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Di-n-Butyl Phthalate DBP: CAS No., Properties, Uses and Industrial Applications

Di-n-Butyl Phthalate (DBP), more commonly known in industrial markets as standard dibutyl phthalate, is a widely used low-molecular-weight phthalate ester plasticizer and solvent. Recognized by its fixed global chemical identifier and stable molecular structure, di n butyl phthalate dbp has long served as a foundational additive for flexible polymer modification, coating formulation, ink production, and adhesive manufacturing. This article systematically covers DBP’s official chemical identifiers, core physical and plasticizing properties, full-range industrial uses, operational handling guidelines, and bulk supply specifications, delivering authoritative technical reference for chemical engineers, formulators, and industrial procurement teams.

DBP Basic Chemical Identification (Full Technical Data)

As a standardized industrial chemical, Di-n-Butyl Phthalate has fixed and unified chemical labeling parameters, which are essential for material verification, formula filing, and customs declaration. The complete identification data is listed below:

  • Common Name: Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP)
  • Full Scientific Name: Di-n-Butyl Phthalate
  • IUPAC Name: Dibutyl benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate
  • Core Keyword Identifier: dbp cas no: 84-74-2
  • Molecular Formula: C₁₆H₂₂O₄
  • Molecular Weight: 278.34 g/mol
  • HS Code: 29173300
  • UN Dangerous Goods Number: UN 3082

The fixed CAS No. 84-74-2 is the unique global identification standard for Di-n-Butyl Phthalate, distinguishing it from other phthalate plasticizers such as DOP, DINP, and DEP, and ensuring accurate material matching in industrial production and laboratory testing.

Physical Properties of Di-n-Butyl Phthalate (DBP)

Di n butyl phthalate dbp features stable physical characteristics at room temperature, which lay the foundation for its wide industrial applicability. Its physical properties determine its solubility, fluidity, storage stability, and processing adaptability:

  • Appearance: Colorless, transparent, oily liquid; high-purity grades show no turbidity or suspended impurities, with a slight characteristic odor
  • Density: 1.043–1.048 g/cm³ (20℃)
  • Boiling Point: Approximately 340℃ (normal pressure)
  • Melting Point: -35℃, presenting excellent low-temperature fluidity
  • Flash Point: ≥150℃, meeting conventional industrial safety production standards
  • Solubility: Insoluble in water, freely soluble in ethanol, ether, benzene, ketones, and other organic solvents; excellent compatibility with most resin systems
  • Volatility: Moderate volatility; higher than DOP but far lower than small-molecule solvents, maintaining stable performance during conventional thermal processing
  • Color Number (Pt-Co): ≤30# for industrial premium grade, ensuring no color interference in finished products

The most prominent physical advantage of DBP is its ultra-low freezing point, which enables it to maintain good fluidity and plasticizing activity in low-temperature environments, making up for the low-temperature brittleness defects of many conventional plasticizers.

Plasticizing Properties & Working Mechanism of DBP

Different from medium and high-molecular plasticizers, di n butyl phthalate dbp is a high-efficiency primary plasticizer with unique plasticizing advantages in low-temperature molding and high-fluidity formulation scenarios.

DBP’s molecular structure contains ester groups and linear butyl chains, which can effectively insert between polymer molecular chains, weaken intermolecular van der Waals forces, and increase the free volume of resin molecules. This mechanism significantly improves the flexibility, ductility, and moldability of rigid polymers, reducing product brittleness and cracking risks.

Its core plasticizing strengths are summarized as follows:

  • Fast Plasticizing Speed: DBP has strong permeability, can quickly fuse with resin materials during heating and mixing, shorten plasticizing time, and improve production efficiency
  • Excellent Low-Temperature Resistance: It endows polymer products with stable softness in cold environments, avoiding hardening and fracture, which is its most competitive performance advantage over DOP
  • Good Film-Forming & Adhesion Promotion: It can optimize the film-forming performance of coatings and inks, improve surface smoothness, and enhance the bonding force between materials and substrates
  • Wide Resin Compatibility: Compatible with PVC, nitrocellulose, polyvinyl acetate, synthetic rubber, and cellulose resin, supporting multi-industry formula applications

Core Industrial Uses & Industrial Applications of DBP

Di-n-Butyl Phthalate (DBP) is a multi-functional industrial additive integrating plasticization, solvation, viscosity adjustment, and softening modification. Its application scenarios cover polymer processing, surface coating, printing, bonding, and material finishing.

