Diethylene glycol is used as an important industrial solvent due to its characteristic properties like high boiling point, high viscosity and low vapor loss. It is widely used in the manufacture of unsaturated polyester resins, polyurethanes, nitrocellulose, resins and plasticizers. It plays an important role as a building block in the preparation of morpholine and 1,4-dioxane. It finds application as a heat transfer fluid in the chemical industry due to its low freezing point. As a lubricant, it is used in glass-grinding aids, fiber-finish component and cement-grinding aids. It is also used in natural gas to remove water and other impurities. It is an active component of brake fluid, artificial fog solutions and wallpaper strippers.
This Thermo Scientific Chemicals brand product was originally part of the Alfa Aesar product portfolio. Some documentation and label information may refer to the legacy brand. The original Alfa Aesar product / item code or SKU reference has not changed as a part of the brand transition to Thermo Scientific Chemicals.
Applications
Diethylene glycol is used as an important industrial solvent due to its characteristic properties like high boiling point, high viscosity and low vapor loss. It is widely used in the manufacture of unsaturated polyester resins, polyurethanes, nitrocellulose, resins and plasticizers. It plays an important role as a building block in the preparation of morpholine and 1,4-dioxane. It finds application as a heat transfer fluid in the chemical industry due to its low freezing point. As a lubricant, it is used in glass-grinding aids, fiber-finish component and cement-grinding aids. It is also used in natural gas to remove water and other impurities. It is an active component of brake fluid, artificial fog solutions and wallpaper strippers.
Solubility
Miscible with water, alcohol, ether, acetone, and ethylene glycol.
Notes
Hygroscopic. Heat sensitive. Store in cool place. Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, strong acids and zinc.
RUO – Research Use Only
High-boiling solvent which is widely used in the Huang Minlon modification of the Wolff-Kishner reaction for the reduction of carbonyl groups to methylenes; see Hydrazine monohydrate, A14005.
Yu, J.; Shi, B.; Peng, H.; Sun, S.; Chu, H.; Jiang, Y.; Cheng, J. Diethylene Glycol Serving as Ethyne Equivalent: A Sustainable Approach toward 2,3-Disubstituted Furan. Org. Lett. 2015, 17 (15), 3643-3645.
Sviben, I.; Galic, N.; Tomisic, V.; Frkanec, L. Extraction and complexation of alkali and alkaline earth metal cations by lower-rim calix[4]arene diethylene glycol amide derivatives. New J. Chem. 2015, 39 (8), 6099-6107.