Isophorone Diisocyanate (IPDI)

CAS : 4098-71-9 

Isophorone Diisocyanate (IPDI) is an organic compound with a chemical structure C12H18N2O2.

It’s a colorless liquid or slightly yellowish, with a pungent odor. It is insoluble in water on contact with which it decomposes, but miscible with many organic solvents (hydrocarbons, esters, ketones, …)

IPDI is also known as:

• Cyclohexane, 5-isocyanato-1-(isocyanatomethyl)-1,3,3-trimethyl-;
• 3-Isocyanatomethyl-3,5,5-trimethyl cyclohexylisocyanate;
• Isophorone diamine diisocyanate;
• Triisocyanatoisocyanurate;
• Monomeric cycloaliphatic diisocyanate
• Cyclohexane, 5-isocyanato-1-(isocyanatomethyl)-1,3,3-trimethyl-;
• IPDI

IPDI is produced in relatively small quantities. With hexamethylene diisocyanate HDI, IPDI accounting only for approximately 5% of the global diisocyanate market. 

Production

IPDI is obtained by phosgenation of isophorone diamine during a five steps reaction:

• Condensation:Isophorone is obtained from acetone with a catalyst
• Hydrocyanation:Isophorone react with hydrogen cyanide to form isophorone nitrile
• Reductive amination:isophorone nitrile react the with ammonia, hydrogen and a catalyst, to form a mixture of isophorone diamine conformers with a ratio 25/75 cis/trans
• Phosgenation:Isophorone diamine react with phosgene to form a crude mixture containing IPDI conformers (25/75 cis/trans)
• Purification:Distillation of the crude IPDI to extract pure IPDI

IPDI exists in two conformers, cis and trans. Their reactivities are similar. Each conformer is an asymmetrical molecule, and thus has isocyanate groups with different reactivities. The secondary isocyanate group is more reactive than the primary isocyanate group.

Uses

IPDI is  used in the production of special applications, such as:

• Polyurethanes resins (PUR), Resins for coatings & inks, elastomers & TPU, leather & textile
• Aqueous dispersible polyurethane polymers (PUD) showing exceptional weathering resistance.
• Preparation of light-stable polyurethanes. It is involved in particular in the manufacture of paints, varnishes and elastomers
• Enamel coatings which are resistant to abrasion and degradation from ultraviolet light. IPDI bring hardness to the coating.
• Polyurethane manufacturing with high stability, resistance to discoloration of light and chemical resistance;
• Treatment of paints and varnishes to give them properties of hardness, flexibility, chemical resistance, impact and weather resistance;
• Elastomer used in sealants and highly flexible textile coatings;
• Hard industrial foams and coatings,
• Contact lens manufacturing

IPDI is not used in the production of polyurethane foam

Arpadis is one of the largest chemical distributor in Europe.

Arpadis is handling the storage, transport, export & import formalities of Isophorone Diisocyanate (IPDI) globally.