THF application areas and uses

Tetrahydrofuran, also known as oxolane, oxolane, and tetramethylene oxide, is an intermediate for the synthesis of pesticide fenbutin. In addition, it can be directly used in the production of synthetic fibers, synthetic resins, synthetic rubbers, and also many polymeric materials. , solvent for precision magnetic tape and electroplating industry, and also used to make adiponitrile, adipic acid, hexamethylene diamine, succinic acid, butanediol, γ-butyrolactone, etc. Progesterone, rifamycin and used as pharmaceutical solvent.

THF is an important organic synthesis raw material and a solvent with excellent performance. It is especially suitable for dissolving PVC, polyvinylidene chloride and butyl aniline. It is widely used as a solvent for surface coatings, anti-corrosion coatings, printing inks, tapes and film coatings. As a reaction solvent, the thickness and brightness of the aluminum layer can be arbitrarily controlled when used in electroplating aluminum solution. THF itself can be polycondensed (by cation-initiated ring-opening repolymerization) to form polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG), also known as tetrahydrofuran homopolyether. PTMEG and toluene diisocyanate (TDI) make special rubber with wear resistance, oil resistance, good low temperature performance and high strength; make block polyether polyester elastic with dimethyl terephthalate and 1,4-butanediol Material. PTMEG with a relative molecular mass of 2000 and p-methylene bis(4-phenyl) diisocyanate (MDI) are used as raw materials for polyurethane elastic fibers (spandex, namely SPANDEX fibers), special rubber and some special-purpose coatings.

In organic synthesis, it is used to produce tetrahydrothiophene, 1.4-dichloroethane, 2.3-dichlorotetrahydrofuran, valerolactone, butyrolactone and pyrrolidone. In the pharmaceutical industry, THF is used to synthesize carbazepine, rifamycin, progesterone and some hormonal drugs. THF is treated with hydrogen sulfide to generate tetrahydrothiophenol, which can be used as an odorant (identification additive) in fuel gas. THF can also be used as a surface treatment agent for synthetic leather.