Polyether polyols are an important type of organic polymer.

1. Definition and Structure

Polyether polyols are produced by the polymerization reaction of initiators (compounds containing active hydrogen groups) with ethylene oxide (EO), propylene oxide (PO), butylene oxide (BO), etc., in the presence of a catalyst. Their main chain contains ether bonds (—R—O—R—), and the end groups or side groups contain oligomers with more than 2 hydroxyl groups (—OH).

2. Main Characteristics

High molecular weight: Polyether polyols typically have a high molecular weight, which provides good physical and chemical properties for various applications. Low viscosity: Polyether polyols have a low viscosity, making them easy to process and apply. High reactivity: Due to the presence of multiple hydroxyl groups, polyether polyols have high reactivity and can undergo various chemical reactions with other compounds. Hydrophilicity: The ether bonds in polyether polyol molecules impart a certain degree of hydrophilicity, which aids in their dissolution and dispersion in certain applications.

3. Main Uses

Polyurethane industry: Polyether polyols are important raw materials for the production of polyurethane plastics and foams. They are mainly used to produce polyurethane elastomers, rigid foams, and flexible foams, which are widely used in automotive seats, furniture, flooring mats, shoes, refrigerators, air conditioners, building insulation, aircraft, railways, as well as mattresses, sofas, packaging, sound absorption, and sound insulation. Epoxy resins: Polyether polyols are also commonly used as prepolymers for epoxy resins and can serve as raw materials for high-performance epoxy resin coatings and adhesives. By pairing with polyamides or aliphatic diamines, the wear resistance, adhesion, solvent resistance, and strength of epoxy resins can be improved, making them widely applicable in aerospace, automotive, and construction fields. Other applications: Polyether polyols can also be used as raw materials for antistatic agents, lubricants, coatings, sealants, and more. Additionally, they can be used in the production of foam stabilizers, defoamers for the paper industry, crude oil emulsifiers, efficient low-product detergents, lubricants, quenching agents, latex foaming agents, rubber lubricants, surfactants, and other fields.

4. Raw Materials and Processes

Main raw materials: The synthesis of polyether polyols mainly uses three types of raw materials, including organic oxides (such as propylene oxide, ethylene oxide, etc.), furan cyclic compounds (such as tetrahydrofuran), and initiators (such as diols like propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, etc., triols like glycerol, and polyols like pentaerythritol, xylitol, sorbitol, sucrose, etc.). Additionally, catalysts are needed to promote the reaction. Synthesis process: The synthesis process of polyether polyols typically includes steps such as raw material pretreatment, ring-opening polymerization reaction, and post-processing. During the reaction, conditions such as temperature, pressure, and stirring speed need to be controlled to ensure the smooth progress of the reaction. After the reaction, post-processing steps such as neutralization, adsorption, dehydration, filtration, and distillation are required to obtain stable polyether polyol products.

5. Precautions

Storage and transportation: Polyether polyols should be stored in clean, dry, sealed, leak-proof containers, avoiding exposure to sunlight, rain, and high temperatures. During transportation, leakage and environmental contamination should be prevented. Safety: Certain types of polyether polyols (such as amine polyether polyols) are alkaline and can irritate the skin and eyes. Therefore, protective equipment such as safety goggles and gloves should be worn during handling. Inhalation of vapors or skin contact should be avoided. Expired handling: The performance of expired polyether polyols may be affected, such as increased viscosity, decreased stability, or increased sensitivity to moisture. Therefore, the use of expired polyether polyols is not recommended.