Ethylene Glycols

Physical Properties

Physical Properties (1) Monoethylene Diethylene Triethylene Tetraethylene

Glycol Glycol Glycol Glycol
MEG DEG TEG TETRA EG

Formula C2 H6 O 2 C4H10O4 C6H14O4 C8H18O5

CAS Number 107-21-1 111-46-6 112-27-6 112-60-7
Molecular Weight, g/mol 62 106.12 150 194.2
Boiling Point @ 760 mm Hg, °C (°F) 197 (387) 245 (473) 288 (550) 329 (625)
Decomposes
Vapor Pressure at 20°C (68°F) mm 0.06 0.002 <0.01 <0.01
Hg
Density, (g/cc) @ 20°C (68°F) 1.115 1.118 1.125 1.124
Density, (g/cc) @ 60°C (140°F) 1.096 1.085 1.087 1.093 1.096
Pounds Per Gallon @ 25°C (77°F) 9.26 9.27 9.35 9.37
Freezing Point, °C (°F) -13.4 (7.9) -9.0 (16) -4.3 (24) -4 (25)
Pour Point, °C (°F) <-59 (<-75) -54 (-65) -58 (-73) -41 (-42)
Viscosity, cP @ 25°C (68°F) 16.9 35.7 49.0 58.3
Viscosity, cP @ 60°C (140°F) 5.2 7.3 10.3 11.4
Surface Tension, dynes/cm @ 25°C 48 44.8 45.5 44.0
(77°F)
Refractive Index @ 20°C (68°F) 1.430 1.447 1.455 1.459
Specific Heat @ 25°C (77°F) Btu/lb/°F 0.58 0.55 0.52 0.52
(2) (2) (2)
Flash Point, °C (°F) 116 (241)  154 (310)  177 (350)  202 (395) (2)
Dipole Moment in Debyes 2.28 2.69 2.99 3.25
Coefficient of Expansion x 104 (0- 6.5 6.6 7.2 7.3
60°C)
Thermal Conductivity, Btu hr-1 ft-1 °F- 0.1490 0.1175 0.1133 0.1106
1 25°C (77°F)
Thermal Conductivity, Btu hr-1 ft-1 °F- 0.1490 0.1175 0.1133 0.1106
1 25°C (77°F)
Heat of Formation, Btu/lb@ 25°C -93 -131 -171 -212
(77°F)
Heat of Vaporization, Btu/lb@ 25°C 369 234.4 179 139
(77°F)
Electrical Conductivity, 1.07 (3) 0.0042 (3) 0.002 (3) 0.0016 (3)
mhos/cm,@20°C
(1)
 Note: These properties are laboratory results on pure compounds or typical of the product, but should
not be confused with, or regarded as, specifications.
(2)
 Penskey-Martens Closed Cup (PMCC)

(3)
 Electrical conductivity values are measured on highest quality, pure materials. Contamination by other
ionic species from storage, handling, or use may significantly affect the electrical conductivity. The
literature value for ethylene glycol is 1.07x10-6 mhos/cm at 25°C.

Ethylene glycol is a colorless, practically odorless, low-volatility, low-viscosity, hygroscopic liquid. It is completely
miscible with water and many organic liquids.The hydroxyl groups on glycols undergo the usual alcohol chemistry,
giving a wide variety of possible derivatives. Hydroxyls can be converted to aldehydes, alkyl halides, amines, azides,
carboxylic acids, ethers, mercaptans, nitrate esters, nitriles, nitrite esters, organic esters, peroxides, phosphate esters
and sulfate esters.

This chemistry permits ethylene glycol to act as an intermediate in a wide range of reactions. Especially significant is
resin formation, including the condensation with dimethyl terephthalate or terephthalic acid resulting in a polyester
resin.

The reactivity and solubility of ethylene glycol provide the basis for many applications. The widespread use of

ethylene glycol as an antifreeze is based on its ability to lower the freezing point when mixed with water. The physical
properties of ethylene glycol-water mixtures are therefore extremely important. The end uses for ethylene glycol are
numerous

Ethylene glycols play a significant role in industry due to their wide range of applications, such as:

Polyester Resins
Antifreeze and Coolants
Gas Dehydration & Treating
Chemical Intermediates
Heat Transfer Fluids
Solvents
Other Application

1. POLYESTER RESINS

Ethylene glycols are used as a reactant in the manufacture of polyester resins. Dow produces ethylene glycols
for use in polyester fiber, films and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin production, as well as alkyd resins
used in paints. The uses for polyester resins are extremely varied, and include boat and marine, construction
materials, automotive and aircraft bodies, luggage, furnishings, appliances, textiles and packaging.

