or applications are only opinions. Users are responsible for determining the suitability of these products for their own particular purpose. No representation or warranty, expressed or implied, is made with respect to information or products including, without limitation, warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of any third party patent or other intellectual property rights including, without limit, copyright, trademark and designs. Any trademarks identified herein are trademarks of the Croda group of companies. ©2014 Croda Europe Ltd 02/14 PAMB013v02

Croda Europe LtdTel +44 (0)1405 860551pa-europe@croda.com

Croda SingaporeTel +65 65519600 pa-asia@croda.com

Croda Inc, USATel +1 732 417 0800pa-northamerica@croda.com

Further information

Croda sales and distribution are coordinated through an extensive worldwide network of associates and agents. For details of your local representative please contact your nearest Croda regional office.

Visit our global website at www.croda.com/pa

Synthetic rubbers and derivativesThe Syncroflex range of plasticisers can also be used in synthetic rubbers and synthetic rubber derivatives. Syncroflex plasticisers offer significant benefits over traditional phthalate plasticisers, providing improvements in both mechanical and physical properties as well as process improvements. For example Syncroflex plasticisers can reduce cure time by over 25% delivering significant cost savings via reduced energy costs or improved production output. Monomeric plasticisers Syncroflex 1562 and Syncroflex 3019 also exhibit improved low temperature performance and are ideally suited to rubber applications where low temperature stability is required. Whilst the polymeric plasticisers in the range offer improved tensile strength, better volatility and more robust pentane extraction resistance.

The Syncroflex range were tested in a NBR rubber compound and compared to an industry standard plasticiser, DOS. The plasticised rubber compounds were made to a hardness of 80 and the results of the analysis are shown in the table below. The table below is intended to be used as a tool for selecting the most appropriate product for your chosen application. To identify the optimum product for your application select the parameters which are most relevant to your chosen application.

Plasticisation of other polar polymersPlasticisers are also know to be used in other polar polymers such as nylon, polystyrene, ABS etc. Thethermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data below shows thermal profiles of all the plasticisers in our range.

Product Reduction in cure time against reference (%)

Tensile strength (MPa)

Volatility mass loss (%)

Pentane extraction mass loss (%)

DOS - 13.7 2.7 3.1

Syncroflex 1562 28 13.5 2.8 4.1

Syncroflex 3019 27 14.1 3.1 3.6

Syncroflex 3114 32 15.1 1.8 1.6

Syncroflex 3142 30 15.2 1.8 1.5

Syncroflex 3157 27 15.1 1.9 1.7

ATBC

Syncroflex 1562

Syncroflex 3019

Syncroflex 3155

Syncroflex 3114

Syncroflex 3457

Syncroflex 3159

Syncroflex 3142

Figure 1: TGA data: weight loss data for Syncroflex on heating