March 12, 2025

We have recently determined that a large number of our compounds are no longer compliant with REACH standards.

The list of materials that are no longer REACH compliant, and PAI will no longer certify as such, can be downloaded here.

 If you do not require REACH compliance, then no action is needed. You may continue to use these compounds as usual. If you require your products to be REACH compliant, please contact us so that we can help you identify a suitable alternative.

BACKGROUND

In June of 2024, dicumyl peroxide (CAS 80-43-3) was added to the REACH SVHC. Dicumyl peroxide has many industrial uses, including curing various types of rubber.

The prevailing view in our industry is that dicumyl peroxide is fully consumed in the curing process, and therefore no testing needs to be performed. We recognize the theory behind this view, but our calculations suggested that there would be enough residual material to warrant independent testing. It took us eight months to find an external laboratory capable of testing dicumyl peroxide in our products. We have just received test results indicating that our compounds that utilize dicumyl peroxide are above the 0.1% threshold.

A short list of FAQs is included below in this email. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us for more information or to identify alternative materials. You can contact your assigned customer service representative or any of the personnel listed below:

For technical info or specific questions about alternatives:

[email protected]; [email protected]

For commercial issues, current orders, pricing, lead times, product lists:

[email protected]

 

FAQs:

Can I make a last-time purchase?

PAI will certify as REACH compliant any material shipped prior to 3/26/25. Effectively, this means we can only sell existing stock. Please inquire immediately as to whether we have any stock available.

Are substitute materials available?

Yes. We should be able to identify a substitute from one of three categories:

  1. We may have an existing compound that will be suitable as a substitute. We can provide data sheets and samples immediately, and product would be available within standard lead times.
  2. We have already reformulated our ten most widely used compounds from this list. These new compound numbers are listed on this document and cross-referenced with the compound they are based on. Data sheets will be available no later than 3/28/25. Any non-REACH certifications, such as UL and NSF 61, will take longer to complete.
  3. If neither of the above solutions is adequate, we will develop a new formulation for you, but it will likely require a fee. Cost and lead time can be quoted upon request.

What changed about the compounds to make them noncompliant?

Nothing changed regarding our recipes or processes. All that changed was that ECHA added a chemical to the SVHC list that caused our recipe to become noncompliant.

Why haven’t my other rubber suppliers brought this up?

You might want to ask them if you’d truly like to know. It is our observation that many in our industry aren’t monitoring the regulatory landscape sufficiently to detect this issue. In addition, some have been quick to dismiss this particular issue on the idea that dicumyl peroxide gets used up in the cure reaction.

Can I continue to use these compounds if REACH doesn’t apply to me?

Yes. PAI intends to continue to offer these compounds as is. This change does not have any impact on the other qualifications these materials meet.

Which of the parts that I buy are impacted?

The list of PAI compounds impacted by this is available here. If you maintain PAI product numbers in your system, these compound numbers are included within our part number. Please contact us if you require a parts list.

Download the Non-REACH Compliant list or contact us to learn more.