Polyester fibers are commonly found in textile applications including clothing and carpets.

Polyester films are frequently used in packaging and wraps for consumer goods, as well as video, audio and
computer tapes. PET is widely used in the manufacturing of beverage bottles and containers, and other
consumer goods packaging.

Products:
Monethylene glycol (MEG)
Diethylene glycol (DEG)
Triethylene glycol (TEG)
Tetraethylene glycol (TETRA EG)

2. ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANTS

 Ethylene glycols remain viscous at low temperatures; they have a low freezing point and high boiling point.
Ethylene glycols are frequently used to make automobile antifreeze and coolants, aircraft anti-icing and deicing
materials.

Products:
Monethylene glycol (MEG) 
Diethylene glycol (DEG)

3. GAS DEHYDRATION & TREATING

Ethylene glycols are commonly used in natural gas hydration and treating applications to remove water and
impurities. Diethylene glycol (DEG), Triethylene glycol (TEG) and Tetraethylene glycol (TETRA EG) have
excellent hygroscopicity and low volatility. Because of these characteristics, DEG, TEG and TETRA EG are in
high demand in the natural gas drying market.

Products:
Diethylene glycol (DEG)
Triethylene glycol (TEG)
Tetraethylene glycol (TETRA EG)

4. CHEMICAL INTERMEDIATES

Ethylene glycols including monoethylene glycol (MEG), diethylene glycol (DEG), triethylene glycol (TEG) and
tetraethylene glycol (TETRA EG), are versatile chemical intermediates used to produce a variety of products for
commercial and industrial use:

 Adhesives and coatings

 Emulsifiers
 Lubricants   
 Plasticizers 
 Polyurethane foams
 Solvents
 Silicone compounds
 Thermoplastics 
 Unsaturated polyester resins

Products:
Monethylene glycol (MEG)
Diethylene glycol (DEG)
Triethylene glycol (TEG)
Tetraethylene glycol (TETRA EG)

5. HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS

Monoethylene glycol (MEG), diethleyene glycol (DEG), triethylene glycol (TEG) and tetraethylene glycol (TETRA
EG), due to their low freezing point, freezing point depressant and high boiling point are predominantly used in
heat transfer fluids.

Products:
Monethylene glycol (MEG)
Diethylene glycol (DEG)
Triethylene glycol (TEG)
Tetraethylene glycol (TETRA EG)

6. SOLVENTS
Diethylene glycol (DEG), triethylene glycol (TEG) and tetraethylene glycol (TETRA EG) have excellent solvent
properties. TEG and TETRA EG are used as solvents in several applications:

 Aromatic and paraffinic hydrocarbons separations

 Cleaning compounds
 Cyanoacrylate and polyacrylonitrile
 Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) production equipment cleaning
 Steam-set printing inks

Products:
Diethylene glycol (DEG)
Triethylene glycol (TEG)
Tetraethylene glycol (TETRA EG)

7. OTHER APPLICATIONS

Triethylene glycol (TEG) and tetraethylene glycol (TETRA EG) may be used directly as a plasticizer or modified by
esterification. As a plasticizer, TEG and TETRA EG are used in the manufacture of:

 Safety glass
 Separation membranes (silicone rubber, polyvinyl acetate, cellulose triacetate)
 Ceramic materials (resistant refractory plastics, molded ceramics)

Demand for tetraethylene glycol is strong in the area of BTX (benzene, toluene, xylene) extraction to separate
aromatic hydrocarbons from non-aromatic hydrocarbons.

Monoethylene glycol (MEG), diethylene glycol (DEG) are often used in water-based paints, dry-wall compounds,
glass cleaners, dyes, waxes and adhesives as a freezing point depressor to avoid damage by low-temperature
extremes.

