How is PTMEG Used ?

Polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG) is a waxy white solid that melts to a colorless, clear, viscous liquid near room temperature.

PTMEG is produced by the catalytic polymerization of tetrahydrofuran (THF). The main applications of PTMEG are the production of spandex (polyurethane) fibers, polyurethane elastomers, and copolyester-ether elastomers.

Polytetramethylene Ether Glycol Production Method:

Polytetrahydrofuran was first made in the late 1930s. Polytetramethylene ether glycol is a polymer produced by ring-opening polymerization of tetrahydrofuran. Polytetrahydrofuran can only be obtained by the positive ionic polymerization of tetrahydrofuran. The reaction is as follows:
nC4H8O+H2O====(initiator)====HO-[-C4H8O-]n-H
Tetrahydrofuran is industrially polymerized into products with molecular weights of 600 to 3000 and hydroxyl groups at both ends using acetic anhydride – perchloric acid, fluorosulfonic acid or fuming sulfuric acid as initiators.

Polytetramethylene Ether Glycol Applications:

Polytetrahydrofuran is mainly used as a soft chain segment of block polyurethane or block polyether polyester. Block polyurethane rubber made from polytetrahydrofuran with an average molecular weight of 1000 can be used as tires, transmission belts, gaskets, etc.; Polytetrahydrofuran can also be used in coatings, artificial leather, films, etc. The block polyether polyester is a thermoplastic elastomer. In 2008, polytetrahydrofuran was reported that the block polyurethane made from polytetrahydrofuran has good anti-coagulation property and can be used as medical polymer material.

Polytetrahydrofuran Chemical Properties:

Easily soluble in alcohols, esters, ketones, aromatic hydrocarbons and chlorinated hydrocarbons, insoluble in ester fatty hydrocarbons and water. The solubility decreases when the molecular weight increases. At room temperature, all PTMEGs are water absorbent. Its water absorption depends on the size of molecular weight and can absorb up to 2% of water.

Polytetramethylene Ether Glycol Instruction:

PTMEG is obtained by cationic ring-opening polymerization of tetrahydrofuran (thf) in the presence of a catalyst, which is called polytetramethylene ether glycol (ptmeg for short). PTMEG is commonly used in Chinese as polytetramethylene ether glycol, tetrahydrofuran homopolyether or polytetramethylene ether glycol, etc. PTMEG is a polyether glycol with a terminal hydroxyl group. PTMEG is mainly used in the production of polyurethane elastomers, polyurethane elastomeric fibers (called spandex in China and spandex internationally) and ester-ether copolymer elastomers.

Overseas PTMEG’s largest consumer market is spandex, accounting for about 40%; followed by polyurethane elastomer, accounting for about 35%; ester ether copolymer elastomer accounted for about 25%. PTMEG is a very important polyether polyol raw material in the production of polyurethane elastomer products. Domestic PTMEG is mainly used in the production of spandex and polyurethane elastomers, and is basically blank for ether copolymer elastomers.