General information

Glycol ethers are a group of substances in organic chemistry that can be traced back to ethylene glycol or diethylene glycol as the basic units. Glycol ethers are mainly used as solvents, especially in paints, and as a basis for epoxy resins. As solvents, glycol ethers typically have the advantageous solvent properties of lower molecular weight ethers and alcohols, but higher boiling points, which is advantageous for processing.

Glycol ethers are either ethylene glycol (E-series) or propylene glycol (P-series) glycol ethers as the base unit, depending on whether they are made from ethylene oxide or propylene oxide, respectively.

Areas of application

Typically, E-series glycol ethers are found in pharmaceuticals, sunscreens, cosmetics, inks, dyes and water-based paints, while P-series glycol ethers are used in degreasers, cleaners, aerosol paints and adhesives.

Both E-series glycol ethers and P-series glycol ethers can be used as intermediates which undergo further chemical reactions to produce glycol diethers and glycol ether acetates. P-series glycol ethers are marketed as having lower toxicity than those of the E-series.

Most glycol ethers are water soluble, biodegradable and few are considered toxic.

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