Ethylene Glycol

Basic Information

CAS: 107-21-1
Appearance: Colorless, transparent, viscous liquid
Melting Point: -13 °C (lit.)
Molecular Weight: 62.068
Boiling Point: 195-198 °C
Glass Transition Temperature: -120 °C
Vapor Pressure: 0.08 mmHg (20 °C) 
Density: 1.113 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.)
Refractive Index: 1.4472 (λ: 589.3 nm; Temp: 20 °C)
Viscosity: 25.66 mPa·s (16 °C)
Heat of Combustion: 1180.26 kJ/mol
Autoignition temperature: 418 °C
Critical temperature: 372 °C
Critical pressure: 7699 kPa
Critical molar volume: 186 cm³/mol
Eccentricity factor: 0.27
Surface tension: 46.49 mN/m (20 °C)
Solubility: Miscible with water/ethanol/ acetone/glycerol acetate/pyridine, slightly soluble in diethyl ether, insoluble in petroleum hydrocarbons and oils, dissolves inorganic compounds such as calcium chloride/zinc chloride/sodium chloride/potassium carbonate/potassium chloride/potassium iodide/potassium hydroxide.

Application

1. Primarily used in the production of polyester, polyester fibers, polyester resins, moisture absorbers, plasticizers, surfactants, synthetic fibers, cosmetics, and explosives.
2. Serves as a solvent for dyes and inks, an engine antifreeze additive, a gas dehydrating agent, and a resin manufacturing component. Also functions as a wetting agent for cellophane, fibers, leather, and adhesives.
3. Can produce synthetic resin PET; fiber-grade PET yields polyester fibers, while bottle-grade PET is used for mineral water bottles. Also produces alkyd resins, glycolaldehyde, and serves as an antifreeze agent.
4. Functions as an intermediate in pesticide and pharmaceutical production, serving as an intermediate for fungicides penthiopyrad and carbendazim. Also acts as a raw material for chemical products like synthetic brake fluid; It is also used in leather processing, synthetic fiber dyes, and other applications.
5. Adding ethylene glycol to hydraulic fluids prevents oil-based fluids from corroding rubber components in systems. Water-based hydraulic fluids primarily composed of ethylene glycol are non-flammable and used in aircraft, automobiles, and high-temperature injection molding machines.
6. Used as a textile auxiliary, raw material for synthetic liquid dyes, and desulfurization agent in fertilizer and petroleum refining production.
7. Used as an analytical reagent, chromatography reagent, and capacitive dielectric