Polyol

Polyols is the name of a group of organic compounds containing a plurality of hydroxyl groups (-OH), so-called polyol ( polyhydric alcohol). Polyols can be linear (for example, sorbitol) as well as cyclic (e.g., inositol ) established. The number of hydroxyl groups in a chemical compound is indicated by the word ending: If a compound one, two or three hydroxy groups, then, according to the suffix "- ol ", " -diol " or " triol " attached; four hydroxyl groups from one speaks only generally of a "polyol".

The preparation of polyols, in particular for the plastics industry, can be carried out both petrochemical ( based on mineral oil), as well as oleochemical ( vegetable oil-based ).

Properties

Since the umbrella term polyol is a purely chemical nomenclature and displays only the presence of several hydroxyl groups, one can not assign general properties of the polyols. Polyols are solid at room temperature until most viscous ( thick ). This is due to the fact that hydrogen bonds between the individual molecules.

Examples

Some commonly used polyols are:

• Polyols as tooth-friendly sugar substitutes in gum and hard candy: for example, isomalt, sorbitol or mannitol
• Antifreeze: for example, ethylene glycol ( 1,2- ethanediol ) or glycerol ( 1,2,3- propane triol )
• Plastic components: the polyester polyols or polyether polyols used in the production of polyurethane.
• Color, smell, taste, and growth substances (eg essential oils ): various phenols with multiple hydroxyl groups