Vulkanox 4060, an alternative 6PPD anti-aging agent additive, chemically known as CCPD (N,N′-dicyclohexyl-p-phenylenediamine), is intended as an alternative to 6PPD, which is widely used in tires to protect against degradation caused by oxygen and ozone.
The degradation products of 6PPD, particularly 6PPD-quinone, have faced criticism due to their environmental impact, including links to coho salmon die-offs in the US. In environmental studies, CCPD-quinone, the corresponding transformation product of Vulkanox 4060, showed no observed acute effects in coho salmon at concentrations up to the solubility limit. Following completion of EU Reach registration, Vulkanox 4060 is now approved for use in the European market.
“Vulkanox 4060 is Lanxess’s response to a specific ecotoxicological and regulatory challenge the tire industry is facing,” said Holger Graf, head of the functional tire additives business line at Lanxess. “Extensive testing by Lanxess and our customers has shown that CCPD matches the technical performance of 6PPD while offering a significantly improved environmental profile. With the completion of the Reach registration, we can now offer this product to the market. Initial commercial production of Vulkanox 4060 is already planned for the fourth quarter of this year. This represents another milestone in meeting the strong interest from our customers, particularly in the US and Europe, and in further driving the replacement of 6PPD.”
The active ingredient CCPD was chosen to improve the environmental profile, taking into account degradability, bioaccumulation, aquatic toxicity and regulatory compliance.
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