Professional Documents
Culture Documents
In formulations where Toluene is present in relatively small amounts, Toluene can be replaced
by Methyl Cyclohexane and/or acetates almost as a direct drop in as long as evaporation
rates of the final blend are similar.
Examples of such possible substitutions are given in Table V.
Table V
Compound wt %
Solane 60/95
n-Propyl Acetate
Methyl cyclohexane
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Toluene
Reference
60
30
10
Density
0.719
Hansen Solubility Parameters (sqrt/ J/cm3)
dP
2.54
dH
1.54
dD
15.58
d total
15.86
Blend 1
55
15
30
-
Blend 2
60
10
0.717
0.720
2.42
1.39
15.47
15.71
2.80
2.00
15.36
15.73
Alternatives
to Toluene & Xylene:
30
-
For adhesives applications, such as polychloroprene based adhesives, Toluene is often present
in a fairly large quantity. In this case, the substitution will have to take into account additional
factors such as the rheological behavior of the final blend during application. The ratio of
the solvents to be used should take into account both the final solubility parameters, as
these dictate the miscibility and solvency power, as well as the final evaporation rate.
Of course, the nature of the resin being used is another factor that can affect the final
solvent blend choice.
If one substitute Toluene by Acetone for instance, several issues such as
hardening during calendaring operations, dry tack development,
demixing, etc may be encountered as Acetone has a very different
volatility and solvency power than Toluene.
On the other hand, a solvent such as MethylCyclohexane - which is closer in
behavior to Toluene allows reaching the reference formulation characteristics
more easily, and thus reduces the chances of encountering these problems.
Examples of possible substitution blends for a reference containing 60 w %
Toluene are displayed in Table VI.
Table VI
Reference
Blend 1
Blend 2
30
35
35
30
25
50
25
0.818
0.8305
0.752
4.46
3.91
15.94
17.00
3.46
2.96
15.95
16.59
3.65
2.95
15.50
16.20
10
60
Densit
0.865
Hansen Solubility Parameters (sqrt/ J/cm3)
dP
3.35
dH
3.84
dD
17.15
d total
17.89
Blend 3
45
25
30
Compound wt %
Solane 60/95
Actate dthyle
Methyl cyclo-hexane
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Toluene
What legislation should I be aware of? What does this mean for my products?
TOLUENE
(CAS No 108-88-3)
European Directive 67/548/EC
The TOLUENE classification and labelling requirements have been updated: Toluene is recognised as Toxic to
Reproduction Category 3. Member States are required to comply with this directive by 31 October 2005.
If the Toluene threshold value of 5% by mass is exceeded, then the formulation must be labelled with the risk
phrase relevant to Toluene.
Toluene may not be placed on the market or used as a substance or constituent of preparations in a concentration
equal to or higher than 0,1% by mass in adhesives and spray paints intended for sale to the general public.
These measures shall be applied from 15 June 2007.
XYLENE
(CAS No 1330-20-7)
CYCLOHEXANE
Shall not be placed on the market for the first time after 27 June 2010, for supply to the general public, as a
constituent of neoprene-based contact adhesives in concentrations equal to or greater than 0,1 % by mass in
package sizes greater than 350 g.
Neoprene-based contact adhesives containing cyclohexane and not conforming to paragraph 1 shall not be placed on the market for supply to the general public after 27 December 2010.
Without prejudice to other Community legislation concerning the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances and preparations, neoprene based contact adhesives containing cyclohexane in concentrations
equal to or greater than 0,1 % by mass that are placed on the market for supply to the general public after 27
December 2010 shall be visibly, legibly and indelibly marked as follows:
- This product is not to be used under conditions of poor ventilation.
- This product is not to be used for carpet laying.
XYLENE
Unit
Mthod
Cyclohexane
kg/m3
C
C
mm/s
Ether=1
C
ASTM D4052
ASTM D86
ISO 3679
ASTM D445
DIN 53170
ASTM D611
783
81-82
<-20
1.25
2
31
Density at 15C
Boiling range
Flash Point PM
Viscosity at 20C
Evaporation rate
Aniline point
Methyl
Cyclohexane
774
100-103
0
0.95
14
40
TOLUENE
871
109-111
4
0.70
6
9 (mixed)
Unit
Mthod
kg/m3
C
C
mm/s
Ether=1
C
ASTM D4052
ASTM D86
ISO 3679
ASTM D445
DIN 53170
ASTM D611
Solane
60/95
680
62-95
-26
0.5
2
69
Solane
80/110
695
83-108
-12
0.7
3.2
68
Solane
100/120
728
102-123
2
0.7
6
59
Solane
100/140
730
103-135
4
0.7
8
60
Unit
kg/m3
C
C
Ether=1
C
Mthode
Solvarex 9 Solvarex 10
ASTM D4052
875
890
ASTM D850 160-175
188-215
ASTM D93
68
ISO 13736
43
DIN 53170
36
130
ASTM D611
14
16
O-Xylene
884
144-145
Xylene
870
137-143
30
14
ND
26
15
12
Table IV
Compound wt %
Methyl cyclohexane
Solane 60/95
MEK
N-butyl acetate
Xylene
Reference
Blend 1
70
Blend 2
40
30
20
80
30
30
30
20
0.798
0.762
0.799
1.01
1.80
15.95
16.08
0.97
1.68
15.64
15.76
3.37
2.73
15.96
16.54
Density g/L
0.860
Hansen Solubility Parameters (sqrt/ J/cm3)
dP
1.53
dH
3.73
dD
17.25
d total
17.71
Blend 3
50