2-([3-Hydroxy-2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propoxy]methyl)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol stands as a polyhydric alcohol, recognized in chemical circles for a molecular structure dense with hydroxyl groups, lending itself to a range of industrial uses. This compound’s structure builds from a core propanediol backbone, branching into further hydroxymethyl groups, creating a molecule that handles both solubility and reactivity with remarkable versatility. Its chemical formula, C9H20O7, points to a solid foundation in carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, each atom contributing to its solubility in water and many organic solvents. This composition makes it a go-to raw material in areas that demand high functionality in both resin modification and specialty coatings.
Producers typically offer this chemical as a solid—often in the form of white flakes, crystalline powder, or somewhat translucent pearls. You might also find it dissolved for solution applications, its physical state shifting to suit wide manufacturing needs. Density hovers around 1.35 g/cm³ at 20°C, and it keeps a clear presence whether it lands as a crystalline powder or a sticky, highly viscous liquid under certain conditions. I’ve seen it dissolve in water in seconds during lab work, an essential trait for formulators mixing additives or preparing custom solutions. Melting point varies with batch purity, usually falling between 110°C and 120°C, and its high boiling point puts it on the shortlist for high-temperature system designers. Each year, demand grows across multiple sectors; keeping this compound handy feels like a requirement rather than a choice.
This compound’s structure leads to high reactivity—the multiple hydroxyl groups allow for extensive crosslinking, esterification, and etherification. Safety data sheets warn of its incompatible nature with strong oxidizers, yet outside those extremes, it remains stable when stored in cool, dry environments. Its role as a raw material for alkyds, polyurethane systems, and plasticizers highlights just how important its molecular makeup is—industry seeks out its ability to build flexibility into polymers or boost gloss in coatings without introducing hazardous byproducts. Unlike chemicals prone to off-gassing toxic vapors, this triol largely stays put, releasing minimal volatile organic compounds under normal temperatures. Such stability reduces hazards, but appropriate ventilation and personal protective equipment should never be skipped, a lesson learned after seeing poorly ventilated shops suffer from build-up during hot days.
Customs usually classify this chemical under HS Code 29053990, placing it within the family of other polyhydric alcohols and their derivatives. Its import, transport, and labeling follows the rules set by REACH and GHS standards, making it easy for buyers and suppliers to spot hazard pictograms and signal words on drums and sacks. Though considered safe in industrial settings, care must still be taken—not for acute toxicity, but for skin and eye irritation. The white flakes or granules demand gloves, goggles, and, for sensitive skin, even sleeves, as repeated exposure sometimes dries or reddens exposed areas. Some suppliers claim nonhazardous status, yet it’s wise to treat all chemicals with respect because safety habits form as quickly as bad accidents.
With a molecular weight of 240.25 g/mol, each batch gets tested for purity, moisture content, and appearance before shipping. Formulators check infrared spectra, look for melting point consistency, and calculate hydroxyl value (often between 1000 and 1200 mg KOH/g) to judge each lot’s suitability for specific resins or prepolymer systems. Even a tiny drop in hydroxyl value shifts curing rates or resistance profiles—a lesson every formulator learns after a few failed test runs. The standard for high-end coatings or adhesives: purity above 98%. Lower purity limits may work for bulk resins, but fine chemical users chase that 99% target every time, knowing their end product reliability depends on this consistency.
Manufacturers call on this triol as a critical feedstock in synthesizing alkyd resins, urethane prepolymers, and rigid polyurethane foams. In the coatings industry, its use often focuses on boosting hardness without sacrificing flexibility or clarity. Water-soluble resins for textile sizing, paper, or leather finishing often include it for added durability and crosslink density. Plasticizer producers prize its high hydroxyl content, which helps them reach performance goals without using phthalates that trigger regulatory headaches. The electronics sector looks at moisture-functionalized forms as key intermediates for high-end epoxies. In my experience, blending in small batches exposes how small formulation tweaks ripple through product lifespans, impacting flexibility, gloss, and chemical resistance. Food packaging and biomedical teams also explore its low toxicity and high functionality for specialty films or coatings, though food contact always demands extra attention to purity and migration limits.
Safe handling means keeping the workspace cool, dry, and clean. Spilled flakes clean up without much fuss, though sweeping should be followed by damp mopping to prevent fine dust from creating slip hazards. As flake, powder, or melted solid, it rarely emits dangerous fumes, but heating for compounding purposes produces faint formaldehyde odors, especially if the batch contains trace impurities. For transportation, its low volatility and low acute toxicity score points with logistics teams. From an environmental standpoint, this compound biodegradable under aerobic conditions. Waste streams direct into general effluent after proper neutralization—local codes rule the day here, but routine dilution and secondary containment become habits worth keeping. Emergency measures for accidental ingestion or eye contact remain standard: flush well, consult safety data, and get medical advice for any persistent symptoms. While chronic exposure risk remains low, storage recommendations call for cool, tightly sealed containers, well away from oxidizers, acids, or bases that could trigger unwanted reactions.
Major chemical producers often source the raw materials—chiefly formaldehyde and trimethylolpropane—from facilities equipped to handle tight quality controls and consistent throughput. Feedstock pricing connects directly to petrochemical markets; plant shutdowns or spikes in formaldehyde costs pass down to triol pricing. For smaller buyers, global supply lines—or lack thereof—can stretch delivery times or force substitutions. Choosing a reputable supplier with transparent traceability pays off over time, as contaminated lots or misclassified flakes jam production faster than any equipment breakdown. Certification for ISO standards, GHS labeling, and full specification sheets means fewer lab surprises, smoother approvals, and more predictable performance in finished goods.
Specification sheets list each lot’s color (APHA), hydroxyl value, water content, heavy metals, acid value, and ash content. High-performing lots display colorless to pale white flakes or crystalline powder, minimal water content (often less than 0.1%), trace acid value, and no visible foreign matter. Crystallinity depends on cooling rate post-synthesis; fast chilled batches yield finer powder, while slow cooling makes broader flakes or pearls. The density (about 1.35 g/cm³) remains consistent, but surface texture may change slightly with each manufacturing run. Those specs mean real value to QC teams, who depend on every number matching the property claims for process consistency.
Formulators often struggle with batch-to-batch consistency and solubility in complex blends, especially for emulsions or hybrid resins. Performance hinges on tight controls for pH, temperature, and solvent selection during mixing and curing. Production lines adopting automated dosing reduce off-ratio errors—human error used to cause all sorts of headaches until automation trimmed risks. To boost safety, facilities invest in dust-extraction and closed transfer for flake and powder forms, adding ventilation and spill containment as backup plans. End users working in consumer goods or coatings face scrutiny from EU and US regulatory bodies, so precise labeling remains critical. Training for new technicians on safe handling and correct PPE doesn’t just reduce incidents, it builds confidence and speeds up onboarding. Quality assurance grows stronger with round-robin testing between labs, so a single sample gets checked more than once, identifying outliers before market roll-out.
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