In the field of the plastic industry, Tributyl Citrate, as the main plasticizer, is widely used in the production of medical-grade PVC products. The compatibility degree of its solubility parameters with PVC resin (δTributyl Citrate=9.5, δPVC=9.7) ensures a good plasticizing effect. The Shore hardness of the products can be controlled between A75 and 85, the tensile strength is maintained at 18-22 MPa, and the elongation at break exceeds 300%. In food packaging materials, Tributyl Citrate has passed the EU EFSA 2018/2003 certification and can be used to produce composite films for foods in contact with oils. Its migration amount was detected by GC-MS to be less than 0.5 mg/kg, which fully complies with the regulatory limits. More notably, the application of Tributyl Citrate in biodegradable plastics is expanding. For instance, when mixed with polylactic acid (PLA), it can reduce the glass transition temperature (Tg) by up to 15 ° C while maintaining the impact strength of the material above 45 kJ/m². This provides a new idea for the development of fully biodegradable packaging materials.

The application of Tributyl Citrate in the cosmetics industry shows a rapid growth trend. As a fixative and solvent carrier, it can effectively reduce the content of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in nail polish formulas to below 35%, while maintaining the gloss of the paint film (measured at a 60° Angle with a value of ≥90) and flexibility (passing the 3mm shaft rod bending test). In sunscreen products, Tributyl Citrate, as a co-solvent of ultraviolet absorbers, can increase the transdermal absorption efficiency of active ingredients such as occitrin by 20% without causing skin irritation (the negative rate of human patch tests >95%). The EU Cosmetics Regulation EC 1223/2009 listed it as a safe ingredient and relaxed the maximum usage concentration to 15%, which promoted its popularity in high-end skin care products.

In the pharmaceutical industry, the application value of Tributyl Citrate as a pharmaceutical excipient has gradually emerged. In the field of sustained-release preparations, as a skeletal material, it can make the drug release curve conform to the Higuchi model, and the cumulative release within 12 hours is controlled at 85±5%.The United States Pharmacopeia (USP-NF) has included Tributyl Citrate as a coating material, which creates conditions for the development of new drug delivery systems. In addition, its penetration promoting effect in transdermal patches has also attracted attention, which can significantly increase the skin permeability of hydrophilic drugs.

A significant advantage of tributyl citrate is its environmental performance. In the current context of increasing global attention to environmental protection, traditional plasticizers such as phthalates are strictly restricted because they have certain environmental hormone effects and may cause potential harm to ecosystems and human health.It will not accumulate in the environment for a long time like some difficult-to-degrade plasticizers, causing pollution to environmental media such as soil and water bodies, and threatening biodiversity. Therefore, it meets the requirements of modern society for green and sustainable chemical products and occupies an important position in the environmentally friendly material market.

From the perspective of health and safety, tributyl citrate has minimal harm to human health. It has low acute toxicity and is not easy to cause acute poisoning symptoms to the human body through skin absorption or respiratory inhalation under normal use and contact conditions. Its application in areas that are in close contact with the human body, such as food packaging, cosmetics and personal care products, has undergone strict safety assessments and approval by relevant regulations. For example, in food packaging, even if a very small amount of Tributyl Citrate migrates into food, its content is within the range allowed by safety standards and will not cause damage to important organs such as the liver and kidneys of the human body. In cosmetics and personal care products, it will not cause adverse reactions such as skin allergies and irritation, and it also has good tolerance for people with sensitive skin, which allows consumers to use products containing Tributyl Citrate with more confidence.

Tributyl Citrate excels at industrial production applications, featuring good processing performance. It can easily bond to various polymeric materials while remaining stable over a wide temperature range. Tributyl Citrate can add this quality. In these processes, polymer melt containing Tributyl Citrate offers exceptional fluidity and plasticity allowing products with complex designs and precise dimensions to be produced easily. Due to its low volatility, polysulfone resin does not easily release volatile organic compounds (VOC), thus minimizing environmental pollution during processing and protecting operators’ health from potential harmful VOC emissions. Furthermore, its addition can improve thermal stability of polymer products; not easily decompose under processing temperature conditions and ensure quality and performance stability for end products.

Tributyl Citrate offers economical advantages in certain application areas, although its initial price may be slightly higher than traditional plasticizers;As an example, in food packaging and cosmetic packaging, using plasticizers that meet stringent hygiene and safety standards can reduce legal risks and recalls related to unqualified plasticizers. In high-end plastic product markets with rigorous material performance requirements, it may be possible to meet these specifications and increase product value, leading to greater profits margins in market competition. This makes its economic viability in more application fields; some traditional plasticizers could eventually be phased out altogether to advance green development and product upgrading of related industries.

Tributyl Citrate also has good chemical stability and thermal stability. In some plastic products that need to be used outdoors for a long time, such as garden irrigation equipment and outdoor advertising materials, products containing Tributyl Citrate can maintain good performance even if they are exposed to complex environmental conditions such as sunlight, rain and high temperature for a long time. They will not cause material aging and brittleness due to the failure of plasticizers, thereby reducing the maintenance and replacement costs of products and improving the economy and practicality of products.