Application

Medical

Medical devices often require plasticisers to enhance their flexibility, comfort, and functionality. These additives are used to create soft, adaptable materials for items such as IV bags, tubing, and prosthetics. By doing so, they ensure a better patient experience and improve medical efficacy while meeting safety and regulatory standards in healthcare applications.

Applications used:

Blood bags, Gloves, Tubing, Mask

There are considerations regarding the expansion of REACH exemption to supply chains and its implications for DEHP-containing blood bags and medical packaging. Annex XIV of REACH does not allow the use of certain substances unless they are authorized or exempt. DEHP use is currently allowed in specific medical applications in Europe. The European Pharmacopoeia has introduced four new plasticisers, such as DINCH [Di-isononyl cyclohexanoate], BTHC [Butyryl trihexylcitrate], TOTM [Trioctyl trimellitate], and DEHT [Dioctyl terephthalate], for producing containers and tubing used in human blood and blood components.

Alternatives to DEHP in medical devices

The plasticisers industry has been investing and developing alternatives to DEHP in medical devices driven by innovation and regulatory updates. Today, other plasticisers such as DINCH [Di-isononyl cyclohexanoate], TEHTM [Tri-2-ethylhexyl trimellitate] and DEHT [Diethylhexyl Terephthalate] are being used in some medical applications such as medical tubing, intravenous solution bags, masks, gloves, and even blood bags.

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