PENTAERYTHRITOL
Pentaerythritol is a white, crystalline powder and is mainly used in the manufacture of alkyd resins as well as plasticizers and emulsifiers.
Pentaerythritol is not hygr., flammable, readily soluble in hot water, in cold water slightly soluble, slightly soluble in alcohol, and insoluble in benzene, tetrachloromethane, ether and petroleum ether.
Extraction:
The technical production is effected by the reaction of formaldehyde with acetaldehyde triple aldol reaction followed by a crossed Cannizzaro reaction. It is worked with a molar excess of formaldehyde in order to avoid the formation of dipentaerythritol.
Chemical Properties:
The four OH-groups go mainly in for alcohols typical reactions, such as esterification with acids. In the case of esterification of pentaerythritol with nitric acid, which is not quite correctly called nitration, the pentaerythritol tetranitrate (nitropenta) is formed, which is one of the most explosive blasting today and it beats, for example, the much-quoted C4 by far in its devastating explosive effect and, therefore, is used by the military or exclusively for special areas.
Chemical name: 2,2-Bis (hydroxymethyl) 1,3-propandiol
Chemical formula: C5H12O4
Packaging: Bigbags 500 kg and 1.000 kg, Bags 25kg, Bulk.