Tripropylene
Encyclopedia
Tripropylene, also known as propylene trimer, 1-propene trimer, and tripropene is a mixture of three specific hydrocarbon
s, all saturated
alkane
s.
Its name comes from its mode of production, the trimer
ization of propene (also known as propylene). The propene molecules assemble randomly into three unique molecules. These are congener
s. Tripropylene is a blend of three of the thirty-five structural isomers having the molecular formula .
The three isomers are:
Tripropylene is not a chemical intermediate to polypropylene
. It is not an active oligomer
, it is a complete oligomer. The addition of hydrogen removes the last double bond, making it a saturated (iso-)alkane
. It has no active site or "free end", so it cannot undergo the same polymerization reaction that makes polypropylene.
, tripropylene is a highly flammable
liquid that is insoluble
in water. It is lighter than water, and its vapors are heavier than air.
Tripropylene is produced in large quantities and shipped in railway tankers.
Hydrocarbon
In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons from which one hydrogen atom has been removed are functional groups, called hydrocarbyls....
s, all saturated
Saturation (chemistry)
In chemistry, saturation has six different meanings, all based on reaching a maximum capacity...
alkane
Alkane
Alkanes are chemical compounds that consist only of hydrogen and carbon atoms and are bonded exclusively by single bonds without any cycles...
s.
Its name comes from its mode of production, the trimer
Trimer (chemistry)
In chemistry, a trimer is a product derived from three identical precursors. Trimers are typically cyclic. Chemical compounds that often trimerise are aliphatic isocyanates and cyanic acids. Often, trimerization competes with polymerization....
ization of propene (also known as propylene). The propene molecules assemble randomly into three unique molecules. These are congener
Congener
Congener has several different meanings depending on the field in which it is used. Colloquially, it is used to mean a person or thing like another, in character or action.-Biology:In biology, congeners are organisms within the same genus...
s. Tripropylene is a blend of three of the thirty-five structural isomers having the molecular formula .
The three isomers are:
- 2,3-Dimethylheptane, CH3CH(CH3)CH(CH3)CH2CH2CH2CH3;
- 2,4-Dimethylheptane, CH3CH(CH3)CH2CH(CH3)CH2CH2CH3;
- 2,3,5-Trimethylhexane, CH3CH(CH3)CH(CH3)CH2CH(CH3)CH3.
Tripropylene is not a chemical intermediate to polypropylene
Polypropylene
Polypropylene , also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications including packaging, textiles , stationery, plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and polymer banknotes...
. It is not an active oligomer
Oligomer
In chemistry, an oligomer is a molecule that consists of a few monomer units , in contrast to a polymer that, at least in principle, consists of an unlimited number of monomers. Dimers, trimers, and tetramers are oligomers. Many oils are oligomeric, such as liquid paraffin...
, it is a complete oligomer. The addition of hydrogen removes the last double bond, making it a saturated (iso-)alkane
Alkane
Alkanes are chemical compounds that consist only of hydrogen and carbon atoms and are bonded exclusively by single bonds without any cycles...
. It has no active site or "free end", so it cannot undergo the same polymerization reaction that makes polypropylene.
Properties
At room temperatureRoom temperature
-Comfort levels:The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers has listings for suggested temperatures and air flow rates in different types of buildings and different environmental circumstances. For example, a single office in a building has an occupancy ratio per...
, tripropylene is a highly flammable
Flammability
Flammability is defined as how easily something will burn or ignite, causing fire or combustion. The degree of difficulty required to cause the combustion of a substance is quantified through fire testing. Internationally, a variety of test protocols exist to quantify flammability...
liquid that is insoluble
Solubility
Solubility is the property of a solid, liquid, or gaseous chemical substance called solute to dissolve in a solid, liquid, or gaseous solvent to form a homogeneous solution of the solute in the solvent. The solubility of a substance fundamentally depends on the used solvent as well as on...
in water. It is lighter than water, and its vapors are heavier than air.
Production
When produced from propene, the net reaction is 3 C3H6 + H2 → C9H20.Tripropylene is produced in large quantities and shipped in railway tankers.