Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
PROPYLENE DERIVATIVES
P
ROPYLENE
O
XIDE
Uses
About 60% of the propylene oxide made is polymerized to
polypropylene glycol and other polyethers for use in
polyurethane foams and adhesives. Propylene glycol is
also widely used in polyester resins based on maleic
anhydride.
Manufacture
Cl
OH
CH
2
=CH-CH
3
+ Cl
2
+ H
2
O
+ HCl
CH
2
CH
CH
3
polypropylene glycol
HO-(CH
2
- O-)
X
-H
CH
|
sodium hydroxide
CH
3
polypropylene glycol
catalyst
OH
OH
O
+ NaCl + H
2
O
water
CH
2
CH
CH
3
CH
2
CH
CH
3
propylene glycol
Suppliers
Huntsman, Dow Chemical.
Most automobile and furniture seating, foam mattresses, carpet underlay-
ment, and other similar products are made from
polyurethanes
based on
polypropylene glycol (PPG). PPG is the preferred raw material for these
type of polymers because of the wide variation of possible properties of the
end product and the relatively low cost.
