Ethylene glycol is a bulk raw material in the chemical industry. Its other names are glycol and 1,2-ethylene glycol. Alcohol, also referred to as EG. Ethylene glycol appears as a transparent liquid and has low toxicity to animals. Ethylene glycol is miscible with water and acetone, but its solubility in ethers is small. Used as solvent, antifreeze and raw material for synthetic polyester. Polyethylene glycol (PEG), a polymer of ethylene glycol, is a phase transfer catalyst and is also used in cell fusion.
The role of ethylene glycol: mainly used to make polyester, polyester, polyester resin, Hygroscopic agent, plasticizer, surfactant, synthetic fiber, cosmetics, and used as solvent for dyes, inks, etc., to prepare engine antifreeze, gas dehydrating agent, manufacturing resin, and can also be used in cellophane, fiber, leather, adhesive Wetting agent. It can produce synthetic resin PET, fiber grade PET is polyester fiber, and bottle flake grade PET is used to make mineral water bottles, etc. It can also produce alkyd resin, glyoxal, etc., and is also used as antifreeze. In addition to being used as antifreeze for automobiles, it is also used for the transportation of industrial cold energy. It is generally called a refrigerant. At the same time, it can also be used as a condensing agent like water.
Ethylene glycol methyl ether series products are high-end products with excellent performance Organic solvents are used as solvents and diluents for printing inks, industrial cleaning agents, coatings (nitrocellulose paint, varnish, enamel), copper-clad laminates, printing and dyeing, etc.; they can be used to produce pesticide intermediates, pharmaceutical intermediates and synthetic brake fluids. Raw materials for chemical products; used as electrolytes for electrolytic capacitors, leather-making chemical fiber dyes, etc. It is used as textile auxiliaries, synthetic liquid dyes, and raw materials for desulfurizers in fertilizer and oil refining production.
When using ethylene glycol as a refrigerant, you should pay attention to:
1. Its freezing point changes with the concentration of ethylene glycol in the aqueous solution. When the concentration is below 60%, As the concentration of ethylene glycol in an aqueous solution increases, the freezing point decreases. However, when the concentration exceeds 60%, as the concentration of ethylene glycol increases, the freezing point shows an upward trend, and the viscosity also increases with the increase in concentration. When the concentration reaches 99.9%, its freezing point rises to -13.2°C. This is an important reason why concentrated antifreeze (antifreeze mother liquor) cannot be used directly and must attract the attention of users.
2. Ethylene glycol contains hydroxyl groups and works at 80 degrees Celsius – 90 degrees Celsius for a long time. The glycol will be oxidized first to glycolic acid and then to oxalic acid, that is, oxalic acid (oxalic acid), which contains 2 carboxyl groups. Oxalic acid and its by-products affect the central nervous system first, then the heart, and then the kidneys. Ethylene glycol and oxalic acid can corrode equipment and cause it to leak. Therefore, preservatives must also be included in the prepared antifreeze to prevent corrosion of steel and aluminum and the formation of scale.