Maleic anhydride
Description
A reactive, white solid compound that is used in the manufacture of polyester and Alkyd resin alkyd resins. Maleic anhydride has needle-like crystals that dissolve readily in water to form maleic acid. It is also used in finishing processes for paper and permanent press textiles. Maleic acid is also used in alkyd resins to increase hardness and decrease yellowing in baking enamels (Brady 1971).
Synonyms and Related Terms
2,5-furandione; cis-butenedioic anhydride;
Other Properties
Dissolves in water to form maleic acid. Soluble in acetone, ethanol and dioxane. Slightly soluble in chloroform, benzene and toluene.
| Composition | C4H2O3 |
|---|---|
| CAS | 108-31-6 |
| Melting Point | 52.8 |
| Density | 1.48 |
| Molecular Weight | mol. wt. = 98.06 |
| Boiling Point | 202 |
Hazards and Safety
Corrosive. May cause burns. Combustible. Flash point = 102 C
Mallinckrodt Baker: MSDS
Additional Information
G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, 10th edition, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1971.
Authority
- The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998
- The Merck Index, Susan Budavari (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Whitehouse Station, NJ, 12th Edition, 1996 Comment: entry 5744
- G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 605
- Matt Roberts, Don Etherington, Bookbinding and the Conservation of Books: a Dictionary of Descriptive Terminology, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC, 1982
- Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993