Tetrahydrofuran, also known as oxolane or 1,4-butylene oxide, is a heterocyclic organic compound with the chemical formula C₄H₄O. It belongs to the ether family and is the complete hydrogenation product of furan. At room temperature, it is a colorless, volatile liquid with an ether-like odor. It is soluble in most organic solvents, including water, ethanol, ether, acetone, and benzene, earning it the nickname "universal solvent." It is partially miscible with water at room temperature. It exhibits low toxicity, a low boiling point, and excellent fluidity.

PRODUCT PROPERTIES

Density: 0.89 g/cm³

Melting Point: -108.5°C

Boiling Point: 66°C

Flash Point: -14°C

Refractive Index: n²⁻¹/D 1.465

Saturated Vapor Pressure: 19.3 kPa (20°C)

Critical Temperature: 268°C

Critical Pressure: 5.19 MPa

Ignition Temperature: 321°C

Appearance: Colorless liquid

Solubility: Soluble in most organic solvents, including water, ethanol, ether, acetone, and benzene.

PRODUCT APPLICATIONS

1. Tetrahydrofuran can be polycondensed (via cationic ring-opening polymerization) to form polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG), also known as tetrahydrofuran homopolyether. PTMEG can be combined with toluene diisocyanate (TDI) to produce a special rubber that is wear-resistant, oil-resistant, has excellent low-temperature performance, and high strength. It can also be combined with dimethyl terephthalate and 1,4-butanediol to produce a segmented polyether polyester elastomer. 2. Tetrahydrofuran is an excellent solvent, particularly suitable for dissolving PVC, polyvinylidene chloride, and butadiene aniline. It is widely used as a solvent for surface coatings, anti-corrosion coatings, printing inks, magnetic tapes, and film coatings. When used in aluminum electroplating, it allows for controlled thickness and brightness of the aluminum layer.

3. It is used as a raw material in organic synthesis to produce tetrahydrothiophene, 1.4-dichloroethane, 2.3-dichlorotetrahydrofuran, valerolactone, butyrolactone, and pyrrolidone. In the pharmaceutical industry, it is used to synthesize carbetaquinone, rifamycin, progesterone, and some hormonal drugs. Tetrahydrothiophenol, produced by treatment with hydrogen sulfide, can be used as an odorant (identification additive) in fuel gas and is also a primary solvent in the pharmaceutical industry.

4. Other uses: It is a chromatographic solvent (for gel permeation chromatography), used for natural gas odorization, as a solvent for acetylene extraction, and as a light stabilizer for polymer materials.