Propylene is an important organic compound used in plastics and solvents. It can be synthesized through oil refining or cracking. Polypropylene, a plastic component, is heat resistant and used in packaging and medicine. Propylene oxide is used in the synthesis of other compounds, including polyurethane plastics, and propylene glycol is used as a non-toxic solvent in various industries. Propylene carbonate is a colorless and odorless solvent used in lithium batteries and cosmetics.
Propylene, also known as propene, is one of the most important industrially produced organic compounds. It is a gas at room temperature and is composed of three carbon atoms, along with hydrogen atoms. It is a very reactive molecule, because it has a double bond. Propylene tends to undergo reactions where compounds are added at room temperature. It is often used in plastics and solvents.
There are two ways to synthesize propylene. One is a side effect of oil refining. The other is with a process called cracking, which is used to make ethylene gas. Straight-chain natural gas or gasoline is heated to extremely high temperatures with steam and produces propylene, along with ethylene and other organic compounds. It is also naturally produced by the combustion of organic matter.
Products synthesized from propylene include a large variety of organic compounds. Most of them are plastic components. Some of the synthesized industrial compounds are hydrocarbon polymers. They are composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms.
An example is a group of valuable plastics, such as polypropylene. It is a long chain polymer with a methyl group, CH3, on every other carbon. The position of the methyl group relative to the next carbon affects the properties of the plastic.
Polypropylene is used in packaging and medicine, such as in hernia patches. It is used in injection molding and for the production of fibers. Polypropylene is very heat resistant and can be autoclaved and sterilized. This makes it very useful for medical and laboratory uses.
One problem with polypropylene is that it is sensitive to UV light and degrades in the sun. Black polypropylene is more UV stable and more durable for outdoor use. This makes it useful for boating lines and plastic sheeting, for example.
Another industrially important derivative of propylene is propylene oxide, a closed-loop derivative with a reactive oxygen group. It is used as an intermediate in the synthesis of other compounds, especially polyurethane plastics. These compounds have a wide range of properties, ranging from foams to hard plastics, and their uses range from car seats to gaskets.
A smaller percentage of Propylene Oxide is used in the production of Propylene Glycol (PG) and Polypropylene Glycol (PPG). PG can mix with water and is non-toxic. This makes it useful as a solvent in the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries. It is used, for example, in deodorant sticks.
PPG is a polymer of PG and cannot mix well with water. Along with PG, it is used as an alternative form of antifreeze to reduce its toxicity to animals. One of its main uses is in the production of polyurethane plastics.
Propylene carbonate is another product of Propylene Oxide. Combine PG and carbonic acid to create a colorless and odorless solvent. This property makes it a useful solvent for lithium batteries. It has a variety of other industrial applications, including the formulation of cosmetics and as a plasticizer.
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