Download Chemistry of DOW Glycol Ether Products

Product Information
Chemistry of DOW Glycol Ether Products
Dow produces a wide range of glycol ether products consisting of P-Series glycol ethers and
acetates (from propylene oxide) and E-Series glycol ethers and acetates (from ethylene
oxide).
CHEMISTRY
Glycol ethers are produced by reacting one mole of an alcohol with one, two or three moles
of oxide (ethylene or propylene). The synthesis routes of two typical glycol ethers are shown
below:
E-Series Example
P-Series Example
P- Series Glycol Ether Products
Glycol Ethers DOWANOL* P-Series glycol ethers are produced by reacting propylene
oxide with various alcohols, such as methanol and phenol. For example, when propylene
oxide is reacted with methanol, DOWANOL PM propylene glycol methyl ether is produced.
The first letter “P” designates the oxide from which the glycol ether is produced; in this case,
it is propylene oxide. The second letter, “M” designates the alcohol from which the glycol
ether is produced, in this case methanol. Since DOWONAL PM contains an alcohol group, it
can be reacted with additional propylene oxide to yield DOWANOL DPM dipropylene glycol
methyl ether. “DP” designates dipropylene glycol; “M” designates methyl ether. In the same
manner, DOWANOL DPM can be reacted with additional propylene oxide to yield
DOWANOL TPM tripropylene glycol methyl ether. “TP” designates tripropylene glycol; “M”
designates methyl ether.
Propylene oxide reacted with phenol yields DOWANOL PPh propylene glycol ether, an
aromatic glycol ether.
Glycol Ether Acetates DOWANOL PMA propylene glycol methyl ether acetate is the
reaction product of DOWANOL PM with acetic acid or anhydride. In this case, the “PM”
designates propylene glycol methyl ether and the “A” designates the acetate resulting from
esterification with acetic acid or anhydride. DOWANOL DPMA is the acetate resulting from
the reaction of DOWANOL DPM with acetic acid or anhydride.
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*Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company
E- Series Glycol Ethers
Ethylene oxide is reacted with various alcohols, such as methanol, n-butanol and phenol to
produce the DOW E-Series glycol ethers. For example, ethylene oxide reacted with nbutanol yields Butyl CELLOSOLVE™ ethylene glycol n-butyl ether. CELLOSOLVE indicates
one moles of ethylene oxide reacted. The Butyl designates the alcohol from which the glycol
ether was produced, in this case n-butanol.
Since Butyl CELLOSOLVE contains an alcohol group, it can be reacted with additional
ethylene oxide to yield Butyl CARBITOL™ diethylene glycol butyl ether. The CARBITOL
indicates two moles of ethylene oxide. Butyl designates n-butyl ether.
Triglycol nomenclature is used when the glycol ether contains three moles of ethylene oxide.
For example, when n-butanol is used as a starting alcohol the resulting name is
butoxytriglycol.
DOWANOL EPh aromatic glycol ether is the reaction product of ethylene oxide and phenol.
DALPAD A coalescing agent is chemically equivalent to DOWANOL EPh but meets slightly
different product specifications. Because of this, DALPAD A is generally used in water
based coating applications, and DOWANOL EPh in other applications such as cosmetics,
cleaners, and textile applications.
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*Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company
Form No. 110-00657-0304