Tetramethylxylylene diisocyanate (TMXDI) is an
organic compound
In chemistry, organic compounds are generally any chemical compounds that contain carbon- hydrogen or carbon-carbon bonds. Due to carbon's ability to catenate (form chains with other carbon atoms), millions of organic compounds are known. Th ...
is an
organic compound
In chemistry, organic compounds are generally any chemical compounds that contain carbon- hydrogen or carbon-carbon bonds. Due to carbon's ability to catenate (form chains with other carbon atoms), millions of organic compounds are known. Th ...
with the formula C
6H
4(CMe
2NCO)
2 (Me = CH
3). The molecule features two
isocyanate
In organic chemistry, isocyanate is the functional group with the formula . Organic compounds that contain an isocyanate group are referred to as isocyanates. An organic compound with two isocyanate groups is known as a diisocyanate. Diisocyan ...
groups. It was introduced in the 1980s by
American Cyanamid
American Cyanamid Company was a leading American conglomerate which became one of the nation's top 100 manufacturing companies during the 1970s and 1980s, according to the Fortune 500 listings at the time. It started in fertilizer, but added m ...
. TMXDI is generally classified as an aliphatic isocyanate. Aliphatic isocyanates generally exhibit enhanced UV stability compared to their aromatic counterparts.
Production
Many isocyanates are produced by
phosgenation
Phosgene is the organic chemical compound with the formula COCl2. It is a toxic, colorless gas; in low concentrations, its musty odor resembles that of freshly cut hay or grass. Phosgene is a valued and important industrial building block, es ...
of amines, but TMXDI is not. It is produced by the reaction of diisopropenylbenzene with
hydrogen chloride
The compound hydrogen chloride has the chemical formula and as such is a hydrogen halide. At room temperature, it is a colourless gas, which forms white fumes of hydrochloric acid upon contact with atmospheric water vapor. Hydrogen chloride g ...
followed by
isocyanic acid
Isocyanic acid is a chemical compound with the structural formula HNCO, which is often written as . It is a colourless, volatile and poisonous substance, with a boiling point of 23.5 °C. It is the predominant tautomer of cyanic acid ( ...
:
:C
6H
4(C(Me)=CH
2)
2 + 2 HCl → C
6H
4(CMe
2Cl)
2
:C
6H
4(CMe
2Cl)
2 + 2 HNCO → C
6H
4(CMe
2NCO)
2 + 2 HCl
Uses
A key use for TMXDI is in manufacturing polyurethane prepolymers. It is also used to manufacture
polyurethane dispersion
Polyurethane Dispersion, or PUD, is understood to be a polyurethane polymer resin dispersed in water, rather than a solvent. Its manufacture involves the synthesis of polyurethanes having carboxylic acid functionality or nonionic hydrophiles like ...
s (PUDs). These materials are then further used to manufacture coatings,
adhesives, sealants and
elastomer
An elastomer is a polymer with viscoelasticity (i.e. both viscosity and elasticity) and with weak intermolecular forces, generally low Young's modulus and high failure strain compared with other materials. The term, a portmanteau of ''elastic ...
s.
TMXDI has been considered as a replacement for
Isophorone diisocyanate
Isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) is an organic compound in the class known as isocyanates. More specifically, it is an aliphatic diisocyanate. It is produced in relatively small quantities, accounting for (with hexamethylene diisocyanate) only 3.4% ...
(IPDI). IPDI has a molecular weight of 222.3 and thus a NCO equivalent weight of 111.15. TMXDI has a molecular weight of 244.3 and thus an equivalent weight of 122.15. Thus per mole, approximately 10% more is required than the equivalent prepolymer based on IPDI. This difference increases cost.When making polyurethanes dispersions (PUDs) TMXDI is advantageous. Being sterically hindered, the NCO groups are slower reacting which is good when dispersing a prepolymer in water to make a PUD. It reduces side reactions and allows more time to allow the dispersion stage before the mix is chain extended. This is done usually with a diamine. It has even found use in a rocket propellant binder by the US military
Safety
Extensive data has become available.
See also
*
Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate
Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) is an aromatic diisocyanate. Three isomers are common, varying by the positions of the isocyanate groups around the rings: 2,2′-MDI, 2,4′-MDI, and 4,4′-MDI. The 4,4′ isomer is most widely used, and i ...
*
Toluene diisocyanate
Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is an organic compound with the formula CH3C6H3(NCO)2. Two of the six possible isomers are commercially important: 2,4-TDI (CAS: 584-84-9) and 2,6-TDI (CAS: 91-08-7). 2,4-TDI is produced in the pure state, but TDI is oft ...
*
Isophorone diisocyanate
Isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) is an organic compound in the class known as isocyanates. More specifically, it is an aliphatic diisocyanate. It is produced in relatively small quantities, accounting for (with hexamethylene diisocyanate) only 3.4% ...
*
Hexamethylene diisocyanate
Hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) is the organic compound with the formula (CH2)6(NCO)2. It is classified as an diisocyanate. It is a colorless liquid. It has sometimes been called HMDI but this not usually done to avoid confusion with Hydrogenate ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
Technical Data Sheet TMXDISafety Data Sheet TMXDIIncorez website
Isocyanates
Monomers
Alkyl-substituted benzenes