Monopropylene Glycol Industrial

Versatile Molecule – the Backbone of Industry

Propylene glycol industrial (MPGI) is used as a heat transfer medium, to control viscosity, to dissolve active agents or protect against corrosion and pressure burst.

Propylene glycol industrial can be used:

• as aircraft deicer, enabling safe global public transport.
• in paints and coatings, providing sustainable weather and wear protection.
• in liquid detergents, supporting hygienic conditions.
• as a basic building block in the production of other formable plastics such as unsaturated polyester resins (UPR) used e.g. in furniture, heavy-impact surfaces (floors, kitchen, bathroom) or wind turbine blades.

Propylene glycol industrial helps other products fulfil their function longer and better and is therefore often chosen as the best solution; it makes a significant contribution to many industrial processes around the world.

Propylene glycol industrial is an important intermediate and raw material in the production of high performance, unsaturated polyester resins (UPR) for uses such as:

• reinforced plastic laminates for marine construction
• bath & kitchenware, e.g., shower stalls, synthetic marble castings
• electrical components
• pipes and tanks sheet
• molding compounds for the automotive and transportation industries
• blades for wind turbines

Propylene glycol industrial works also as reactive element (starter) to produce basic materials (polyols) for the manufacturing of polyurethanes used as rigid or flexible foams, for example, in the insulation and furniture industries.

Due to its specific properties, MPGI can reduce the freezing point of water to -60°C, depending on dilution. This characteristic is of essential importance to airport and flight operators around the world, who need to keep the wings of their aircraft ice-free in order to maintain a regular service despite the most extreme winter conditions. Certain companies recover spent MPGI and reformulate it into aircraft de-icing.

As essentially non-toxic, readily biodegradable, non-corrosive to metals, non-flammable and easy to handle, MPGI is today the chemical of choice for de-icing aircrafts and runways for most of the world’s airlines and airports. On a consumer level, MPGI is used in automotive windscreen de-icers for safer driving.

In engine coolants, MPGI is mainly used to reduce the freezing point of the liquid, thus preventing the cooling system and the engine from corrosion, overheating and freezing.

In burst protection liquids, MPGI, with its inherently high boiling point, lowers vapour pressure. When fluids freeze, they expand in volume, which can cause pipes or other containment vessels to rupture. When a water-glycol mixture becomes colder, it retains its flow ability and does not create added pressure in pipes or vessels. This makes it an ideal solution for burst protection in pipe and containment systems.

Applications include:

• pipes and tubes
• solar panel systems
• temperature-sensitive uses with engines or under extreme conditions
• marine transportation.

To be effective, liquid household and dishwashing detergents, as well as industrial soaps and cleaning fluids, require a homogeneous distribution of the active cleaning ingredient within the liquid. Propylene glycol industrial acts as a stabiliser for the dirt-removing ingredients, and, at the same time, helps them to retain their function even at lower temperatures. Thus, cleaning liquids remain crystal-clear at normal use temperatures. Propylene glycol industrial is a safe and efficient enabling agent in these applications.

Sustainable Protection Under Demanding Conditions

Propylene glycol industrial contributes substantially to the protective power of paints and varnishes by helping preserve surfaces, protecting buildings against weathering and maintain the quality and beauty of floors in high-traffic areas. It also facilitates their handling and use in other professional applications:

• as a raw material in the production of alkyd resins for paints and varnishes, MPGI controls both the flexibility as well as the hardness of the coatings
• in latex-based architectural paints, MPGI is used to provide freeze and thaw stability
• for manufacturing printing inks, certain varnishes, paints or coatings, a special process is required which includes the use of UV-radiation. The combination with DPG and TPG results in a reduction of emissions and enables lower energy consumption during manufacturing