9763. Tritolyl Phosphate

Nomenclature

CAS number: 1330-78-5
Phosphoric acid tris(methylphenyl) ester; tricresyl phosphate; TCP; PX-917; Celluflex 179 (Celanese); Kronitex TCP (FMC); Lindol (Stauffer).
C21H21O4P; mol wt 368.36.
C 68.47%, H 5.75%, O 17.37%, P 8.41%.

Description and references

A mixture of isomeric tritolyl phosphates, usually excluding the very toxic ortho-isomer as much as possible. Prepd from cresol and phosphoric oxychloride, phosphoric acid or pentachloride: Prahl, US 2805240 (1957); Bondy, Gumb, GB 890642 (1962 to Coalite and Chem. Prod.); Faith, Keyes & Clark's Industrial Chemicals, F. A. Lowenheim, M. K. Moran, Eds. (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 4th ed., 1975) pp 849-853.

Chemical structure

Properties

Oily, flame resistant liquid. d2525 1.16; bp10 ≈265°. Pour point 28°. nD25 1.55. Insol in water (<0.002% at 85°). Sp heat 0.38. Misc with all the common organic solvents and thinners, linseed oil, china wood oil, castor oil.

Use

As plasticizer in vinyl plastics manuf, as flame-retardant, solvent for nitrocellulose, in cellulosic molding compositions, as additive to extreme pressure lubricants, as a nonflammable fluid in hydraulic systems, as lead scavenger in gasoline: Yust, Bame, US 2889212 (1959 to Shell); to sterilize certain surgical instruments.