Tetrahydrofuran (THF) is a colorless, volatile organic solvent used in the manufacture of polymers, adhesives, and pharmaceuticals. It can form dangerous peroxides when exposed to air and must be handled with care. THF is highly flammable and is stored in sealed containers with pure nitrogen gas. Its strong solvent properties make it suitable for many other uses, including the production of protective coatings and the extraction of organic and organometallic compounds.
Tetrahydrofuran, or THF, is a common organic solvent in the ether family. A colorless liquid, somewhat volatile at room temperature, it is similar to diethyl ether, the chemical once widely used as an anesthetic, with a similar odor, but does not share its anesthetic properties. It has the chemical formula (CH2)4O and is known by a number of other names, many of which have fallen out of common use. It is popular as a solvent, as it is soluble in most other common solvents such as water, alcohols, esters and acetone, is chemically inactive, and acts as a strong solvent on many materials, especially organics. Tetrahydrofuran is used extensively in the manufacture of many polymers as well as other products such as some adhesives and pharmaceuticals.
This cousin of the common ether can be potentially dangerous and must be handled under strictly controlled conditions for safety. It can form dangerous flammable chemicals called peroxides when exposed to air, which can ignite or explode very easily. For this reason additives such as BHT are mixed with tetrahydrofuran to stabilize it, which reduces its tendency to spontaneously form these dangerous peroxides. THF is also stored in sealed containers with pure nitrogen gas to prevent it from reacting with air. It is also highly flammable and can emit toxic materials as a byproduct of combustion.
Chief among its uses is the production of certain polymers. THF is used as a precursor to the formation of many complex polymers, as its solvent properties allow simple polymers to be mixed and combined in solution. When mixed with acids, tetrahydrofuran itself can be polymerized, and the resulting polymers have many uses, such as making urethanes and polyurethanes. Some of these materials are very common in everyday products, such as some fabrics with elastic properties.
Its strong solvent properties make tetrahydrofuran highly suitable for many other uses as well. It is used in the manufacture of adhesives that are used with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and to enhance certain qualities of other materials, such as cellophane and magnetic tapes, although this usage is becoming less common in the digital age as these tapes are being phased out in favor of digital recording and storage media. THF is a key component in the production of a class of protective coatings and is used in the production and extraction of many organic and organometallic compounds, including some pharmaceuticals.
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