Paraxylene is a colorless transparent liquid and constitutes the main component in the production of polyethylene terephthalate fiber and molded plastic and films.
Properties of Paraxylene
- The melting point is 13.2 ° C while the boiling point is 138.5 ° C.
- The molecular formula is C6 H4 (CH3) 2 o and it is one of the three organic compounds of xylene as m-xylene, m-xylene, and p-xylene.
- It is insoluble in water but soluble in alcohol, chloroform, ether, and many organic solvents.
- It is a carcinogenic compound that can be considered as volatile organic and toxic.
- It is colorless, easily flammable and explosive liquid.
- It should not be in contact with the skin and eyes, and should not be swallowed.
- It occurs naturally in petroleum and coal tar.
- It is the most demanding isomer among the xylenes.
Uses of Paraxylene
It is used in the production of dimethyl terephthalate and terephthalic acid. Both materials are the main components of polymers used in making PET fiber, film, and molded plastic. It is used in the composition of aircraft fuels, in paint, fiber, lacquer and rubber industries. It is a hydrocarbon used in the large-scale synthesis of many polymers. It also may be polymerised directly to produce parylene.
It is used in protective coatings, in rubber, in glost, in alkyd resins and in the composition of organic chemicals, it is not soluble in the water although it is soluble in the ether and it is a clear liquid. The most important areas of use are the production of pure terephthalic acid and dimethyl terephthalate, which constitute the polyester industrial inputs. It is also used in the cable industry, textile industry, optical resins, and adhesives. It is used for increasing the production quantity of final product and increasing the final product separation units, reforming units and aromatic processes in the production of the aromatic products.