Tetrahydrofuran

Tetrahydrofuran, abbreviated as THF, is a heterocyclic organic compound. It belongs to the ether class and is the fully hydrogenated product of the aromatic compound furan. Tetrahydrofuran is one of the strongest polar ethers and is used as a medium-polarity solvent in chemical reactions and extractions. At room temperature, it is a colorless, volatile liquid. It is soluble in water, ethanol, acetone, benzene, and most other organic solvents, earning it the nickname "universal solvent." The primary use of THF is in the production of PTMEG. Rough estimates indicate that over 80% of global THF is used to produce PTMEG, which is mainly utilized in the manufacturing of elastic spandex fibers. Tetrahydrofuran is also an excellent and commonly used solvent, particularly suitable for dissolving PVC, polyvinylidene chloride, and styrene-butadiene rubber. It is widely employed as a solvent in surface coatings, anti-corrosion coatings, printing inks, magnetic tapes, and film coatings. When used in electroplating aluminum solutions, it allows for precise control of aluminum layer thickness and provides a bright finish. It serves as a solvent for magnetic tape coatings, PVC surface coatings, cleaning PVC reactors, stripping PVC films, cellophane coatings, plastic printing inks, thermoplastic polyurethane coatings, and adhesives. It is commonly used in surface coatings, protective coatings, inks, extraction agents, and as a surface treatment agent for synthetic leather. As a raw material in organic synthesis, such as in pharmaceuticals, it is used to produce tetrahydrothiophene, 1,4-dichloroethane, 2,3-dichlorotetrahydrofuran, valerolactone, and pyrrolidone. In the pharmaceutical industry, it is used to synthesize drugs like carbetapentane, rifamycin, progesterone, and some hormonal medications. When treated with hydrogen sulfide, it produces tetrahydrothiophenol, which can be used as an odorant (recognition additive) in fuel gas and is also a major solvent in the pharmaceutical industry.