Epoxy compounds propylene oxide

Propylene oxide was introduced into a container that contained epoxy resins it detonated. This accident was put down to compound polymerisation catalysed by triamines or superior homologues, which are used to harden resins (for example, triethylenetetramine). 

Table 6.2 shows the important applications of sodium hydroxide. Direct applications can be further broken down into pulp and paper (24%), soaps and detergents (10%), alumina (6%), petroleum (7%), textiles (5%), water treatment (5%), and miscellaneous (43%). Organic chemicals manufactured with sodium hydroxide are propylene oxide (23%), polycarbonate (5%), ethyleneamines (3%), epoxy resins (3%), and miscellaneous (66%). Inorganic chemicals manufactured are sodium and calcium hypochlorite (24%), sodium cyanide (10%), sulfur compounds (14%), and miscellaneous (52%). As you can see from the number of applications listed, and still the high percentages of miscellaneous uses, sodium hydroxide has a very diverse use profile. It is the chief industrial alkali. 

Urethane groups react with alkyleneoxides [(propylene oxide (PO), ethylene oxide (EO)], by the addition of epoxy compounds to the -NH- group containing active hydrogen, from the urethane groups. 

The largest single use for sodium hydroxide is in the production of organic compounds from which polymers are made, such as propylene oxide and the ethylene amines, and of the polymers themselves, including the polycarbonates and epoxy resins. About a third of all the sodium hydroxide produced in the United States goes to this application. Another important use of sodium hydroxide is in the pulp and paper industry, where it is used to digest (break down) the raw materials from which pulp and paper are made. About 13 percent of all the sodium hydroxide made in the... 

The polymerization of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide with various active hydrogen compounds is the primary thrust of the present chapter. However, other epoxy compounds also undergo this type of reaction as is detailed in the chapter Polymerization of Epoxides and Cyclic Ethers of this series [5]. An example of the polycondensation of a complex glycidyl ether with a polyol, taken from the patent literature, is cited here for reference only. 

This definition excludes products based on the polymerization of epoxy compounds such as ethylene and propylene oxides. Although these products may be cross-linked as in, for example, elastomers (Section 8.4 Section 14.6) and foams (Section 14.5), the cross-linking reactions do not involve epoxy groups... 

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