Glycerol diglycidyl ether

• CAS: 27043-36-3
• Catalog Number: ACM-MO-27043363
• Category: Main Products; Epoxide Monomers
• Molecular Weight: 204.22 g/mol
• Molecular Formula: C9H16O5
• Description: Glycerol diglycidyl ether (GDE) is an aliphatic epoxy monomer that can be used as a diepoxy crosslinker. It has a low viscous epoxy matrix that can be cured with aliphatic amines to form a thermosetting material with good flexibility. Its properties include low shrinkage, good adhesion, and good thermo-mechanical properties.
• Synonyms: 2,3-bis(oxiran-2-ylmethoxy)propan-1-ol
• Canonical SMILES: OCC(COCC1CO1)OCC2CO2.OC(COCC3CO3)COCC4CO4
• InChI: 1S/2C9H16O5/c10-7(1-11-3-8-5-13-8)2-12-4-9-6-14-9;10-1-7(12-5-9-6-14-9)2-11-3-8-4-13-8/h2*7-10H,1-6H2
• InChI Key: QFMWJDGCJROGRC-UHFFFAOYSA-N
• Boiling Point: 341.5 °C
• Density: 1.229 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.)
• Appearance: Transparent liquid
• Application: GDE can be used in the formation of epoxy materials, which can further be used in electrical instruments and biodegradable plastics.
• Storage: 2-8 °C
• Features And Benefits: 1. High quality products; 2. Fast delivery; 3. Additional products can be ordered, please contact us for details
• Grade: technical grade
• NACRES: NA.23
• Packaging: Packaging; 100, 500 mL in poly bottle
• PubChem ID: 24871162
• Quality Level: 200
• Refractive Index: n20/D 1.482 (lit.)
• Specific Gravity: 1.258
• Storage Temperature: 2-8°C

Case Study

Glycerol Diglycidyl Ether as a Crosslinking Agent for Enhancing Pharmaceutical Film Properties

Nascimento RA, et al. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2025, 307(4), 142257.

Glycerol diglycidyl ether (GDE) has been utilized as a crosslinking agent to improve the physicochemical properties of pharmaceutical films composed of pectin and starch.
In a study, films were prepared using varying ratios of pectin (35%-100%) and starch (35%-100%) with GDE (10%-30%), utilizing the solvent casting method. The optimized formulation included 20% (w/w) GDE, with pectin and starch ratios adjusted between 10% and 80%. The crosslinking process involved mechanical stirring at 40°C, followed by heat curing at 45°C for 18 hours. The films were subjected to purification in ethanol aqueous solution (50%) to remove unreacted components, ensuring their structural integrity.
The presence of GDE significantly influenced film characteristics, improving mechanical resistance and flexibility while minimizing defects such as cracks and tackiness. Comparative analysis with non-crosslinked films confirmed the efficacy of GDE in enhancing film performance.

Glycerol Diglycidyl Ether for Photocross-Linking in Biodegradable Polymer Synthesis

Kasetaite S, et al. Reactive and Functional Polymers, 2018, 122, 42-50.

Glycerol diglycidyl ether (GDE) was utilized as a key monomer in the photocross-linking process to synthesize biodegradable polymer films with varying structural and mechanical properties. The study explored the influence of structurally different alcohols, including 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, 1,1,1-tris(hydroxymethyl)propane, hydroquinone, and bisphenol A, on the polymerization kinetics and the resultant film characteristics. Photocross-linking was initiated using triarylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate salts under UV irradiation, yielding cross-linked polymer networks.
The inclusion of alcohols accelerated the photocross-linking rate and enhanced the biodegradability of the polymers. However, the effect of alcohol type was secondary to its concentration, with a higher alcohol content (>20 mol%) leading to weakened mechanical and thermal properties due to the increased association with released protons. Polymer films synthesized with optimal alcohol concentrations demonstrated improved structural integrity while maintaining biodegradability.

Glycerol Diglycidyl Ether Used for the Synthesis of Alumina-Reinforced Epoxy Nanocomposites

omrani A, et al. Thermochimica Acta, 2011, 517(1-2), 9-15.

Glycerol diglycidyl ether (GDE) plays a crucial role in the synthesis of high-performance nanocomposites by acting as an epoxy resin precursor. In a recent study, GDE was cured with 3,3-dimethylglutaric anhydride (DGA) in the presence of alumina (Al₂O₃) nanoparticles to develop a reinforced epoxy-based nanocomposite. The formulation involved mixing GDE with the anhydride curing agent at a stoichiometric epoxy molar ratio (Xep = 0.33), followed by the incorporation of nano-Al₂O₃ sol at varying concentrations (1-15 phr). Ultrasonic homogenization was employed for 2 hours at room temperature to ensure uniform dispersion, with an initiator added at XTEA = 0.0188 to enhance polymerization. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed that a 10% nano-Al₂O₃ loading yielded the highest reaction enthalpy, indicating an optimal balance between crosslinking efficiency and nanoparticle reinforcement.

Glycerol Diglycidyl Ether as a Cross-Linking Agent for Biodegradable Microgel Synthesis

Zhao L, et al. Carbohydrate Polymers, 2015, 121, 2015, 276-283.

A biodegradable microgel system utilizing glycerol-1,3-diglycidyl ether (GDGE) as a cross-linking agent was developed for controlled protein uptake and release. The synthesis involved dissolving TEMPO-oxidized potato starch in water, followed by pH adjustment to 10 using NaOH. GDGE was then introduced as a cross-linker, and the reaction proceeded at 40 °C for 10 minutes. Further cross-linking was achieved by incubating the pre-formed hydrogels at 40 °C for 72 hours. The cross-linker-to-polymer weight ratio varied from 0.025 to 0.065.
After synthesis, the hydrogels were ground into microgel particles, sieved to obtain uniform sizes, and sequentially washed with distilled water, ethanol, and acetone to remove residual salts and solvents. The final microgel powder was dried at 40 °C and further refined into homogenous particles. This study demonstrates GDGE's efficiency in forming stable, biodegradable microgels with potential applications in controlled drug delivery and biopharmaceutical formulations.

Glycerol Diglycidyl Ether Used for the Synthesis of p(TAEA-co-GDE) Microgels

urRehman S, et al. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 2015, 136, 1156-1165.

Glycerol diglycidyl ether (GDE) serves as a key crosslinking agent in the synthesis of p(TAEA-co-GDE) microgels, prepared via a microemulsion polymerization approach. In this process, GDE undergoes an epoxy-amine reaction with tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TAEA), where the oxirane rings in GDE are opened by the active hydrogen of the amine groups in TAEA. The reaction occurs in a microemulsion system using L-α lecithin as the surfactant and gasoline as the organic phase, ensuring the formation of uniform microgels. The synthesis begins with vortexing TAEA in water, followed by dispersion in the lecithin-stabilized gasoline phase under constant stirring. GDE is then introduced, triggering polymerization and crosslinking, which proceeds for two hours. The resulting microgels are subjected to sequential washing with cyclohexane and an acetone-water mixture to remove surfactants and unreacted components, followed by drying at 50°C.
To enhance functionality for biomedical applications, the microgels undergo quaternization via protonation and deprotonation treatments using HCl and NaOH, respectively. This modification tailors the surface charge properties, broadening their potential applications in drug delivery, bioseparation, and tissue engineering.