Manufacturer Triethyl Citrate CAS 77-93-0

1. Polymer material field – environmental plasticizer
As an environmentally friendly plasticizer, Triethyl Citrate is widely used in PVC, PLA, PBS and other polymer systems. Through the interaction between its ester group and polymer chain, Triethyl Citrate can significantly reduce the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the material and improve the flexibility and ductility (elongation can be increased by 200-300%). Compared with traditional phthalate plasticizers, TEC has extremely low mobility (<0.01mg/dm²), fully compliant with FDA, EU and other food contact material regulations, especially suitable for food packaging, medical devices and other areas with strict safety requirements. In addition, Triethyl Citrate can also improve the processing flow of materials, when used in cellulose acetate (CA) plastics, can increase its melt flow index by 35-50%, widely used in tobacco filters, films and other products.

2. Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic fields – pharmaceutical preparations and cosmetic additives
In the pharmaceutical industry, Triethyl Citrate is an ideal plasticizer for enteric-coated (such as Eudragit) and sustained-release formulations, enabling precise regulation of drug release rates (4-12 hours controlled release) while improving the mechanical strength and stability of formulations. In transdermal drug delivery systems, TEC can enhance the transdermal penetration efficiency of drugs (by 20-40%). In the field of cosmetics, TEC replaces traditional phthalates (such as DBP) for nail polish, hair spray and other products, providing excellent film formation (film strength of 15-20 mpa) and low irritation. In addition, as a perfume fixative, TEC can significantly extend the durability of the aroma (the retention time is extended by 2-3 times), and is widely used in high-end daily chemical products such as perfume and skin care products.

3. Food industry – Packaging and processing AIDS
Triethyl Citrate is mainly used in the food industry as a plasticizer for degradable packaging materials such as PLA, which not only maintains the transparency of the material (fog <5%), but also improves its flexibility and heat sealing properties. In the processing of baked goods, Triethyl Citrate is used as an anti-stick agent (0.5-1.5%), coated on the surface of baking paper or mold, which can effectively reduce the food adhesion rate (<8%) and improve production efficiency. Because it is non-toxic, odorless and in line with food safety standards, TEC is also gradually used in food plastic wrap, disposable tableware and other environmentally friendly packaging products.

4. Special industrial applications – inks, coatings and electronic materials
In the ink and coating industry, Triethyl Citrate, as an environmentally friendly binder and film forming agent, can significantly improve the dispersion of pigments (particle size D90<5μm) and reduce the minimum film forming temperature of water-based coatings (MFFT can be reduced to 5℃), which is suitable for low temperature construction environments. In the field of electronic materials, TEC is used as an electrolyte additive for lithium-ion batteries (0.5-2%), which can improve the cycle stability of the battery (capacity retention rate >85% after 500 cycles). In addition, Triethyl Citrate is also used as a solvent component of PCB (printed circuit board) cleaning agent, which has excellent solubility (dissolution rate >90%) for welding residues such as rosin, and is widely used in the electronics manufacturing industry.