TDAE vs RPO: Which Rubber Process Oil Should You Use?

The acronyms, decoded

Each describes how the extender oil was refined and how much polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content it carries.

• DAE — Distillate Aromatic Extract. High PAH. Banned in EU tyres since 2010 (Directive 2005/69/EC).
• TDAE — Treated DAE. Solvent extracted to drop PAH below 3 mg/kg (IP 346). EU REACH compliant.
• RAE — Residual Aromatic Extract. Another low-PAH route, more limited availability in Asia.
• MES — Mild Extraction Solvate. Low-PAH paraffinic alternative for light-coloured compounds.
• RPO — Generic 'Rubber Process Oil' umbrella. Includes aromatic, naphthenic and paraffinic variants; PAH content depends on the source.

When TDAE is mandatory

Any tyre sold into the EU must use a low-PAH extender (PAH ≤3 mg/kg by IP 346). TDAE is the default global choice because it is widely produced in Korea, Spain, the US and India, and the price gap to conventional aromatic oils has narrowed to $80–120/MT.

If you export tyres to Europe — even via OE supply contracts to Volkswagen, Renault, Stellantis — TDAE is non-negotiable in the tread compound.

When conventional aromatic RPO is fine

For non-tyre rubber goods sold into markets without low-PAH regulation, conventional aromatic RPO still wins on cost. Conveyor belts, industrial hoses, footwear, moulded technical rubber goods, cable insulation — all still use a lot of conventional aromatic and naphthenic RPO.

For light-coloured and white compounds (EPDM roofing, white sidewalls, pharma-adjacent), paraffinic RPO or MES is the right call because they don't stain.

Viscosity matters as much as PAH

TDAE is sold in viscosity grades T100, T320, T350, T420, T820 and T1200 (kinematic viscosity at 40°C). T100/T320 dominate natural rubber and SBR compounding; T820/T1200 go into truck and OTR tread compounds and heavy industrial rubber.

Match the extender viscosity to your polymer Mooney viscosity. Too light and you lose filler dispersion; too heavy and you lose processability.

Frequently asked questions

Is TDAE the same as RPO?

TDAE is a specific EU-REACH-compliant low-PAH rubber process oil. RPO is a generic umbrella covering aromatic, naphthenic and paraffinic process oils, some of which (like conventional DAE) are not low-PAH. All TDAE is RPO, but not all RPO is TDAE.

Do I need TDAE if I don't sell tyres in Europe?

Not legally — markets outside the EU (and some non-tyre rubber goods inside the EU) still allow conventional aromatic RPO. But many global OEMs now write TDAE into their supply specs regardless of destination market, so check your customer's compound recipe first.

What is the price gap between TDAE and conventional aromatic RPO?

The premium has narrowed sharply in the last 5 years. Indicative May 2026 spread is $80–120/MT CFR Asia, depending on viscosity grade and load port.

Where do you supply TDAE from?

Sanyang Petroleum trades TDAE ex Korea, Spain, India and the US Gulf, in flexibag, IBC, ISO tank and bulk vessel parcels to Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia.