Propylene Oxide
The feedstock for polyurethane foam and propylene glycol — the epoxide behind flexible and rigid foam, coatings resins, and food/pharma-grade glycols.
Chelora Chemicals supplies propylene oxide to polyol and glycol producers worldwide, with temperature-controlled logistics and full documentation on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 75-56-9
- IUPAC name
- 2-Methyloxirane
- Molecular formula
- C₃H₆O
- Molecular weight
- 58.08 g/mol
- Boiling point
- 34.2 °C
- Melting point
- -112.1 °C
- UN Number
- UN 1280
- HS Code
- 2910 20
Note: Propylene oxide boils just above room temperature and is typically shipped and stored refrigerated or under pressure. Confirm requirements with your regulatory affairs team.
What Propylene Oxide is used for
Propylene Oxide (PO) is a colourless, highly volatile and extremely flammable liquid with a characteristic ether-like odour, boiling only slightly above room temperature. It is produced by either the chlorohydrin process or peroxidation routes (co-producing styrene monomer or tert-butyl alcohol), reacting propylene with chlorine/hypochlorous acid or with an organic peroxide.
Propylene oxide's largest use is as the feedstock for polyether polyols, reacted with propylene glycol or glycerol initiators and ethylene oxide to build the polyols used in flexible and rigid polyurethane foam, elastomers, coatings and adhesives. Its second major use is as the feedstock for propylene glycols (mono-, di- and tripropylene glycol), made by hydrolysis, used in unsaturated polyester resins, de-icing fluids, and food/pharma/cosmetic-grade humectants and solvents.
Where it sits in the petrochemical value chain
- Propylene the feedstock, epoxidised into propylene oxide. See that page.
- Propylene Oxide (this product) the reactive epoxide for the polyol and glycol chains below.
- Mono Propylene Glycol / Polyether Polyols downstream products built on PO. See Mono Propylene Glycol.
Handling character
Propylene oxide is extremely flammable, volatile and classified as a suspected carcinogen, requiring specialised refrigerated or pressurised handling. Full hazard detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colourless liquid |
| Purity | 99.9% min (polyol/glycol feed grade) |
| Water content | < 0.02% (typical) |
| Acidity (as acetic acid) | Within producer specification |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Colourless, highly volatile, flammable liquid |
| Boiling point | 34.2 °C |
| Melting point | -112.1 °C |
| Density | 0.859 g/cm³ |
| Water solubility | Fully miscible |
| Flash point | -37 °C (extremely flammable) |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 75-56-9 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put Propylene Oxide to work
The reactive epoxide behind polyurethane foam, resins, and propylene glycol.
Polyether polyols
Reacted with glycol/glycerol initiators and ethylene oxide into polyols for flexible and rigid polyurethane foam.
- Polyol feed-grade specification
- Refrigerated bulk & drum supply
- Technical desk review on request
Propylene glycols
Hydrolysed into mono-, di- and tripropylene glycol for resins, de-icing fluid and food/pharma humectants.
- Industrial-grade specification
- Documented batch traceability
- Contract & spot supply
Polyurethane elastomers
Base polyol building block for cast and thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers.
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
Surfactants
Reacted with alcohols into polyoxypropylene surfactants and demulsifiers.
- Documented batch traceability
- Technical desk review on request
Fine chemicals & propylene carbonate
Feedstock for propylene carbonate and other epoxide-derived fine chemicals.
- Research & process-scale quantities
- Full documentation supplied
Contract & scheduled supply
Polyol and glycol plants running continuous consumption are supported with scheduled refrigerated bulk delivery.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Price held across the contract period
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply Propylene Oxide
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. PO's low boiling point and reactivity make refrigerated, pressure-rated logistics essential — that shapes how we manage this line.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your required grade, your price point and your delivery window, and confirm your jurisdiction's import requirements before booking.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, so a single-plant disruption never becomes your production problem.
- Purity and water content confirmed before we quote. Consistency matters to downstream polyol and glycol reaction control.
- UN 1280 documentation managed end to end. Classification, labelling and carrier compliance confirmed before booking.
- Refrigerated / pressure-rated logistics arranged. PO's low boiling point requires specialised transport equipment.
- Batch traceability to the producing plant. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
- Polyol feed-grade material sourced to your process. Matched precisely to your polyurethane or glycol specification.
Packed the way your plant receives it
Pressurised drum, ISO tank or cylinder — tell us your preferred format and we will quote and classify to it.
Pressure-rated vessels
Pressure-rated drums for smaller-volume orders and trial quantities.
~1,000 litre totes
Refrigerated or insulated totes sized for mid-volume converter orders.
Large-volume bulk shipment
Refrigerated, pressure-rated ISO tank bulk shipment for continuous-consumption polyol plants.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small packs dispatched for process trials before a commercial order is placed.
Contracted call-off supply
We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
Extremely flammable & reactive — handle accordingly
Propylene oxide is extremely flammable, highly volatile, irritating, and classified as a suspected carcinogen and mutagen. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H224Extremely flammable liquid and vapour.H319+H315+H335Causes skin and eye irritation; may cause respiratory irritation.H350+H340May cause cancer; may cause genetic defects.
Keep refrigerated and away from all ignition sources. PO's extremely low flash point and boiling point demand specialised storage and transfer equipment; always read the SDS issued with your specific batch.
Storage
Store refrigerated in pressure-rated, nitrogen-padded tanks away from heat, sunlight, and any source of ignition or catalytic contamination (certain metals can catalyse hazardous polymerisation).
Handling
Use closed-system transfer, flame-proof electrical equipment, and full PPE including chemical-resistant gloves and eye/face protection. Avoid inhalation, skin and eye contact; ground and bond all transfer equipment.
Transport
Shipped as UN 1280 (Propylene oxide), an extremely flammable liquid. We confirm and document exact classification for your specific shipment and destination.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Purity, water content and acidity confirmed against your process requirement before order placement.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS and transport paperwork checked by our desk before the shipment is booked.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing batch, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
How Propylene Oxide is made
Propylene oxide is produced industrially by the chlorohydrin process (propylene reacted with chlorine and water, then dehydrochlorinated) or by hydroperoxide (peroxidation) routes, where propylene is epoxidised using ethylbenzene hydroperoxide (co-producing styrene monomer, the POSM process) or tert-butyl hydroperoxide (co-producing tert-butyl alcohol).
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Chemical family | Cyclic ether (epoxide) |
|---|---|
| Functional groups | Three-membered epoxide ring |
| Reactivity | Ring-opening polymerisation (polyols); hydrolysis (glycols); highly reactive with nucleophiles |
| Related compounds | Propylene (feedstock), Mono Propylene Glycol, Polyether Polyols (downstream) |
Explore the wider petrochemical range
Propylene Oxide, answered
What is Propylene Oxide used for?
How is Propylene Oxide made?
Is Propylene Oxide hazardous?
What grade do you supply?
What packing do you offer?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Get a quote on Propylene Oxide today
Send us your required grade, pack size and delivery window. We will come back with a firm quote, lead time and full documentation.