DMF alternative for REACH
CAS 68-12-2
Bio-based DMF alternative:
ASTROBIO™ NS3, sample on request.
ASTROBIO™ NS3 replaces dimethylformamide (DMF, CAS 68-12-2), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and NEP in paint strippers, coatings, adhesives and inks, electronics cleaning and crop protection formulations. For polymer membranes, ASTROBIO™ DS and NS6 are used as well. Bio-based blends developed in Italy since 2006, with NS3 safer than NMP, NEP and DMF in hazard statements and GHS and CLP classification.
NS3 for DMF, DS for membranes
Technical data sheets in the Reserved Area
Answers from our chemists
Solvent to replace
N,N-dimethylformamide
CAS 68-12-2
The bio-based twins
ASTROBIO™ NS3
DS
CAS 68-12-2
DMF (N,N-dimethylformamide) is replaced by ASTROBIO™ NS3, and in membrane production also by ASTROBIO™ DS and NS6.
12 Dec 2023
Since 12 December 2023, DMF at 0.3% or more is subject to worker-exposure limits (DNELs) under REACH Annex XVII, entry 76.
Safer
ASTROBIO™ NS3 is safer than NMP, NEP and DMF in hazard statements and GHS and CLP classification; DMF is toxic for reproduction (Repr. 1B).
2006
Astrobio has been developing bio-based solvents in Italy since 2006.
Two ASTROBIO™ grades replace DMF.
NS3 is the grade whose data sheet names DMF; DS joins it, with NS6, in polymer membranes. Tell us your process and we suggest which one to test first.
ASTROBIO™
NS3
Replaces
DMF
NMP
NEP
ASTROBIO™ NS3 replaces DMF, NMP and NEP in many industrial applications. It has high solvent activity, a slow evaporation rate and a high boiling point, and it is mainly used in heavy-duty paint strippers and graffiti removers, in coatings, adhesives and inks, in electronics cleaning and photoresist stripping, and in pesticide and crop protection formulations.
Technical data sheetASTROBIO™
DS
Replaces
DMF in membranes
DMAc in membranes
Dibasic esters
ASTROBIO™ DS is used with NS3 and NS6 to prepare polymeric membranes, as an alternative to DMF, NMP or DMAc for fluoropolymer membranes made with standard techniques (NIPS and VIPS). Its data sheet lists great solvency power for acrylics, polyesters, epoxies and many other resins, and for some chlorinated and fluorinated polymers.
Technical data sheetFlash point, evaporation rate, solubility parameters and the other values are in each grade's technical data sheet, available after registration.
Request your sampleDMF is restricted under REACH.
Harmonised CLP classification of DMF
Repr. 1B
H360D: may damage the unborn child.
CLP
Harmonised classification
DMF is classified as toxic to reproduction, category 1B (Repr. 1B, H360D), as an acute toxicant, category 4, by inhalation and skin contact, and as an eye irritant, category 2.
Source: Regulation (EU) 2021/2030, recital 122 November 2021
REACH restriction, Annex XVII entry 76
Regulation (EU) 2021/2030 adds N,N-dimethylformamide (CAS 68-12-2) to Annex XVII of REACH, because worker exposure above specific DNEL values is an unacceptable risk.
Source: Regulation (EU) 2021/203012 December 2023
The restriction applies
DMF at 0.3% or more, on its own, in other substances or in mixtures, can be placed on the market only if the safety reports and safety data sheets include worker DNELs of 6 mg/m³ by inhalation and 1.1 mg/kg/day dermal. Manufacture and use also require measures that keep worker exposure below those DNELs.
Source: Regulation (EU) 2021/2030, Annex2024 and 2025
Later dates for some uses
A derogation moves the start to 12 December 2024 for use as a solvent in direct or transfer polyurethane coating of textiles and paper and in the production of polyurethane membranes, and to 12 December 2025 for the dry and wet spinning of synthetic fibres.
Source: Regulation (EU) 2021/2030, AnnexA summary for orientation, not legal advice: always check the current texts and your safety data sheets.
ASTROBIO™ NS3 does the job of DMF with a lighter label.
In words, not figures: the measured values are in the technical data sheets.
Origin
DMF
Petrochemical polar aprotic solvent.
ASTROBIO™ NS3
Blend from renewable raw materials.
Label
DMF
Toxic for reproduction, category 1B (H360D), with acute toxicity and eye irritation, category 4 and 2.
ASTROBIO™ NS3
ASTROBIO™ NS3 is safer than NMP, NEP and DMF in hazard statements and GHS and CLP classification.
REACH
DMF
Annex XVII, entry 76, with worker DNELs, since 12 December 2023.
ASTROBIO™ NS3
A bio-based alternative to test for your application.
Solvency
DMF
Polar aprotic solvent used in many industrial settings.
ASTROBIO™ NS3
High solvent activity and strong solvency power for several polymers, including PVDF, PES, PAS, PAI and PEI.
Cleaning
DMF
Your benchmark.
ASTROBIO™ NS3
Better cleaning power and reduced solvent usage than NMP, NEP and DMF.
Recovery
DMF
Your benchmark.
ASTROBIO™ NS3
Easy and inexpensive to distil or recycle.