1. PVC Flexible Product Processing

DBP is a classic primary plasticizer for general-purpose PVC. It is widely used in the production of flexible PVC products such as soft PVC hoses, low-grade artificial leather, PVC sealing strips, flexible plastic accessories, and thin plastic films. It effectively reduces PVC hardness, improves stretching flexibility, and significantly enhances the low-temperature anti-cracking performance of finished products. In low-cost civilian PVC formulations, DBP remains the most cost-effective plasticizer option.

2. Coatings, Paints & Varnishes

In the coating industry, DBP acts as a plasticizing coalescing agent and film-forming auxiliary. It improves the flexibility, flatness, and abrasion resistance of coating films, prevents paint film cracking and peeling, and enhances adhesion on metal, wood, and plastic substrates. It is widely used in nitrocellulose paints, industrial varnishes, and protective coating formulations.

3. Printing Inks Industry

DBP serves as a viscosity modifier and flexible additive for gravure, flexographic, and screen printing inks. It optimizes ink fluidity and leveling performance during printing, improves the flexibility and toughness of dried ink layers, and avoids ink film peeling on flexible packaging materials and label surfaces.

4. Adhesives & Sealants

Added to industrial adhesives and sealants, DBP improves the flexibility, ductility, and low-temperature tolerance of adhesive layers. It effectively prevents glue layer hardening and brittle failure after long-term use, suitable for construction sealants, industrial adhesive tapes, and flexible bonding formulations.

5. Synthetic Rubber & Textile Finishing

In rubber processing, DBP is used as a softener and processing aid to improve rubber mixing fluidity and finished product elasticity. In textile and leather processing, it acts as a finishing softening agent to enhance the hand feel and folding resistance of fabrics and synthetic leather surfaces.

6. Industrial Solvent & Auxiliary Agent

Thanks to its excellent dissolving capacity for natural and synthetic resins, DBP is widely used as a special solvent for pesticide formulations, industrial lubricants, and release agents. It also functions as an antifoaming agent and penetrating agent in some industrial formulas.

7. Restricted Traditional Applications

Historically, DBP was used in cosmetic formulations such as nail polish, perfume, and hair spray as a plasticizer and fixative. Due to updated global environmental and health regulations, relevant civilian cosmetic scenarios have been strictly restricted or banned, and modern DBP is completely focused on industrial-grade manufacturing fields.

DBP Storage, Handling & Safety Guidelines

As a conventional industrial chemical, standardized storage and handling of di n butyl phthalate dbp is critical to ensure product stability and operational safety:

  • Storage Environment: Store in a dry, cool, and ventilated chemical warehouse, away from high-temperature heat sources, open flames, and strong oxidants. Avoid long-term exposure to sunlight to prevent product discoloration and performance attenuation.
  • Sealing Requirements: Keep containers tightly sealed to prevent moisture absorption and volatile loss, ensuring stable product purity and indicators.
  • Operational Protection: Wear conventional chemical protective gloves and goggles during handling; avoid long-term skin contact and inhalation of mist.
  • Stacking Rules: Place separately from food-grade chemicals and daily chemicals to avoid cross-contamination.
  • Shelf Life: Under standard sealed storage conditions, the valid shelf life is 12 months; re-test indicators before long-term stock use.

DBP Packaging Specification & Bulk DBP Supply

Industrial-grade DBP adopts standardized industrial packaging and flexible bulk supply modes to meet the needs of small-batch trial production and large-scale continuous factory production:

1. Standard Packaging

The mainstream specification is 200KG/sealed iron drum. The drum body is anti-corrosion treated with strict leak-proof sealing, convenient for stacking, warehousing, and long-distance transportation. Each batch is equipped with complete COA quality inspection report and SDS safety data sheet to support factory incoming inspection and export customs clearance.

2. Bulk Supply Service

For large-scale industrial manufacturers with stable demand, factory direct bulk supply via tank trucks is available. Bulk DBP supply eliminates packaging costs, reduces material loss, features large single delivery volume and fast loading speed, and effectively reduces comprehensive procurement costs. Formal manufacturers support long-term framework bulk cooperation, stable inventory reserve, and customized delivery cycles to ensure zero supply interruption in peak production seasons.

Final Summary

Di-n-Butyl Phthalate (DBP), identified by the fixed CAS No. 84-74-2, is a cost-effective and multi-functional industrial plasticizer and solvent. With excellent low-temperature flexibility, fast plasticizing efficiency, and wide resin compatibility, di n butyl phthalate dbp irreplaceably supports PVC processing, coating, ink, adhesive, and textile finishing industries. Mastering its accurate chemical parameters, performance characteristics, standardized storage rules, and bulk supply specifications enables industrial users to achieve precise formula matching, safe production, and efficient raw material procurement.