Functional Roles
Industries Served
Physical Properties
physical_description
Diphenylmethane-4,4-diisocyanate is a light yellow colored solid. It is not soluble in water. It may be toxic by ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption. If in a solution it may or may not burn depending on the nature of the material and/or the solvent. It is used to make plastics.
color/form
White to light yellow flakes [Note: A liquid above 99 degrees F]
odor
Odorless
boiling_point
381 to 390 u00b0F at 5 mmHg (NTP, 1992)
melting_point
99 u00b0F (NTP, 1992)
flash_point
425 u00b0F (NTP, 1992)
solubility
Soluble in acetone, benzene, kerosene, and nitrobenzene
density
1.2 at 68 u00b0F (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water; will sink
vapor_density
Relative vapor density (air = 1): 8.6
vapor_pressure
Vapor pressure at 20 u00b0C: negligible
autoignition_temperature
240 u00b0C
decomposition
When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of /nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides/.
odor_threshold
Odor Threshold Low: 0.39 [mg/m3]
refractive_index
Index of refraction: 1.5906 at 50 u00b0C/D
other_experimental_properties
For more Other Experimental Properties (Complete) data for 4,4'-Methylenediphenyl Diisocyanate (7 total), please visit the HSDB record page.
GHS / SDS Safety
Danger
Irritant
Health Hazard
Acute Toxic
- H351: Suspected of causing cancer [Warning Carcinogenicity]
- H315 (100%): Causes skin irritation [Warning Skin corrosion/irritation]
- H319 (97.4%): Causes serious eye irritation [Warning Serious eye damage/eye irritation]
- H370: Causes damage to organs [Danger Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure]
- H317 (97.4%): May cause an allergic skin reaction [Warning Sensitization, Skin]
- H320: Causes eye irritation [Warning Serious eye damage/eye irritation]
- H373 **: May causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, repeated exposure]
- H351 (99%): Suspected of causing cancer [Warning Carcinogenicity]
- H319: Causes serious eye irritation [Warning Serious eye damage/eye irritation]
- H315: Causes skin irritation [Warning Skin corrosion/irritation]
- H335: May cause respiratory irritation [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure; Respiratory tract irritation]
- H373 (95.4%): May causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, repeated exposure]
- H330: Fatal if inhaled [Danger Acute toxicity, inhalation]
- H317: May cause an allergic skin reaction [Warning Sensitization, Skin]
- H317 (100%): May cause an allergic skin reaction [Warning Sensitization, Skin]
- H351 (94.3%): Suspected of causing cancer [Warning Carcinogenicity]
- H335 (96%): May cause respiratory irritation [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure; Respiratory tract irritation]
- H319 (99.9%): Causes serious eye irritation [Warning Serious eye damage/eye irritation]
- H315 (97.4%): Causes skin irritation [Warning Skin corrosion/irritation]
- H330 (31.4%): Fatal if inhaled [Danger Acute toxicity, inhalation]
- H334 (97.4%): May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled [Danger Sensitization, respiratory]
- H372: Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure [Danger Specific target organ toxicity, repeated exposure]
- H334 (100%): May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled [Danger Sensitization, respiratory]
- H332 (66%): Harmful if inhaled [Warning Acute toxicity, inhalation]
- H373 (88.9%): May causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, repeated exposure]
- H334: May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled [Danger Sensitization, respiratory]
- H332: Harmful if inhaled [Warning Acute toxicity, inhalation]
- H335 (92%): May cause respiratory irritation [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure; Respiratory tract irritation]
- H332 (90.1%): Harmful if inhaled [Warning Acute toxicity, inhalation]
Chemical Identity
| CAS Number | 101-68-8 |
| IUPAC Name | 1-isocyanato-4-[(4-isocyanatophenyl)methyl]benzene |
| InChI Key | UPMLOUAZCHDJJD-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
| PubChem CID | 7570 |
| INCI Name | METHYLENE DIPHENYL DIISOCYANATE |
Synonyms & Trade Names
Full Description
Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) is an aromatic diisocyanate compound that serves as a crosslinking and curing agent in polymer chemistry applications. This material is utilized across coatings & construction, industrial manufacturing, and plastics & polymers industries for its reactive isocyanate functionality. MDI appears as a solid at room temperature with a melting point of 99°F and exhibits solubility in organic solvents including acetone, benzene, and kerosene.