Polyether polyols are produced by addition of an epoxide onto a hydroxyl compound or water. The most common epoxides used are propylene oxide (PO) and ethylene oxide (EO). There is a smaller market for longer chain epoxies such as styrene oxide (StO). In addition tetrahydrofuran (THF) is used to prepare poly(tetramethylenether) glycols.
The polyols composition can also be varied based on MW, and functionality.
Diol Triol Tetrol Polyol Phenol Amine Other
Considerations for selecting a polyol for an application
Chemistry Functionality Characteristics Applications
Polyether Di to octa functional. Diols  for highly flexible foams, coatings and adhesive  applications. Higher functional polyols  for crosslinked harder foams for laminates and harder coating uses. Polyether polyols give polymers with glass transition temperature (Tg). Because of their hydrophilic nature polyether polyols give more water sensitive and water absorbing polyols. The water sensitivity decreases from polyethyleneglycol to polypropyleneglycol to polytetramethyleneglycol. Polyethers are very stable to hydrolysis under basic pH conditions, but can be hydrolyzed at low pH.
Rigid foam
Flexible foams
Laminates
Coatings
Adhesives
Elastomers

Polyether polyol
Starting diol/polyol/amine/epoxy Repeating unit CAS # Applications
PO, EO, THF, StO

WATER DIOL

 Repeating unit CAS # Applications
Water PO 25322-69-4 Coatings, Flex. foams, elastomer
Water PO EO 9003-11-6 Lower viscosity, higher reactivity
Water PO EO block 106392-12-5

Surfactants, dispersants
Water EO 25322-68-3 Hydrophilic foams, associative thickener
Ethyleneglycol PO 9051-48-3 Frothing, mining chemicals
Ethyleneglycol PO 31923-84-9 Coatings flow and leveling
Diethyleneglycol PO 9051-51-8
Diethyleneglycol PO EO 50658-23-6
Neopentyl glycol PO 52479-58-0
Butyleneoxide PO 25549-07-9 More hydrophobic
Butyleneoxide PO EO 78339-21-6
Water THF 25190-06-1 Castable elastomers, Thermoplastic PU, Coatings
THF PO 25302-85-6
THF PO EO 31587-08-3
 

TRIOL

 Repeating unit CAS # Applications
Glycerol PO 25791-96-2 Foams, coatings, elastomer, crosslinker
Glycerol PO EO 9082-00-2
Glycerol PO EO 68936-80-1
Glycerol EO 31694-55-0
 
Trimethylolpropane  PO 25723-16-4
Trimethylolpropane  PO 25765-36-0
Trimethylolpropane  PO EO 52624-57-4
Trimethylolpropane  PO EO 26062-52-2
Trimethylolpropane PO EO 53424-30-9
 

TETROL

 Repeating unit CAS # Applications
Pentaerythritol PO 9051-49-4
Pentaerythritol PO EO 58205-99-5
Pentaerythritol PO EO 30374-35-7

POLYOL

 Repeating unit CAS # Applications
Sorbitol, Mannitol PO 52625-12-4
Sorbitol, Mannitol PO 52625-13-5
Sorbitol, Mannitol PO EO 56449-05-9
Sucrose PO 9049-71-2
Sucrose PO 29192-34-5
Sucrose PO EO 26301-10-0

PHENOL

 Repeating unit CAS # Applications
Bisphenol A PO 37353-75-6
Bisphenol A PO 29694-85-7
Bisphenol A PO 33393-97-4
 
Bisphenol A PO EO 52367-02-9
Bisphenol A PO EO 65324-64-3
Tetrabromo bisphenol A PO 55185-21-2
Nonylphenol, formaldehyde PO EO 63428-92-2
Nonylphenol, formaldehyde PO EO 193562-40-2
Nonylphenol, formaldehyde PO EO 153795-76-7
Nonylphenol, formaldehyde PO EO 69011-27-4
p-t-Butyl phenol, formaldehyde PO 193635-30-2
p-t-Butyl phenol, nonylphenol formaldehyde PO EO 69011-25-2
p-t-Butyl phenol, formaldehyde PO EO 30704-64-4
Phenol formaldehyde PO 25359-40-4
Phenol formaldehyde PO 193635-29-9
Phenol formaldehyde EO 25134-86-5
Bis[4-(2-hydroxypropoxy)phenyl] sulfone  PO 50326-38-0

AMINE

 Repeating unit CAS # Applications
Ethanolamine PO 35176-07-9
Ethanolamine PO EO 32439-74-0
Diethanolamine PO EO 34354-45-5
Propanolamine PO 35110-63-5
Triethanolamine PO 26221-30-7
Triethanolamine PO 37208-53-0
Triethanolamine PO EO 37280-83-4
Ethylene diamine PO 51178-86-0
Ethylene diamine PO 102-60-3
Ethylene diamine PO 25214-63-5
Ethylene diamine PO EO 26316-40-5
Ethylene diamine EO 27014-42-2
Diethylenetriamine PO 29380-50-5
Triethylenetetramine PO EO 67939-72-4
2-Methylimidazole, imidazole PO 69011-81-0
Aniline-formaldehyde PO 25084-89-3
N-(2-aminoethyl)piperazine PO,  StO 70247-96-0
Phenol, formaldehyde, diethanolamine PO 68909-26-2
Phenol, formaldehyde, diethanolamine PO 72207-70-6
Nonylphenol, formaldehyde, diethanolamine PO 68610-97-9
Methylenedianiline PO 67786-32-7
4,4'-Diaminodiphenylmethane, 1,2-propylene glycol PO 75864-24-3
Toluenediamine, propylene glycol PO 75847-80-2

Other

 Repeating unit CAS # Applications
Epichlorohydrine PO 24969-08-2
Epichlorohydrine PO EO 25931-44-6
Epichlorohydrine EO 24969-10-6
Carbon dioxide PO 25511-85-7
Diethylenetriamine, sucrose PO EO 42080-52-4
Phosphoric PO 28409-84-9
Phosphoric PO 52503-24-9
Phosphoric PO EO 37280-82-3
Acrylonitrile-glycerol  PO 32236-60-5
p-Aminobenzoic acid PO 68442-73-9
Acrylonitrile, triethylenetetramine PO 68400-65-7
Urea PO 172304-97-1
Tris(2-hydroxyethyl)isocyanuric acid  PO 172640-56-1
Castor oil, hydrogenated PO EO 103479-06-7

Last edited on:

 November 16, 2006

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