Taiwans Plasticizer Food Scandal Property and application Plasticizers are additives that increase the plasticity or fluidity of the material to which they are added; these include plastics, cement, concrete, wallboard, and clay. Plasticizers for concrete increase the workability of the wet mix, or reduce the water required to achieve the desired workability, and are usually not intended to affect the properties of the final product after it hardens. Plasticizers for wallboard increase fluidity of the mix, allowing lower use of water and thus reducing energy to dry the board.phthalate-based plasticizers Di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP or DnOP), used in flooring materials, carpets, notebook covers, and high explosives, such as semtex. Together with DEHP it was the most common plasticizers, but now is suspected of causing cancer Bis(n-butyl)phthalate (DnBP, DBP), used for cellulose plastics, food wraps, adhesives, perfumes, and cosmetics - about a third of nail polishes, glosses, enamels, and hardeners contain it, together with some shampoos, sunscreens, skin emollients, and insect repellents Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), used in construction materials and medical devices Diisononyl phthalate(DINP), found in garden hoses, shoes, toys, and building materials Diisodecyl phthalate(DIDP), used for insulation of wires and cables, car undercoating, shoes, carpets, pool liners Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP) is found in vinyl tiles, traffic cones, food conveyor belts, artificial leather, and plastic foams Diisooctyl phthalate (DIOP), all-purpose plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, rubbers, cellulose plastics, and polyurethane. Diethyl phthalate (DEP) Diisobutyl phthalate(DIBP) Di-n-hexyl phthalate, used in flooring materials, tool handles, and automobile partsTrimellitateslTrimethyl trimellitate (TMTM) lTri-(2-ethylhexyl) trimellitate (TEHTM-MG) lTri-(n-octyl,n-decyl) trimellitate (ATM) lTri-(heptyl,nonyl) trimellitate (LTM) ln-octyl trimellitate (OTM)Trimellitates are used in automobile interiors and other applications where resistance to high temperature is required. They have extremely low volatility.Adipate-based plasticizersBis(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (DEHA) Dimethyl adipate(DMAD) Monomethyl adipate(MMAD) Dioctyl adipate (DOA)Other plasticizer Benzoates Epoxidized vegetable oils Sulfonamides (ETSA , HP BSA , BBSA- NBBS Organophosphates (TCP , TBP ) Glycolsl polyethers (3G6, 3GH , 4G7 ) Polymeric plasticizers polybutene Some other chemicals working as plasticizers are nitrobenzene, carbon disulfide and -naphthyl salicylate. Plasticizers, such as DEHP and DOA, were found to be carcinogens and endocrine disruptors.Safer plasticizers Acetylated monoglycerides ; these can be used as food additives Alkyl citrates, used in food packagings, medical products, cosmetics and children toys Triethyl citrate(TEC) Acetyl triethyl citrate(ATEC), higher boiling point and lower volatility than TEC Tributyl citrate (TBC) Acetyl tributyl citrate(ATBC), compatible with PVC and vinyl chloride copolymers Trioctyl citrate (TOC), also used for gums and controlled release medicines Acetyl trioctyl citrate (ATOC), also used for printing ink Trihexyl citrate (THC), compatible with PVC, also used for controlled release medicines Acetyl trihexyl citrate (ATHC), compatible with PVC Butyryl trihexyl citrate (BTHC, trihexyl o-butyryl citrate), compatible with PVC Trimethyl citrate (TMC), compatible with PVC alkyl sulphonic acid phenyl ester (ASE), compatible with PVC , vinyl chloride copolymers, TPU, NBR etc. 1,2-Cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester (BASF trademark: DINCH) is used in food packaging, medical devices, toy and childcare articles. It is compatible with a wide range of polymers including PVC.Plasticizer for enegetic materialEnergetic material pyrotechnic compositions, especially solid rocket propellants and smokeless powders for guns, often employ plasticizers to improve physical properties of the propellant binder or of the overall propellant, to provide a secondary fuel, and ideally, to improve specific energy yield (e.g. specific impulse, energy yield per gram of propellant, or similar indices) of the propellant. An energetic plasticizer improves the physical properties of an energetic material while also increasing its specific energy yield. Energetic plasticizers are usually preferred to non-energetic plasticizers, especially for solid rocket propellants. Energetic plasticizers reduce the required mass of propellant, enabling a rocket vehicle to carry more payload or reach higher velocities than would otherwise be the case. However, safety or cost considerations may demand that non- energetic plasticizers be used, even in rocket propellants. The solid rocket propellant used to fuel the Space Shuttle solid rocket booster employs a non-energ