Toluene 2,4-diisocyanate

Toluene 2,4-diisocyanate (CAS 584-84-9), commonly abbreviated as TDI, is a reactive diisocyanate monomer used as a core building block in polyurethane synthesis. It reacts with polyols to form urethane linkages. This chemical enables the production of flexible foams, coatings, adhesives, and elastomers across multiple industrial sectors. TDI is the primary isocyanate used in flexible polyurethane foam manufacturing processes.

Common applications include automotive seating, furniture cushioning, and mattress production. In coatings and lacquers, it functions as a crosslinker that improves hardness, chemical resistance, and adhesion to various substrates. It is particularly effective on metal and wood surfaces. Adhesive and sealant formulators use TDI-based prepolymers to achieve high-strength, flexible bonds in construction and automotive assembly projects.

Elastomer producers also rely on TDI to cure cast polyurethane parts requiring abrasion resistance. This is essential for industrial rollers and seals that must withstand significant mechanical stress during operation. TDI is supplied as a liquid, typically as an 80/20 isomer blend of the 2,4- and 2,6-isomers (TDI-80). The pure 2,4-isomer (TDI-100) is available for applications requiring controlled reactivity.

The material is offered as technical grade, which is the standard commercial specification. Bulk supply is common in ISO tank containers and drums for large-scale industrial manufacturing requirements. Purity is typically at 99% or above for technical-grade material. This ensures consistent performance and reliable chemical reactions when formulating high-quality polyurethane systems for global distribution.