DIISONONYL TEREPHTHALATE (DINT) AS SOFTENER FOR THERMOPLASTIC APPLICATIONS

1 . A method of enhancing low-temperature flexibilization, permanence, or both, in a polymer composition, the method comprising:

plasticizing the composition with diisononyl terephthalate (DINT) as a plasticizer,

wherein the composition is suitable for a thermoplastic application.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition is suitable for producing a floor covering, a roofing foil, a roofing web, or a cable sheathing.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, a copolymer of polyvinyl chloride and polyvinylidene chloride, and polyalkyl methacrylate (PAMA).

4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one polymer is polyvinyl chloride.

5 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one polymer is a copolymer of vinyl chloride with at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of vinylidene chloride, vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl butyrate, vinyl benzoate, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, and butyl acrylate.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an amount of diisononyl terephthalate (DINT) in the composition is from 5 to 90 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of polymer.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a plasticizer other than diisononyl terephthalate.

8 . The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the composition further comprises at least one additional plasticizer and

a mass ratio of further plasticizer to diisononyl terephthalate is between 1:20 and 2:1.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises suspension PVC.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a filler, a pigment, a thermal stabilizer, an antioxidant, a viscosity regulator, and a lubricant.

11 . A plastics product, comprising:

a polymer composition obtained by a process comprising the method according to claim 1 ,

wherein the polymer composition has a glass transition temperature, determined by torsional oscillation analysis or DMTA, of not more than −30° C.

12 . A polymer composition, comprising:

a diisononyl terephthalate,

wherein the composition is less volatile than an otherwise identical composition comprising a C10 phthalate instead of a diisononyl terephthalate.

13 . The plastics product of claim 11 , wherein the glass transition temperature is from −45 to −30° C.