One in a series by 6ithe men that make the most of them"
Polyol Portraits
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ETHYLENE POLYOLS
Ethylene oxide is the forefather of one offers a selection uamatehed for both of the main branches of t h e huge diversity a n d quality. polyol family—the ethylene glycols and In m a k i n g e t h y l e n e o x i d e , Dow polyethylene glycols ("forefather" beuses the chlorohydrin process to maincause it is the basic raw material from tain clos«e control over quality. A s which they are m a d e ) . This group of Dow is a_ leading producer of two of chemicals has become, in a relatively the ingredients useci in this p r o c e s s few years, a highly important segment caustic a n d chlorine—these chemicals of industrial chemistry. Dow has played are nevex in short supply. A n d the a leading part in t h e development of other ingredient is also a "captive"— ethylene-derived polyols. Today, it Dow maintains cracking plants for the
express purpose of producing ethylene. Thus D o w can — a n d does — exercise meticulous control over E O production, from well t o warehouse. Result: Quality. Unexcelled uniformity a n d purity. These are the ground rules at the five Dow producing plants that supply abundant quantities of E O for the foreseeable requirements of industry.
T h e i n d u s t r i a l g-lycols—ethylene, diethylene, triethylene a n d tetraethyl-
From basic ethylene oxt de* comes a w i d e l y diverse array of talented polyols.
c^e glycol-—are governed b y these same rigorous quality controls. M a n y painstaking measures a r e taken to keep the quality standards a s high in. the derivatives as they a r e in EO. A new D o w p r o d u c i n g plant went on stream in M a r c h of this year at Plaquemine, Louisiana. T h e new facilities provide m o r e than adequate capacity for Dow's extensive line oi etrylene-derived glycols. They supplement the Dow plants which have been producing these polyols over two decades. Dow frequently tailors these glycols to meet special customer specifications. T o aid petroleum benzene producers, for example, D o w developed a special U D E X ® b r a n d diethylene glycol. F o r manufacturers of electrolytic condensers, D o w met an extremely exacting specification for ethylene glycol. So exacting, in fact, t h a t perspiration from the t h u m b of a m a n w o u l d throw an entire d r u m "off spec"! I n p o l y e t h y l e n e g l y c o l s , as in the entire realm of polyols, D o w lays claim to "the world's widest line"'. Available in both solid and liquid f o r m , these Dow P E G ' s cover a b r o a d spectrum of physical and chemical properties. Average molecular weights range from 190 to 21,000 . . . viscosities (centistokes at 210 F . ) from 4.1 to 6 , 4 0 0 . Complete or partial solubility with h u n d r e d s of liqv' '.s makes this group of chemicals use) il in formulating m y r i a d products. T h e terminal hydroxyl groups, for example, enable the polyethylene glycol molecule to take part in esterification reactions resulting in m a n y useful surface-active agents and emulsifiers.
New Dow plant at Plaquemîne, La., foins other EO producing facilities.
F r o m the original E O to the shipping dock, Dow quality control watchdogs scrutinize each P E G production operation. As a result, t h e quality and uniformity of Dow polyethylene glycols are unsurpassed. D o w frequently custom-tailors P E G ' s to meet special requirements of D o w customers. This special service m a k e s one more good reason why an increasing n u m b e r of companies buy their P E G ' s from D o w . Six modern Dow bulk terminals speed glycols and P E G ' s t o users throughout the nation. These are strategically located at Bayonne, N e w Jersey; Chicago, Illinois; Midland, Texas; Plaquemine, Louisiana; Oakland and Torrance, California. D r u m quantities are w a r e housed at many different points throughout the United States. T h e s a l i e n t p o i n t to keep in m i n d in any discussion—whether it centers on ethylene oxide, propylene oxide,
T H E P O L Y O L FAMILY T R E E Main branches include: Glycerine · Glycerine USP · Glycerine USP 9 9 . 5 % Propylene Glycol, Industrial · Propylene Glycol USP · Dipropylene Glycol Tripropylenê' Glycol · Ethylene Glycol · Diethylene Glycol Triethylene Glycol · Tetraethylene Glycol · Polyethylene Glycols Polypropylene Glycols · Polystyrene Glycols * Polyepichlorohydrin Hypn. e© SP80 · Hyprïn© GP 25 · Polybutylene Glycols - Styrene Glycol Dowanol® 1 2 2 - Polyglycol 11 Series · Polyglycol 13 Series Polyglycol 15 Series. Oxides: Ethylene Oxide · Propylene Oxide Butylène Oxîde S · Styrene Oxide · Epichlorohydrin T r i e P o l y g l y c o l s number many active members, among them three new products developed by Dow research—polyepichlorohydrin, polystyrene glycol, and polybutylene glycol. All three are adaptable as intermediates in the production of the new polyurethanes and in the surfactant field. Many promising applications in the paint, petroleum, detergent, plastic industries. Trie Polyetliylene Glycols are available in twelve molecular weights from E200 to E20,000 and ranging from viscous liquids through waxy and hard, tough solids. Very useful as plasticizers, lubricants, solvents and as carriers in cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations. Trie Polypr-opylerae G l y c o l s "P" series liquid through entire molecular weight range, P250 through P4000. Employed as lubricants, solvents, plasticizers and anti-foam agents. Polyglycol P2000 (resin grade) has gained widespread acceptance for use in urethane foams.
glycerine or any of their hundreds of derivatives—is this . . . D o w is B a s i c i n Polyols Whether you're in the market for glycols, P P G ' s , P E G ' s , glycerine or any of the hundreds of other D o w polyols, you always receive these benefits: X. You always get the highest quality and uniformity in Dow polyols because D o w makes and controls the quality and uniformity of all the ingredients for all their polyols. 2 . You tinuous original closely ability.
are assured of plentiful, c o n supply. As D o w itself is the source for all raw materials, it controls all factors of avail-
3. Multiple production and supply points, at strategic locations throughout the country, assure you of p r o m p t service and delivery. 4 . F r o m the creative cauldrons of polyol chemistry at D o w come scores of new polyol products and polyol improvements each year. There are literally nô material limits to the range of new developments that can be customm a d e for Dow customers! I t ' s easy as falling off a d r u m full of polyols to get i n t o u c h w i t h " t h e m e n t h a t m a k e t h e most of t h e m " . T h i s t e a m of scientists, e n g i n e e r s , p r o d u c t i o n a n d m a r k e t i n g specialists—all h i g h l y e x p e r i e n c e d i n polyols—is at y o u r s e r v i c e . S i m p l y call t h e D o w s a l e s office in y o u r a r e a , or w r i t e T H E DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY, Midland, Michigan, Chemicals Merc h a n d i s i n g D e p a r t m e n t 1104AJ11-16.
THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY MIDLAND, MICHIGAN
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