Functional Roles
Industries Served
Physical Properties
physical_description
Maleic anhydride appears as colorless crystalline needles, flakes, pellets, rods, briquettes, lumps or a fused mass. Melts at 113 u00b0F. Shipped both as a solid and in the molten state. Vapors, fumes and dusts strong irritate the eyes, skin and mucous membranes. Flash point 218 u00b0F. Autoignition temperature 890 u00b0F. Used to make paints and plastics and other chemicals.
color/form
Orthorhombic needles from chloroform; commercial grades furnished in fused form, as briquettes
odor
... Irritating, choking odor
boiling_point
387 to 390 u00b0F at 760 mmHg (NTP, 1992)
melting_point
127 u00b0F (NTP, 1992)
flash_point
102 u00b0C (closed cup)
solubility
Solubility at 25 u00b0C: 227 g/100 g acetone; 112 g/100 g ethyl acetate; 52.5 g/100 g chloroform; 50 g/100 g benzene; 23.4 g/100 toluene; 19.4 g/100 g o-xylene; 0.60 g/100 g carbon tetrachloride; 0.25 g/100 g ligroin; soluble in dioxane; soluble in alcohol with ester formation
density
1.43 at 59 u00b0F (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water; will sink
vapor_density
Relative vapor density (air = 1): 3.4
vapor_pressure
Vapor pressure, Pa at 20 u00b0C: 21
logp
1.62 (calculated)
stability/shelf_life
Stable under normal laboratory storage conditions.
autoignition_temperature
878 u00b0F (USCG, 1999)
decomposition
The material decomposes in the presence of alkali metals or amines at temperatures above 150 u00b0C. The concentration of these impurities needed to trigger the decomposition is as low as 200 ppm.
viscosity
Viscosity in mPa.s (cP): 0.61 at 60 u00b0C; 1.07 at 90 u00b0C; 0.6 at 150 u00b0C
corrosivity
Corrosive material.
heat_of_combustion
-1389.5 kJ/mol
heat_of_vaporization
54.8 kJ/mol
ph
pH of water solutions: 2.42 at 1X10-2 M; 2.62 at 5X10-3 M; 3.10 at 1X10-4 M
ionization_potential
9.90 eV
odor_threshold
Odor threshold 0.3 ppm (0.001223 mg/L)... reported for off-gases in manufacture.
kovats_retention_index
1420.1
other_experimental_properties
For more Other Experimental Properties (Complete) data for MALEIC ANHYDRIDE (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.
GHS / SDS Safety
Danger
Irritant
Health Hazard
Acute Toxic
Corrosive
- H370: Causes damage to organs [Danger Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure]
- H402: Harmful to aquatic life [Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute hazard]
- H302 (> 99.9%): Harmful if swallowed [Warning Acute toxicity, oral]
- H302: Harmful if swallowed [Warning Acute toxicity, oral]
- H335: May cause respiratory irritation [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure; Respiratory tract irritation]
- H314 (> 99.9%): Causes severe skin burns and eye damage [Danger Skin corrosion/irritation]
- H311: Toxic in contact with skin [Danger Acute toxicity, dermal]
- H372 (16.8%): Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure [Danger Specific target organ toxicity, repeated exposure]
- H330: Fatal if inhaled [Danger Acute toxicity, inhalation]
- H373: May causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, repeated exposure]
- H317: May cause an allergic skin reaction [Warning Sensitization, Skin]
- H318: Causes serious eye damage [Danger Serious eye damage/eye irritation]
- H317 (> 99.9%): May cause an allergic skin reaction [Warning Sensitization, Skin]
- H334 (> 99.9%): 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]
- H371: May cause damage to organs [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure]
- H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage [Danger Skin corrosion/irritation]
- H334: May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled [Danger Sensitization, respiratory]
- H318 (26.1%): Causes serious eye damage [Danger Serious eye damage/eye irritation]
- H412: Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects [Hazardous to the aquatic environment, long-term hazard]
Chemical Identity
| CAS Number | 108-31-6 |
| IUPAC Name | furan-2,5-dione |
| InChI Key | FPYJFEHAWHCUMM-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
| PubChem CID | 7923 |
| INCI Name | MALEIC ANHYDRIDE |
Synonyms & Trade Names
Full Description
Maleic anhydride (MAH) is a white crystalline organic anhydride monomer with the molecular formula C4H2O3, serving as a crosslinking and curing agent in chemical formulations. This reactive compound is primarily utilized in the coatings & construction and plastics & polymers industries for its ability to form covalent bonds and enhance material properties. With a melting point of 127°F and high solubility in organic solvents, maleic anhydride functions effectively as both a monomer and reactive diluent in various industrial applications.