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Hallstar Promotes Trimellitate Alternatives for Rubber

June 10, 2025

Hallstar Corporation is promoting renewable and readily available alternatives to trimellitate esters, chemical compounds that are used as plasticizers in rubber and PVC. Formulators who use these offsets can match the performance of synthetic trimellitate esters while strengthening their supply chains, reducing regulatory pressures, and advancing their environmental sustainability goals.

What are Trimellitates?

Trimellitates combine heat stability with low volatility and durability. They also have excellent volatility resistance during air aging and good resistance to aqueous environments. Trimellitates are formed by reacting trimellitic anhydride (TMA) with various alcohols. They are not phthalates, but there is growing demand for non-phthalate plasticizers because of environmental and health concerns.

Trimetallitate Applications

Applications for trimellitates include automotive components, construction materials, and jacketing for wires and cables. TMA-based products are used in various elastomers, but formulators are seeking alternatives that can promote performance while avoiding supply chain disruptions. In early 2024, the only North America supplier of TMA ceased operations.

HallGreen® Monomeric Esters

Hallstar has developed high-performance alternatives to standard TMA-derived products. HallGreen® renewable trimellitate esters not only match the performance of synthetic trimellitate esters in terms of plasticizing efficiency, tensile strength, low temperature flexibility, and heat-aging retention, but they also offer key sustainability advantages. These biodegradable products are biodegradable, USDA Certified, and FDA approved for select applications. The following products contain at least 70% renewable content:

  • HallGreen® 800 TM-B is used in nitrile, hydrogenated nitrile, and PVC for gaskets, wire and cable, hose and tubing, and belts.
  • HallGreen® 800 TM-L is used in PVC for wires, cables, gaskets, belts, and low-temperature film and sheeting applications.
  • HallGreen® 810 TM is used in PVC and compatible with most elastomers. Applications include wires, cables, belts, low-temperature film and sheeting, and high-temperature use.
  • HallGreen® 108 TM is also used in PVC and compatible with most elastomers. Applications include wires, cables, and low-temperature film and sheeting.
Plasthall® Monomeric Esters

Hallstar has also developed Plasthall® materials that provide alternatives to synthetic trimellitate esters. These offsets are designed to enhance the flexibility and performance of various elastomers and can be used instead of Plasthall® TOTM and 8-10 TME. The following products can also help formulators navigate global supply chain disruptions.

  • Plasthall® 318 is made from bio-renewable and domestically sourced raw materials and used in rubber and PVC for wires, cables, and gaskets.
  • Plasthall® 405 is used in nitrile, hydrogenated nitrile, and PVC for wires, cables, gaskets, industrial hose and tubing, and as a non-phthalate alternative.
  • Plasthall® 408 is used in nitrile, hydrogenated nitrile, and other types of hydrogenated rubber for fuel hoses, belts, and gaskets.
If you’re interested in learning more about Hallstar’s trimellitate alternatives for rubber, contact RDAbbott.
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