Pentaerthritol is a white organic crystalline polyol. It is a versatile building block for preparation of many polyfunctionalized compounds. It is non-hygroscopic, practically non-volatile and stable in air. It is apparently non-toxic and non-violating to the skin.

Pentaerythritol is predominantly used in the surface coating industries. Sometimes it is also used in fire retardant surface coatings. Exposed to high temperatures, these coatings froth and swell to produce a solid, non-combustible residue which serves to protect the substrate from fire. It is a key raw material for alkyd resins used in decorative and automotive paints and also in the manufacturing of plasticizers. It has superior adhesion, weather-resistant, color, luster, water resistant and chemical resistant properties. Spray urethane coating is a relatively new technology. These coatings provide superior protection against friction, chemical attack, and weather.

Mono-basic fatty acid esters of pentaerythritol have exceptional characteristics as non-ionic surface active agents and are used in softening processes for synthetic fibers as well as chemical fibers and for smoothing in various processes of synthetic textile manufacture. Since fatty acid esters of pentaerythritol are extremely stable, have a comparatively high boiling point and are low in volatility, they are used as brake oil as well as lubricating oil and corrosion preventative oil in aircraft engines.

Pentaerythritol is used as a medicine to lower blood pressure, as a tackifier in synthetic rubber manufacture, and as a stabilizer in vinyl chloride, among other uses. Pentaerythritoltetranitrate (PETN)is a stable nitric ester but is sensitive to shock. It has characteristics similar to those of cyclonite (RDX) and is mixed with TNT to form the explosive pentolite. It also forms the core of the explosive primacord fuses used for detonating demolition charges and the booster charges used in blasting.

Safety Precautions while using Pentaerythritol:

• Keep away from heat. Keep away from sources of ignition. Empty containers pose a fire risk, evaporate the residue under a fume hood.

• Use process enclosures, local exhaust ventilation, or other engineering controls to keep airborne levels below recommendedexposure limits.

• Handle with proper protective gear. Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, of inhalation.