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| Synonyms:Titanium tetrabutoxide Titanium(IV) butoxide Tetrabutyl orthotitanate TNBT TBT Titanium tetra-n-butoxide Titanium n-butoxide Tyzor TnBT equivalent Molecular Formula:C16H36O4Ti Molecular Weight: 340.32 HS Code: 2905130000 Grade:99% Reagent grade Hazard Class:Class8 | |||||||||
5593-70-4
bosschemical
5593-70-4
Tetrabutyl Titanate, also known as tetrabutyl titanate, n-butyl titanate, or butyl titanate (abbreviated as TBT or TNBT), is a n-butanol ester compound of titanium, belonging to organotitanium compounds. Its chemical formula is usually written as:
Ti(OC4H9)4 (C16H36O4Ti, CAS No.: 5593-70-4, molecular weight approximately 340.32)
At room temperature, it is a colorless to pale yellow transparent liquid with a faint alcoholic odor. Below -55°C, it is a glassy solid with a density of approximately 0.97~1.00 g/cm³, a boiling point of approximately 310~314°C, a flash point of approximately 76.7°C, and a refractive index of 1.486. Tetrabutyl titanate is soluble in alcohols, ethers, benzene, and most organic solvents, including aliphatic, aromatic, and chlorinated solvents. It is insoluble in water, rapidly hydrolyzes upon contact with water, and is hygroscopic.
From a molecular structure perspective, tetrabutyl titanate consists of one titanium atom linked to four n-butoxy groups (-OC4H9), classifying it as an organotitanium compound. The titanium center is a typical Lewis acid, exhibiting high catalytic activity and capable of efficiently catalyzing esterification, transesterification, and polycondensation reactions. Its ability to hydrolyze to produce high-purity titanium dioxide makes it an ideal titanium source for sol-gel methods and thin-film preparation—this multi-functional combination of catalysis, coupling, and film formation forms the structural basis for its widespread application in polyesters, coatings, and new materials.
Chemically, tetrabutyl titanate is highly hydrolyzed and decomposes upon contact with water; therefore, the water content of the system must be strictly controlled. It is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents and strong acids, is irritating to skin and eyes, and is flammable. It must be stored in a sealed, moisture-proof, and light-protected environment, and used as soon as possible after opening.
Industrial-grade tetrabutyl titanate refers to products primarily intended for industrial production, widely used as transesterification catalysts, coupling agents, and crosslinking agents. Compared to reagent-grade, the core difference between industrial and reagent-grade lies in purity level, with a greater focus on the following indicators:
Purity directly affects catalytic activity and cross-linking effect. Industrial grade generally requires a main content of over 95% and titanium content that meets specifications.
Tetrabutyl titanate is extremely sensitive to moisture; even trace amounts of water can cause hydrolysis and deterioration, making moisture the primary control indicator.
The color should be light (colorless to pale yellow); a darker color often indicates hydrolysis or oxidative deterioration.
The content of free butanol affects purity calculations and downstream applications, and needs to be controlled at a low level.
Density is a routine indicator for measurement and quality control, and it must meet the specified range.
Tetrabutyl titanate is a classic and highly efficient catalyst for transesterification and esterification reactions. It is widely used in the synthesis of ester plasticizers, acetates, benzoates and other fine chemicals, as well as in the synthesis of polyester materials such as PBT/PTMG polyether esters (often in combination with magnesium acetate). It has high catalytic activity and mild reaction.
Tetrabutyl titanate is an important catalyst for the polycondensation of polyesters (PET, PBT). It can replace antimony-based catalysts in the production of food-grade PET. It is non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and highly active, making it an important choice for the greening of the polyester industry . Titanium-based catalysts may be used in the production chain of PET products such as mineral water bottles, beverage bottles, and food packaging.
Tetrabutyl titanate is the basic raw material for synthesizing titanate coupling agents. One end of the coupling agent can react with the surface of inorganic fillers (calcium carbonate, talc, glass fiber, etc.), while the other end is compatible with organic polymers. It significantly improves the interfacial bonding and dispersibility of fillers and resins in plastics, rubber, and coatings, and also has multiple functions such as dispersion, wetting, and adhesion.
TBT can undergo cross-linking reactions with hydroxyl and carboxyl groups in polymers and carbohydrates, and can be used as a high-efficiency cross-linking agent for carboxyl-containing emulsions, a curing and cross-linking component for coatings, inks, adhesives and RTV silicone sealants, and improve the adhesion of coatings to substrates such as metals and glass.
Tetrabutyl titanate is one of the most commonly used precursors for the sol-gel method. Hydrolysis and condensation can be used to prepare high-purity titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanomaterials, thin films, and functional coatings, such as superhydrophilic self-cleaning coatings, photocatalytic coatings, and glass coatings. Its use may be indirectly involved in the coating processes of automotive glass, eyeglasses, and optical devices.
Polyester (polyester fiber) is the most widely used synthetic fiber, and its polymerization process may use tetrabutyl titanate as a polycondensation catalyst. Many of the garments we wear have raw material chains related to tetrabutyl titanate.
Tetrabutyl titanate is used as a crosslinking agent and adhesion promoter in coatings, inks, adhesives and RTV silicone sealants. It may be involved in the formulation of home decoration coatings, automotive paints and household adhesives.
Its applications continue to expand, including metal and glass surface treatment, high-purity titanium sources, and catalyst supports.
Tetrabutyl Titanate (TBT) is a colorless to pale yellow organic titanium liquid with high activity and easy hydrolysis. It possesses multiple functions, including catalysis, coupling, crosslinking, and film formation. In daily life, we indirectly come into contact with it through PET bottles and plastic packaging, polyester clothing, paints, inks, adhesives, modified plastic products, and glass coatings. In industry, industrial-grade tetrabutyl titanate is widely used as a catalyst for transesterification and esterification reactions, a catalyst for polyester polycondensation, a raw material for titanate coupling agents, a crosslinking agent and adhesion promoter for paints and adhesives, and a titanium source for sol-gel processes. It is an important organic titanium chemical connecting "daily necessities" with "polyesters, paints, and new materials."
