Propylene carbonate

Propylene carbonate (CAS 108-32-7), commonly abbreviated as PC, is a cyclic carbonate solvent used across energy, electronics, and personal care manufacturing.

Where is Propylene carbonate used?

• Lithium-ion battery electrolytes: primary solvent or co-solvent supporting ion transport
• Personal care: solvent and humectant in skin creams, hair treatments, and color cosmetics
• Oil and gas: solvent for natural gas purification, selective absorption of CO₂ and H₂S
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing: non-aqueous carrier in topical and oral formulations
• It dissolves a broad range of polar and nonpolar compounds.
• Used in the textile, printing and paint industries.
• Acts as a curing accelerator for phenolic resins used in particleboard and in foundry sand molding and coremaking.
• Solvent in adhesives.
• Reactive diluent in the manufacture of polyurethanes and epoxy resins.

Good to know: Battery-grade material must meet rigorous moisture and metal ion requirements. Pharmaceutical-grade material is available to USP and Ph. Eur. compendial standards for regulated applications.

Formulation notes

• A safer alternative to commonly used dipolar aprotic solvents such as NMP, DMAc, DMSO, DMF and acetonitrile.

Regulatory status

• Carries hazard statement H319, causing serious eye irritation.
• Not classified as dangerous goods under transport regulations.
• Supports compliance with VOC limits according to the Decopaint Directive in the EU.

Storage, packaging and handling

• Should be kept in tightly sealed containers to prevent contamination.

Frequently asked questions about Propylene carbonate

What dielectric constant does propylene carbonate exhibit at 25 °C?

It has a dielectric constant of approximately 64 at 25 °C, which supports its use as a polar solvent in electrolyte and formulation systems.

Which commercial grades of propylene carbonate are available?

A 99.5% grade and a 99.5% anhydrous grade are offered on the market.

How does propylene carbonate function in water-based polyurethane systems?

It acts as both a solvent and a coalescent for water-based polyurethane (PUD) systems.

Technical content is compiled and updated by the SoleChem product team from public technical sources; the certificate of analysis (COA) governs product-specific specifications.