Maleic Anhydride

What is Maleic Anhydride?

Molecular Formula (Maleic Anhydride): C₄H₂O₃

Molecular Weight: 98.057 g/mol

Chemical Name: Maleic Anhydride

CAS Number: 108-31-6

Maleic Anhydride is a cyclic dicarboxylic anhydride, specifically the cyclic anhydride of maleic acid. It is an organic chemical substance classified as the acid anhydride of maleic acid. It is a highly versatile chemical compound.

Acid anhydrides are functional groups. It reacts very easily with water to form maleic acid. For this reason, maleic acid itself is not typically sold on the market; the anhydride form is preferred.

Other Names are as Follows;

• 2,5-Furandione
• Toxic Anhydride
• Maleic Acid Anhydride
• Polymaleic Anhydride
• MA Oligomer
• MA Polymer
• Poly (MA)
• Polymaleic Anhydride
• Maleic Acid Anhydride Homopolymer
• Polymers

How is it Produced?

Maleic Anhydride production is carried out through dehydration synthesis. When two carboxylic acid groups react, a water molecule is released. It is formed as a result of this reaction.

In other words, when water is removed from Maleic Acid using the dehydration method, MA production is achieved.

In addition, there are several different production methods for MA.

It can be prepared by sublimating Maleic Acid and P₂O₅ under low pressure. Commercial production can be carried out through the catalytic vapor phase oxidation of benzene or other suitable hydrocarbons. This is a vapor phase oxidation of benzene with atmospheric oxygen at 400 °C with the help of a V₂O₅ catalyst. A byproduct is o-xylene coming from Phthalic Anhydride.

What are its Physical and Chemical Properties?

It is in the form of colorless crystals, such as needles, flakes, lumps, rods, briquettes, or fused masses.

In terms of odor, it has irritating and suffocating properties. It has a sharp scent.

The boiling point is 202 °C.

The melting point is 53 °C.

The flash point is 102 °C.

When its solubility is examined, it has very good solubility in water. For example, it is observed as 79 g/100 ml at 25 °C in water. In terms of solubility, Maleic Anhydride dissolves well in hot solvents. Additionally, it dissolves well in the following chemicals:

• Acetone
• Chloroform
• Ethyl Acetate
• Benzene
• Toluene
• O-xylene
• Carbon Tetrachloride
• Dioxane

Its density is 1.5 g/cm³.

Physically, it is available in flake, pastille, and briquette forms. The briquette form emits toxic fumes while dissolving in water.

Use of Maleic Anhydride in Unsaturated Polyester Resins

In the production of unsaturated polyester resins, heat is released into the working environment as the polyester gel is compressed. It is also integrated with polyester foam.

During the process, MA is added to the mixture after being melted. These reactions result in white, very hard, and small-celled foams.

What are the Usage Areas of Maleic Anhydride?

• It is a highly reactive intermediate chemical substance used in many industrial chemistry fields.
• In the textile industry, maleic anhydride copolymer is used as an enzyme cleaning agent in aqueous systems together with surfactants.
• It is used in the production of unsaturated polyester resins. In addition, it is used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, coatings, some agricultural products, surfactant chemicals, and plastic additives.
• MA is used in the manufacture of substances such as petroleum additives, paper sizing, water treatment chemicals, epoxy curing agents, and artificial sweeteners. A cross-linking agent must be used to harden epoxy resins. These cross-linking agents ensure that the resins have the desired strength. In this way, hard materials are obtained.
• Furthermore, MA can be used in the manufacture of flavor enhancers, hair sprays, pharmaceutical substances, and copolymers.
• The largest single use of MA is the production of unsaturated polyester resins.
• Wind turbine blades are in constant motion. To ensure that these large wind turbine blades rotate at a certain performance, they must be made of lightweight materials. At the same time, studies are being carried out to develop such braking systems. The most striking among these are next-generation durable braking systems containing Calcium Fluoride.
• Otherwise, blades accelerating with a strong wind cannot be stopped by the brakes in the turbine. This can cause the blades to break apart. Therefore, turbine blades are obtained from unsaturated polyester resins. Unsaturated polyester resin production is carried out using MA.
• MA is used in the production of Fumarik Acid. At the same time, this chemical is used in the manufacture of alkyd-type resins, paint intermediates, drugs, and agricultural chemicals.

Other Usage Areas;

• It is used in the manufacture of unsaturated polyester resins for use in boats, vehicles, trucks, buildings, pipelines, and electrical goods. In addition, lubricating oil adhesives produced from MA are used to extend oil change intervals and increase engine efficiency.
• It is used as an organic acid source and as a catalyst in the production of metallic pigments coated with Silicon Dioxide, which are resistant to corrosion.
• It is used in the manufacture of ink, toner, and coloring products. Free radical polymerization occurs between the acid in the resin and the MA. Thanks to this property, a resin used in the production of water-based inks is produced.
• In the textile industry, it is used to provide stain resistance to some fabric structures. Applications here are used on carpets laid on floors in areas such as offices and business centers. Maleic Anhydride polymer together with unsaturated aromatic components will give successful results for providing stain resistance. The presence of hydroxyl groups in unsaturated aromatic compounds will cause failure.
• In this application, a polymerization reaction occurs together with Allyl-Ether or vinyl ether.
• In the wood industry, it can be selected between Fumaric Acid or Dicyclopentadiene in the manufacture of flame retardant resins for plywood production. This application ensures that plywood wood is resistant to fire.
• In the plastics industry, its hardening property is utilized when ABS and styrene monomer are used together.
• In drilling fluids, it is used to obtain low molecular weight water-soluble dispersing agent salts. It has important properties to prevent fluid loss in the presence of fluid contaminants inside the borehole.
• The production of grinding wheels is carried out with the production of certain resins. The curing time in these resins is important. Maleic Acid is used to reduce the curing time of these resins. Maleic anhydride is used as the source of Maleic Acid.
• In the production of chemical raw materials, it is used in synthetic Tartaric Acid production. The Tartaric Acid produced here should not be confused with Natural Tartaric Acid.

What Factors Affect the Prices?

The price of Maleic Anhydride is directly dependent on the prices of the chemical substances used in its production. As the price of Maleic Acid increases, prices will increase.

Prices are directly dependent on the areas of use. As the usage area increases, its prices will increase.

As the stocks of companies selling Maleic Anhydride increase, prices will experience a downward trend. It will increase as the stocks of selling companies decrease.

As a Maleic Anhydride distributor, we supply products from the world's largest manufacturing companies to the market.