Dioctyl Phthalate
The classic general-purpose plasticiser for flexible PVC — cable, film, flooring and consumer products, now facing regulatory substitution in sensitive uses.
Chelora Chemicals supplies dioctyl phthalate to flexible-PVC compounders worldwide, with clear guidance on where regulatory restrictions apply.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 117-81-7
- IUPAC name
- Bis(2-ethylhexyl) benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate
- Molecular formula
- C₂₄H₃₈O₄
- Molecular weight
- 390.56 g/mol
- Boiling point
- 384 °C
- Melting point
- -50 °C
- UN Number
- Not regulated
- HS Code
- 2917 32
Note: DOP (DEHP) is restricted or banned in children's products, food-contact and medical-device applications in the EU, US and many other jurisdictions. Confirm your destination's current regulatory status before ordering for a sensitive end use.
What DOP is used for
Dioctyl Phthalate (DOP), also known as DEHP, is a colourless to pale yellow, oily, high-boiling liquid with very low volatility and very low water solubility. It is produced by the esterification of phthalic anhydride with 2-ethylhexanol, and was historically the highest-volume plasticiser worldwide.
DOP's role is as a general-purpose primary plasticiser for flexible PVC — cable and wire insulation, flexible film and sheet, vinyl flooring, coated fabrics, and general consumer goods — where it is valued for its low cost, good compatibility and efficient flexibilising effect. Regulatory pressure over endocrine-disruption and reproductive-toxicity concerns has driven substitution with non-phthalate or higher-molecular-weight phthalate plasticisers (such as DINP or DOTP) in children's products, food-contact, and medical applications in many jurisdictions.
Where it sits in the petrochemical value chain
- Phthalic Anhydride the feedstock, esterified with 2-ethylhexanol into DOP. See that page.
- Dioctyl Phthalate (this product) the general-purpose plasticiser for the flexible-PVC applications below.
- Polyvinyl Chloride the dominant end use — flexible PVC compounds. See that page.
Handling character
DOP is classified as a suspected reproductive toxicant and is subject to use restrictions in sensitive applications in many jurisdictions. Full hazard detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colourless to pale yellow oily liquid |
| Assay | 99.5% min (plasticiser grade) |
| Colour (APHA) | Within producer specification |
| Acidity | < 0.02 mg KOH/g (typical) |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Colourless to pale yellow, oily, high-boiling liquid |
| Boiling point | 384 °C |
| Melting point | -50 °C |
| Density | 0.981 g/cm³ |
| Water solubility | Very low (practically insoluble) |
| Flash point | 210 °C (combustible) |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 117-81-7 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put DOP to work
The workhorse plasticiser behind flexible PVC cable, film, flooring and coated fabrics.
Cable & wire insulation
The dominant plasticiser historically used in flexible PVC cable and wire insulation compounds.
- Plasticiser-grade specification
- Bulk & drum supply
- Technical desk review on request
Flexible film & sheet
Used in calendered flexible PVC film and sheet for industrial and non-sensitive packaging applications.
- Industrial-grade specification
- Documented batch traceability
- Contract & spot supply
Vinyl flooring
Used in flexible PVC flooring compounds for commercial and industrial applications.
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
Coated fabrics
Used in flexible PVC-coated fabrics for tarpaulins, upholstery and industrial covers.
- Documented batch traceability
- Technical desk review on request
General consumer & industrial goods
Used in a wide range of non-sensitive flexible PVC consumer and industrial products.
- Research & process-scale quantities
- Full documentation supplied
Contract & scheduled supply
Flexible-PVC compounders running continuous consumption are supported with scheduled bulk delivery.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Price held across the contract period
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply Dioctyl Phthalate
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Destination-specific regulatory status for DOP varies by end use — that shapes how we manage this line.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your required grade, your price point and your delivery window, and confirm your jurisdiction's import and end-use restrictions before booking.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, so a single-plant disruption never becomes your production problem, and can advise on non-phthalate or DOTP alternatives where your end use is regulated.
- Destination and end-use regulatory status checked before we quote. DOP is restricted in children's products, food-contact and medical uses in many jurisdictions.
- Purity and colour grade confirmed before we quote. Consistency matters to downstream PVC compound clarity and performance.
- Scheduled call-off scheduling. We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
- Batch traceability to the producing plant. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
- Alternative plasticisers advised where needed. We can point you to DOTP or non-phthalate options for regulated end uses.
Packed the way your plant receives it
Drum, tote or bulk tank — tell us your preferred format and we will quote and classify to it.
200-210 litre drums
Steel drums for smaller-volume orders and trial quantities.
~1,000 litre totes
Returnable or one-way IBC totes sized for mid-volume converter orders.
Large-volume bulk shipment
ISO tank or flexi-tank bulk shipment for continuous-consumption PVC-compounding plants.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small packs dispatched for process trials before a commercial order is placed.
Contracted call-off supply
We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
Reproductive toxicant / endocrine concern — check your end use
DOP (DEHP) is classified as a suspected reproductive toxicant and is restricted in children's products, food-contact and medical-device applications in many jurisdictions. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H360FDMay damage fertility; may damage the unborn child.Not acutely toxicLow acute oral and dermal toxicity under typical industrial handling.Regulatory noteSubject to use restrictions (children's products, food-contact, medical devices) in the EU, US and other jurisdictions — confirm before ordering for a sensitive end use.
Check your destination's regulatory status before ordering for a sensitive end use. DOP is widely restricted in children's toys, food-contact articles and medical devices; always read the SDS issued with your specific batch and confirm compliance with our desk.
Storage
Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry area away from strong oxidising agents; DOP is a stable, low-volatility liquid under normal storage conditions.
Handling
Standard gloves and eye protection are sufficient for normal industrial handling. Avoid prolonged, repeated skin contact as a matter of good practice given its reproductive-toxicity classification.
Transport
Not classified as dangerous goods for transport. We confirm any destination-specific import or end-use restriction documentation your shipment requires.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Assay, colour grade and acidity confirmed against your process requirement before order placement.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS and transport/regulatory paperwork checked by our desk before the shipment is booked.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing batch, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
How DOP is made
DOP is produced industrially by the acid-catalysed esterification of phthalic anhydride with 2-ethylhexanol, with excess alcohol used to drive the reaction and water removed continuously. The crude ester is purified by neutralisation, stripping and filtration to the colour and purity grade required for plasticiser use.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Chemical family | Phthalate ester (plasticiser) |
|---|---|
| Functional groups | Diester of an aromatic dicarboxylic anhydride |
| Reactivity | Stable under normal conditions; hydrolyses slowly under strong acid/base and heat |
| Related compounds | Phthalic Anhydride (feedstock), Dioctyl Terephthalate (DOTP, substitute plasticiser) |
Explore the wider petrochemical range
Dioctyl Phthalate, answered
What is Dioctyl Phthalate used for?
How is Dioctyl Phthalate made?
Is Dioctyl Phthalate hazardous?
What grade do you supply?
What packing do you offer?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Get a quote on Dioctyl Phthalate today
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