Dibutyl Phthalate Manufacturer & Supplier

Dibutyl Phthalate is produced by BÖRÜ Defense in Karatay/Konya, TÜRKİYE and supplied to defence industry customers around the world. Each shipment leaves with its certificate of analysis and safety data sheet, and export paperwork is arranged for the country of destination.

What is Dibutyl Phthalate?

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP, CAS 84-74-2) is a colourless, oily liquid ester of phthalic acid that is used as a plasticizer and, in the defence industry, as a burning-rate modifier for nitrocellulose-based propellants. The name is also written Di Butyl Phthalate or di-n-butyl phthalate; all of these refer to the same compound with the molecular formula C₁₆H₂₂O₄.

DBP is one of the oldest members of the phthalate plasticizer family. It softens polymers such as nitrocellulose and makes them more flexible and easier to process. In smokeless powders it serves a second purpose: applied to the surface of the propellant grains, it acts as a deterrent that slows the initial burning. Outside defence it has long been used in lacquers, adhesives, inks and plastics, although many markets now restrict it because of its health classification. If you are looking for a Di Butyl Phthalate manufacturer and supplier, or DBP for sale, you can contact the BÖRÜ Defense team.

Chemical Structure and Properties of Dibutyl Phthalate

Dibutyl phthalate is the di-n-butyl ester of benzene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid (phthalic acid). The molecule has an aromatic ring carrying two neighbouring ester groups, each ending in a straight four-carbon butyl chain. Its molecular formula is C₁₆H₂₂O₄ and its molar mass is about 278.34 g/mol.

At room temperature DBP is a clear, colourless to faintly yellow, oily liquid with a weak ester-like odour. Its density is about 1.05 g/cm³; it freezes at roughly −35 °C and boils at about 340 °C, so it stays liquid over a very wide temperature range and has low volatility. It is almost insoluble in water but mixes with most organic solvents, including alcohols, ethers, acetone and aromatic hydrocarbons. DBP is combustible but it is not an energetic material. It is stable under normal storage conditions and hydrolyses only in strongly acidic or alkaline media.

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Dibutyl Phthalate Manufacturer

Why choose us for dibutyl phthalate?

• Defence-Grade Laboratory
• Experience
• High Quality
• Right on Time

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History of Dibutyl Phthalate

Phthalate esters entered industrial use in the 1920s, when manufacturers were looking for replacements for camphor and other volatile or odorous plasticizers used with cellulose nitrate. Dibutyl phthalate quickly became one of the most common choices for nitrocellulose lacquers, films and coatings, and later for polyvinyl chloride and other polymers.

The same affinity for nitrocellulose made it useful to the ammunition industry. During the twentieth century DBP was adopted in many countries as a plasticizer and surface deterrent for single-base and double-base smokeless powders, and it appears in numerous military and sporting propellant specifications. From the 1990s onwards, toxicological studies linked DBP to reproductive effects in laboratory animals. Regulators in the European Union, the United States and elsewhere responded with classification, labelling and use restrictions. Since then, manufacturers in both the civil and defence sectors have been working on alternative plasticizers and deterrents.

What are the Uses of Dibutyl Phthalate?

In the defence sector dibutyl phthalate is used in nitrocellulose-based gun propellants. Mixed into the propellant mass it works as a plasticizer and coolant: it makes the grains less brittle, lowers the flame temperature and helps to reduce barrel erosion and muzzle flash. Impregnated into the outer layer of the grains it works as a deterrent, slowing the burning at the start of the ballistic cycle so that gas is produced progressively. It also reduces the moisture uptake of the powder.

Outside defence, DBP is a general-purpose plasticizer and solvent. Typical industrial applications include nitrocellulose lacquers and coatings, adhesives and sealants, printing inks, and PVC and rubber compounding. In the past it was also found in cosmetics such as nail polish and in some consumer plastics; these uses have been prohibited or largely abandoned in the European Union and several other markets.

The Advantages of Dibutyl Phthalate:

• It is highly compatible with nitrocellulose, which it softens and gelatinises well.
• It performs two functions in propellants, plasticizer and surface deterrent, with a single, well-known substance.
• It lowers the flame temperature of the propellant, which helps to limit barrel wear.
• Its wide liquid range and low volatility mean it is easy to handle and tends to stay in the finished product.
• It is not an explosive and has a high flash point, so transport and storage are simpler than for energetic plasticizers.
• It is hydrophobic and reduces the moisture sensitivity of nitrocellulose powders.
• It has a long service record, with a large body of ballistic and ageing data and established analytical methods.
• It is a widely produced commodity chemical with many industrial uses beyond defence.

The Disadvantages of Dibutyl Phthalate:

• In the European Union it is classified as toxic to reproduction (category 1B). Under REACH it is identified as a substance of very high concern (SVHC) and is included in the authorisation list, so use in the EU requires an authorisation or a specific exemption.
• It has also been identified as an endocrine disruptor. It is restricted in toys, childcare articles and most plasticised consumer articles, banned in cosmetics in the EU and limited in electrical equipment under RoHS. Comparable limits apply to children's products in the United States and other countries.
• It is very toxic to aquatic life, so spills and waste water must be controlled.
• It is non-energetic: it adds no energy to a propellant and lowers its energy content.
• It can migrate within propellant grains during long storage, especially at elevated temperatures, which changes ballistic behaviour over time.
• Regulatory pressure is driving substitution, and some customers already require DBP-free products.
• Workers need protective equipment and ventilation to avoid skin contact and inhalation of mist.

Dibutyl Phthalate specifications

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Page last reviewed:2026-09-17