Ethylene glycol is a chemical commonly used in many commercial and industrial applications including antifreeze and coolant.
Ethylene glycol helps keep your car’s engine from freezing in the winter and acts as a coolant to reduce overheating in the summer.
Other important uses of ethylene glycol include heat transfer fluids used as industrial coolants for gas compressors, heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems, and ice-skating rinks.
Sustainable Chemistry
Ethylene glycol also is used as a raw material in the production of a wide range of products including polyester fibers for clothes, upholstery, carpet and pillows; fiberglass used in products such as jet skis, bathtubs, and bowling balls; and polyethylene terephthalate resin used in packaging film and bottles. Many of these products are energy saving and cost efficient as well as recyclable
Introduction:
Glycol ethers, with both an ether and alcohol functional group in the same molecule, are one of the most versatile classes of organic solvents. The production of Glycol Ethers including two steps. The first step is the reaction of alcohol and ethylene oxide to produce a mixture of mono, di and heavier glycol ethers. Then in the second step the mixture will be distillated to separate all the components. These high boiling, low volatility liquid with low odor are used extensively as solvents in many industries.
General Applications:
Solvency Properties
Glycol ethers are characterized by their excellent solvency, chemical stability and compatibility with water and a number of organic solvents. The dual functionality presents in the Glycol Ethers accounts for their unique solvency properties. They are:
• Mild-odored solvents for many resins, oils, waxes, fats and dyestuffs
• Coupling agents for many water/organic systems
• Miscible with a wide range of polar and non-polar organic solvents
• Miscible with water in all proportionation
End-Uses
This strong solvency leads to the selection of certain glycol ethers for a broad array of end-uses:
• Dye solvents in the textile, leather and printing industries
• Solvents for grease and grime in industrial cleaning and specialty formulations
• Solvents for insecticides and herbicides for agricultural applications
• Coupling solvents for hard-surface cleaners and other soap-hydrocarbon systems
• Solvents and cosolvents for conventional lacquer, enamel and stains for industrial coating systems
• Cosolvents for waterborne industrial coating systems
• Fuel System Icing Inhibitor (FSII)
• Freeze-thaw agents in aqueous systems
• Chemical reaction solvents
.