Petroleum based plasticizer are standard compounding ingredients for the rubber industry. In the tire industry in particular, mainly aromatic extender oils are being used. In response to concerns about their potential toxicity, due to the content of polycyclic aromatics (PCA), efforts to phase out these oils have been made.

The EC has issued a ban on aromatic oils, containing over 10 mg/kg of PCA’s, effective January 1st, 2010.

Performance Additives has developed a feasible alternative based on modified palm oil to crude oil based plasticizers, not only as a non toxic material but also as a long term renewable source for this type of compounding raw material.

For more information, please refer to the presentation in our download section, which was presented at the South African Rubber Conference in March 2007.