In addition, monethylene glycol and diethylene glycol are also used as binders for foundry sand molding, and a
lubricant for glass- and cement-grinding. In addition, both homologs are also used as humectants in textile fiber,
paper, leather, adhesive and glue applications.

Products:
Monethylene glycol (MEG)
Diethylene glycol (DEG)
Triethylene glycol (TEG)
Tetraethylene glycol (TETRA EG)

ETHYLENE GLYCOLS CHEMISTRY

Ethylene glycols (EG), referred to as monoethylene glycol (MEG), diethylene glycol (DEG), triethylene glycol
(TEG) and tetraethylene glycol (TETRA EG) are colorless, low-volatility, low-viscosity, hygroscopic liquids. They
are completely miscible with water and many organic liquids.

Ethylene glycols are members of the class of compounds called alcohols and part of the group of chemicals
called diols, because they have two hydroxyl groups attached to separate carbon atoms in an aliphatic
(hydrocarbon) chain. Ethylene glycols have properties characteristic of alcohols and undergo reactions typical of
alcohols and diols.

The structural formulas of ethylene glycols (and their isomers) are:

Ethylene Glycol

CH2 – OH
 |
CH2– OH
Diethylene Glycol

      CH2 – CH2 – OH
    /
O 
    \
      CH2 – CH2 – OH

Triethylene Glycol

CH2 – O – CH2 – CH2 – OH

 |
CH2 – O – CH2 – CH2 – OH

Tetraethylene Glycol

      CH2 – CH2 – O – CH2 – CH2 – OH

    /
O
    \
      CH2 – CH2 – O – CH2 – CH2 – OH

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY

Proper handling precautions, safety equipment and personnel training are essential when handling and using
ethylene glycols in supported applications.

Specific precautions with regard to human health, the environment and the physical characteristics of ethylene
glycol, must be known and obtained from Safety Data Sheets (SDS).

PPL is committed to the proper handling, use and storage of Ethylene Glycols. For more than a decade, PPL has
embraced and advocated Responsible Care®, a voluntary industry-wide commitment to safely handle our
chemicals from inception in the laboratory to ultimate disposal.

SAFETY DATA SHEET

Ethylene glycol
 IUPAC name[hide]

Ethane-1,2-diol

Other names[hide]

1,2-Ethanediol

Glycol

Ethylene Alcohol

Hypodicarbonous acid

Monoethylene glycol

Identifiers

Abbreviations MEG

CAS number 107-21-1  , 104700-12-1 (13C2), 59609-67-

5 (14C2),2219-52-5 (2H),(2H)

PubChem 174  , 21334931 (1-2H1)  ,16213434 (13C2) 

,134462 (14C2),10986148 (2H),(2H) 

ChemSpider 13835235  ,13835235 (13C2)  ,118525 (14C2) 

UNII FC72KVT52F 

EC number 203-473-3

DrugBank DB01867

KEGG D06424 

MeSH Ethylene+glycol

ChEBI CHEBI:30742 

ChEMBL CHEMBL457299 

RTECS number KW2975000

Beilstein Reference 505945

Gmelin Reference 943

3DMet B00278

Jmol-3D images Image 1

SMILES

[show]

InChI

[show]

Properties

Molecular formula C2H6O2

Molar mass 62.07 g mol−1

Density 1.1132 g/cm³

Melting point
−12.9 °C, 260 K, 9 °F

Boiling point
197.3 °C, 470 K, 387 °F

Solubility in water Miscible with water

in all proportions.

Viscosity 1.61 × 10−2 N*s / m2[1]

Hazards

MSDS External MSDS

EU classification Harmful (Xn)

R-phrases R22 R36

S-phrases S26 S36 S37 S39 S45 S53

Main hazards It is extremely harmful to pets and children. If

ingested, get medical help immediately.

NFPA 704

1
 2
1
Flash point 111 °C (231.8 °F) (closed cup)

Autoignition 410 °C (770 °F)

temperature

Related compounds

Related diols Propylene glycol

Diethylene glycol

Triethylene glycol

Polyethylene glycol

Supplementary data page

Structure and n, εr, etc.

properties

Thermodynamic Phase behaviour

data Solid, liquid, gas

Spectral data UV, IR, NMR, MS

   (verify) (what is:  / ?)

Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in

their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)

Infobox references