Application:

Toluene diisocyanates are used primarily to manufacture flexible polyurethane foams for use in furniture, bedding, and automotive and airline seats. Other, smaller uses are for polyurethane elastomers (for automobile bumper covers, industrial rollers, sport soles and boots, and mechanical goods) and coatings (for automotive refinishing, wood finishes, and high-performance anti-corrosion coatings)(ICIS 2009). Toluene diisocyanate–based rigid polyurethane foam is used in household refrigerators and for residential sheathing or commercial roofing in board or laminate form (IARC 1986). “Pour-inplace” or “spray-in” rigid foam is used as insulation for truck trailers, railroad freight cars, and cargo containers. Polyurethane-modified alkyds contain approximately 6% to 7% isocyanate, mostly toluene diisocyanates, and are used as coating materials, such as floor finishes, wood finishes, and paints. Moisture-curing coatings are used as wood and concrete sealants and floor finishes. Aircraft, truck, and passenger-car coatings often are composed of toluene diisocyanate prepolymer systems. Castable urethane elastomers are used in applications requiring strength, flexibility, and shock absorption, and are resistant to oil, solvents, and ultraviolet radiation. They are used in adhesive and sealant compounds and in automobile parts, shoe soles,rollerskate wheels, pond liners, and blood bags. They are also used inoil fields and mines. Certain elastomer products are produced from the pure 2,4 isomer rather than the 80:20 mixture.

The functional groups in TDI react with hydroxyl groups to form urethane linkages, which are used in the manufacture of flexible polyurethane foams for use in furniture, bedding, and automotive and commercial transportation seating. Other uses include polyurethane elastomers used in automobile bumper covers, industrial rollers, sporting footwear, as well as mechanical goods and coatings (metal, wood, and highperformance anticorrosion coatings). TDI-based rigid polyurethane foam is used in household refrigerators and for residential construction such as sheathing and commercial roofing. TDI spray-in rigid foam is used as insulation for truck trailers, railroad freight cars, and overseas cargo containers. Moisture-curing TDI coatings are used as wood and concrete sealants and floor finishes.