Best of 2016: 5 things to know about getting DEHP out of medical devices

Phthalate esters such as diethylhexl-phthalate (DEHP) are the most widely used plasticizers for flexible poly-vinyl chloride (PVC) medical compounds and have been for 50 years, but issues concerning their possible effects on human health have caused some device manufacturers to consider compounds containing alternative plasticizers. When considering alternatives, it is possible to base decisions on one factor that favors a particular alternative plasticizer, rather than conduct a comparative study that takes all important considerations into account, due to the considerable pressure to find an alternative.

There are a number of alternative plasticizers on the market, and while Teknor Apex is best known as a manufacturer of medical-grade PVC compounds, the company also produces some of these plasticizers. Two popular alternatives are trioctyl trimellliate (TOTM), a trimellitate ester which Teknor Apex manufactures and sells primarily to the wire and cable industry due to its low volatility; and dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP), a terephthalate which Teknor Apex does not produce. The company uses both plasticizer types in producing medical-grade, flexible PVC compounds, and as part of a program to support customers in weighing the pros and cons of available alternative plasticizers, Teknor Apex has determined the DOTP provides a better balance of properties than TOTM for many medical device applications.

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