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Maleic Anhydride is a colorless to white organic compound that forms orthorhombic crystals and decomposes in water. It is very hazardous when comes to direct external contact (skin contact and eye contact) or internal contact (ingestion). It rapidly damages the tissues of the body to which it comes in contact.
Maleic Anhydride has a unique chemical structure and is highly reactive which makes it a versatile raw material. It is also used as co-monomer in bonding agents for manufacturing of plywood. Its largest use today is the manufacture of polyester resin which is primarily used in fibre-reinforced plastics. Another use of maleic anhydride is in the manufacture of alkyd resin which is used in paints and coating. It plays a key ingredient in the production of fumaric acid and tartaric acid. Maleic anhydride is also used in diesel engine oil as dispersants and corrosion inhibitors. It prolongs oil change intervals and improves the efficiency of automobile engine. The addition of Maleic anhydride to drying oils decreases the required drying time and improves coating quality of lacquers. Vinyl co-polymers of maleic anhydride are used in paper treatment, adhesives, detergents and cosmetics.
Maleic Anhydride has a major role in scrubbing application. Maleic Anhydride is absorbed equitably readily in water producing Maleic Acid. However, maleic anhydride transforms directly from gaseous to solid state when cooled and, as a result, can easily plate out on scrubber internal surfaces building up and causing plugging. Other applications using the same special design:
• Removal of chlorinated silanes, which tend to form “sticky” gels during scrubbing.
• Removal of elemental sulfur from sulfur holding tank vent exhausts.
Styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) is known as a polymer that enhances heat deflection of polymers like PVC that are amorphous. SMA, long established as a high performance thermoplastic in its own right, is now finding growing use as a functional additive and compatibilizer in other amorphous and to some extent crystalline thermoplastics. SMA also opens the gateway to water based applications. Some of them are found for, instance in, paper coating or as a dispersion agent in various applications but also as a binder to surface modification.
With industries applying throttle on numerous application of maleic anhydride, one will definitely get to see its importance in various fields of science.
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