99% Dimethoxy dipropyleneglycol CAS 111109-77-4

What is Dipropylene Glycol Dimethyl Ether?

Dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether (also known as dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether, or DPGDME, DMM, DPDM, and trade name such as PROGLYDE DMM) is a dimethyl ether compound formed by methylating the hydroxyl groups at both ends of a dipropylene glycol molecule. It is a typical low-toxicity, hydrophilic, nonionic, multi-purpose, and environmentally friendly solvent in the propylene glycol dimethyl ether family. Its chemical formula is usually written as:

C8H18O3 (dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether, CAS No.: 111109-77-4 (mixture of isomers), UNII No.: Q4KC92LJ05, molecular weight approximately 162.23)

It is a colorless and transparent liquid at room temperature with a faint ether-like odor. It has a suitable evaporation rate, excellent chemical stability, and excellent solubility. It is miscible with water, alcohols, and most organic solvents. The molecule contains both hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups, exhibiting a good hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance and excellent coupling properties. DPGDME is prepared by reacting dipropylene glycol with methanol or a methylating agent. Its molecular structure is CH3O[CH2CH(CH3)O]2CH3, where each of the two propylene glycol units is attached to a methoxy group at both ends. It is one of the low-VOC solvents recommended by environmental regulations.

Chemically, DPGDME is an aliphatic ether compound. It is chemically stable, not easily hydrolyzed, compatible with most chemicals, and has high safety and low toxicity to humans. But like all ethers it can slowly oxidise to peroxides if left long enough in air and light. Therefore, it should be kept in a sealed container, protected from light and away from oxidants and sources of fire.

Non-industrial DPGDME is employed in applications which demand very high purity and tight control of impurities, such as lithium battery electrolytes, electronic chemicals, precision cleaning and laboratory analysis. Common specifications are battery grade (electrolytes for lithium battery), electronic grade (high purity) and reagent grade (analytical grade). Non-industrial grade products are higher in purity than industrial grade, with stricter control of trace impurities, and pay more attention to the following indicators:

1. Purity (content)

The products of non-industrial grade usually contain more than 99.5% of active ingredient. The content is a core indicator of product specifications and determines the solubility, electrochemical stability and repeatability of the formulation.

2. Moisture

The requirements for the moisture content of battery-grade products are very high (usually at the ppm level), because moisture will affect the performance and safety of lithium battery electrolytes and must be strictly controlled.

3. Metal content

Very low levels (ppm) of metal ions like sodium, potassium, iron, calcium etc. need to be controlled for battery grade and electronic grade products to prevent contamination of batteries and electronic devices.

4. Peroxide value

Oxidation and peroxide formation could occur from long-term storage of ether solvents, which can affect the stability of electrolyte and pose safety hazards. Very low levels are required for non-industrial grade products.

5. Acidity

Acidity is a measure of free acid content. Excessive acidity may affect stability of electrolytes and electronic chemical systems and must be strictly controlled.

6.Evaporation residues

The evaporation residue (total impurities) is relevant to electronic chemicals and precision cleaning applications and must be controlled at very low levels.

7.Colour (APHA)

Colour affects the appearance of products and the visual quality of downstream products. Non-industrial grade products should have a lighter and more stable colour.

What are the uses of Dipropylene Glycol and Dimethyl Ether?

1. Co-solvent for lithium-ion battery electrolytes (core application)

Battery-grade DPGDME is used as a co-solvent for lithium-ion battery electrolytes and can be applied in energy storage, special equipment, low-temperature power batteries and other fields. It helps to reduce electrolyte viscosity, improve low-temperature performance, improve rate characteristics and cycle stability, and is currently the most widely used non-industrial grade application.

2. Solvents for novel battery systems (research)

DPGDME is used as an ether solvent in electrolytes for novel battery systems such as lithium-sulfur batteries and sodium-ion batteries. Its use in combination with cyclic ethers is a popular research direction in new energy batteries.

3. Coating and Ink Solvents (Core Application)

DPDM is a classic co-solvent for waterborne polyurethane coatings. Waterborne polyurethane systems are proton-sensitive, and common alcohol ether solvents react with isocyanate groups. DPDM, however, has no hydroxyl groups and does not interfere with the reaction, making it one of the preferred solvents for proton-sensitive systems. It is also used as a film-forming aid and coagulant in latex paints, wood coatings, automotive paints, and industrial paints. Low volatility and good surface tension-reducing ability promote uniform film formation and enhance levelling and gloss.

4. Precision cleaning and electronic chemicals

DPGDME is used as a cleaning solvent for semiconductors, optoelectronic devices and precision electronic components, and as a solvent component for electronic chemicals such as photoresists and electronic pastes to help remove trace contaminants without damaging devices.

5. Substances for cleaning and washing

DPDM is used as a solvent and co-solvent in household cleaning products (e.g. oil stain removers and glass cleaners) and industrial cleaning agents. It aids in the solubilisation of grease and dirt, reduction in surface tension, improvement of cleaning efficiency and is compatible with many surfactant systems.

6. Synthesis of Organic Materials and Solvents for Reactions

DPDM is an inert, aprotic solvent that can be used as an azeotroping solvent in esterification reactions to assist in dehydration of the reaction and to improve the conversion rate, and it is also used in the synthesis of polyurethanes as a reaction medium and diluent.

7. Resin and polymer production

DPDM is employed as a solvent in the production of solvent-based resins (e.g. alkyd resins, acrylic resins) to adjust the viscosity of the polymerisation system and enhance the resin properties.

8. Textile auxiliaries

DPDM is a solvent carrier for textile printing and dyeing auxiliaries, dispersing and penetrating auxiliaries evenly, to serve the textile dyeing and finishing industry.

9. Flavourings and fragrances (indirect contact)

DPDM is used in the fragrance and flavour industry as a solvent carrier to assist in the stable dissolution of fragrance components. It can be an indirect component of fragrance formulations in the fragrances and daily chemical products that we use.

10. Laboratory solvents of reagent grade

DPGDME (reagent grade) is used as a reaction media for organic synthesis. It is also an extraction solvent and analytical testing solvent. It can be applied in various reaction systems since it has high boiling point, low toxicity and chemical inertness.

11. Coupling agents and co-solvents

DPGDME is used as a coupling agent and co-solvent in both water-based and solvent-based formulations to help control the compatibility and stability of the system due to its excellent coupling properties.

Summarize

Dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether (DPGDME, DMM, C8H18O3, CAS No. 111109-77-4, molecular weight approximately 162.23) is a colorless, transparent liquid with a slight ether odor. It is miscible with water, alcohols, and most organic solvents. Due to its low toxicity, hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance, and chemical stability, it has become an important environmentally friendly high-purity solvent in the new energy and electronics fields. In daily life, we encounter it through lithium batteries in mobile phones, laptops, and electric vehicles, in the manufacture of electronic products, as well as in laboratory testing and environmentally friendly coatings. In non-industrial applications, DPGDME is widely used as a co-solvent in lithium battery electrolytes, a solvent for novel battery systems, in electronic chemicals and precision cleaning, a reagent-grade laboratory solvent, a high-purity coating and ink additive, and a coupling agent. It is a versatile environmentally friendly solvent bridging "high-purity ether solvent chemistry" with "new energy, electronics, and laboratory applications."