Dipropylene glycol

Dipropylene glycol (DPG, CAS 25265-71-8) is a low-volatility diol solvent and carrier.

Where is Dipropylene glycol used?

• Personal care and cosmetics: primary carrier for fragrance compounds and active ingredients
• Lotions, creams and deodorants: improves spreadability and skin feel while maintaining stability
• Polymer and resin manufacturing: plasticizer and reactive intermediate in polyurethane foams
• Unsaturated polyester resins: essential manufacturing component
• Printing inks and packaging coatings: slow-evaporating solvent that controls viscosity, improving substrate adhesion
• Lubricants and metalworking: base fluid and coupling agent in cutting fluids and hydraulic formulations
• It functions as a humectant, plasticizer and coupling agent depending on the formulation context.
• Brake hydraulic fluids.
• Component of thermal fluids.
• Dissolves alcohols and essential oils, helping to resolve compatibility issues.
• Esterified with benzoic acid to produce dipropylene glycol dibenzoate for plasticizers.

Good to know: Fragrance-grade material meets purity requirements set by IFRA and relevant industry standards. A food-grade specification is available for applications requiring compliance with FCC standards.

Formulation notes

• Polyester resins prepared from dipropylene glycol tend to be more flexible and less crystalline than those prepared from ethylene glycol.

Typical specification

• Normal grade is commonly supplied at greater than 99% purity.
• Miscible with many organic solvents.
• Commercially supplied as a mixture of three closely related structural isomers.

Regulatory status

• INCI name: Dipropylene Glycol.
• Available in USP/EP grade.

Storage, packaging and handling

• Less hygroscopic than other glycols.
• Mild steel is satisfactory for storage tanks except where color requirements are critical; resin-lined steel, stainless steel, or aluminum tanks provide protection against color change and minor iron contamination.
• Store in a cool place away from direct light with the container tightly closed to prevent deterioration.
• Stored in tightly closed and properly labeled containers.

Frequently asked questions about Dipropylene glycol

What is the typical commercial viscosity of dipropylene glycol?

Dipropylene glycol exhibits a typical commercial viscosity of about 75 mPa·s at 25°C.

How is dipropylene glycol used in unsaturated polyester resin production?

It is used as a raw material to provide flexibility and hydrolytic stability in unsaturated polyester resin production.

What role does dipropylene glycol play in radiation-cured resin formulations?

It is used as a precursor for dipropylene glycol diacrylate in radiation-cured resin formulations.

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