Where ASTROBIO™ replaces DMF today.
As an ingredient in your formulations or directly in your process.
NIPS · VIPS
NS3
DS
NS6
Polymer membranes
ASTROBIO™ NS3, DS and NS6 are used to prepare polymeric membranes: a green alternative to NMP, DMF or DMAc for fluoropolymer membranes for micro-, nano- and ultrafiltration made with standard techniques (NIPS and VIPS), improving worker health protection.
See the case history
NS3
Paint strippers and graffiti removers
ASTROBIO™ NS3 is mainly used to formulate ecological, heavy-duty paint strippers and graffiti removers, with better cleaning power and reduced solvent usage than NMP, NEP and DMF.
See paint strippers
NS3
Coatings, adhesives and inks
ASTROBIO™ NS3 formulates coatings, adhesives and inks based on acrylics, epoxies, alkyds, vinylics, polyesters, melamines, urethanes, phenolics and ABS resins.
See the applications
NS3
Industrial and electronics cleaning
ASTROBIO™ NS3 is very effective as a cleaner and degreaser in industrial settings, with outstanding properties for the electronics industry, and is used in photoresist stripping and in formulating electronics cleaners.
See the applicationsCrop protection
NS3
Pesticides and crop protection
ASTROBIO™ NS3 is ideal for the formulation of pesticides and crop protection products.
See the applicationsFrom DMF to ASTROBIO™ NS3 in four steps.
01
Ask for a sample
Tell us your solvent, your application and your process: we suggest the grade to test.
02
Read the data sheet
Register to the Reserved Area and download the technical data sheet of the suggested grade.
03
Test it against your current solvent
Run your usual lab method side by side with your current recipe. When your application needs it, we adapt the blend.
04
Pilot, then supply
Confirm the result on your line, then switch to the grade that passed your tests.
How to get ASTROBIO™ NS3.
Astrobio is a European supplier of bio-based DMF, NMP and NEP replacements for membranes, paint strippers, coatings and industrial cleaning, with samples and technical data sheets.
Request your sampleSample
On request, with the form on this page: our chemists suggest the grade to test.
Data sheets
In the Reserved Area, after registration.
Grades for DMF
ASTROBIO™ NS3, and DS for membranes.
Custom blends
When your application needs it, we adapt the blend.
Contact
+39 0331 296654 · [email protected]
ASTROBIO™ NS3 is a bio-based blend whose data sheet presents it as a replacement of NMP, NEP and DMF in many industrial applications, with better cleaning power and reduced solvent usage than NMP, NEP and DMF. It has high solvent activity, a slow evaporation rate and a high boiling point, so a one-to-one swap cannot be assumed: test it in your lab against your current recipe or process, and when your application needs it we adapt the blend.
ASTROBIO™ NS3 is the grade whose technical data sheet names DMF, for paint strippers, coatings, adhesives, inks, electronics cleaning and crop protection formulations. For polymer membranes, ASTROBIO™ DS, NS3 and NS6 are used. Tell us your process and our chemists suggest the grade to test first.
ASTROBIO™ DS, NS3 and NS6 are used for polymeric membrane preparation, and our case history presents them as green alternatives to NMP, DMF or DMAc for fluoropolymer membranes for micro-, nano- and ultrafiltration made with NIPS and VIPS, improving worker health protection. The data sheet of NS3 lists great solvency power for PVDF, PES, PAS, PAI and PEI polymers. Test the grade against your casting solution and membrane specification.
DMF is classified as toxic to reproduction (Repr. 1B, H360D) and, since 12 December 2023, DMF at 0.3% or more is subject to REACH Annex XVII entry 76: worker DNELs of 6 mg/m³ by inhalation and 1.1 mg/kg/day dermal must be in the safety reports and data sheets, and worker exposure must stay below them, with later dates for some uses. ASTROBIO™ NS3 is safer than NMP, NEP and DMF in hazard statements and GHS and CLP classification. Check your specific case with your safety adviser.
The technical data sheet of ASTROBIO™ NS3 describes it as a bio-solvent replacement of N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP), N-ethyl pyrrolidone (NEP) and dimethyl formamide (DMF) in many industrial applications, so it is the first grade to test for both. Because processes differ, we suggest testing it against each of your current solvents.
Fill in the sample request form on this page with your solvent, application and work email: our chemists suggest which grade to test. Once registered to the Reserved Area, you can also download the technical data sheets.
Astrobio is a European supplier of bio-based DMF replacements for membranes, paint strippers, coatings and industrial cleaning, developing bio-based solvents in Italy since 2006. Samples are available on request, with technical data sheets in the Reserved Area.
DMF (N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethylformamide, CAS 68-12-2) is a petrochemical polar aprotic solvent used in many industrial settings, classified as toxic to reproduction. ASTROBIO™ NS3 is a bio-based blend from renewable raw materials, free of aromatics, ketones, paraffins, halogens and terpenics, and safer than NMP, NEP and DMF in hazard statements and GHS and CLP classification.
Request your
ASTROBIO™ NS3 sample.
Tell us how you use DMF today: our chemists suggest the grade to test and send you a sample.
A sample of the suggested grade
Its technical data sheet
A chemist who reads your process
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