Knowing Where The Market Demand For Isopropyl Alcohol Production Is Actually Coming From

Isopropyl alcohol is a very popular chemical and you may find it in your home medicine cabinets. The popular household antiseptic is made by having water and propylene react with each other. Sometimes, this reaction occurs with the presence of acidic catalysts. There are different ways to come up with this compound which is also called by many names. There is still heavy demand for this chemical as it is used in various industries in the manufacture of other chemicals and products. Indeed, many companies rely on isopropyl alcohol manufacture.

This alcohol is used as a cooling agent for bedridden patients and was used to help lower the fever in kids. However, the cooling effect in a feverish patient can have bad effects like chills. The heavy reliance of the health care sector on isopropyl alcohol is due to its antiseptic or disinfecting properties. Solutions of isopropyl alcohol are used to cleanse medical apparatuses and to disinfect hands. For instance, hypodermic needles are sterilized using this chemical.

It can also be used to clean surfaces before welding. In fact, isopropyl alcohol is used to clean various surfaces as it effectively removes oil and grease on surfaces. It is used to clean surfaces of electronic equipment, LCD screens of televisions and computers, and other materials and instruments.

Isopropyl alcohol is manufactured in different concentrations. The commercially released rubbing alcohol usually contains around 70% alcohol and is used for general cleansing, sterilizing or disinfecting, and cleaning purposes. There have been reports that it can be used as an insecticide but that is not a popular usage for the chemical.

Highly concentrated forms of the chemical containing 90 up to 99% of the chemical are used as a preservative for biological specimens. This concentrated form may not be used on humans but such solutions were reported to be used for skin hardening, which is done by guitarists on their fingertips. However, using concentrated isopropyl alcohol should be done with caution.

In some countries, ethyl alcohol is used instead of isopropyl alcohol. Some people think they are the same, but these two have some important differences. Unlike the other, isopropyl alcohol cannot be drunk because it is toxic and irritating. It is only used externally.

Isopropyl alcohol is also manufactured to serve as an ingredient of antifreeze agents and de-icers. Solutions containing this alcohol freeze at much lower temperature than water does. This is why it is used as an effective means to get rid of ice on window panes or windshields during winter.

Nonetheless, the use of this chemical must be accompanied by certain precautions. Although it is safer than other chemicals in the industry, it can be hazardous during certain circumstances. Its flammability is one of the major hazards of the chemical and that's why it must be placed near heat sources. It is also an eye irritant and is toxic when ingested.

The other name for this is isopropanol which simply indicates that it is similar to propanol and only differs in molecular structure.