Dioctyl maleate

Dioctyl maleate (CAS 2915-53-9) is a diester of maleic acid and 2-ethylhexanol, commercially available under trade names including Bernel Ester DCM and px-538, and also referenced as di-n-octyl maleate or dicaprylyl maleate. It carries no assigned E-code and is classified within the monomers and building blocks category.

In plastics and polymer manufacturing, dioctyl maleate functions as a reactive plasticizer, incorporating into polymer chains during processing to reduce brittleness without the migration losses associated with non-reactive alternatives. In coatings and adhesive formulations, its unsaturated double bond enables copolymerization with acrylates or vinyl monomers, contributing to film flexibility and adhesion performance.

Dioctyl maleate is supplied in solid form and falls under REACH registration requirements for European procurement. Buyers should confirm supplier documentation including Safety Data Sheets and certificates of analysis. Packaging formats vary by supplier and should be confirmed at the point of inquiry.