Isocyanate is the chemical group of atoms -N=C=O (1 nitrogen, 1 carbon, 1 oxygen), as opposed to cyanate , -O-C≡N, which is formed from cyanogen in the normal -ate manner. An isocyanate is a compound containing the isocyanate group.
Examples of isocyanate compounds used in the polymer industry are isomers of toluene diisocyanate (TDI), methylene diphenyl 4,4'-diisocyanate (MDI), and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). Other names for MDI include methylene di-p-phenylene isocyanate, diphenylmethane 4,4'-diisocyanate, and bis-phenyl methylene 4,4'-diisocyanate. They are used as monomer feedstock for polyurethane production. Some of their chemical structures are shown here:
Isocyanates such as these can react with an alcohol to produce a urethane linkage. These compounds are reactive and therefore toxic. Exposure to these isocyanates and their vapors should be avoided.
See also cyanide, isothiocyanate, methyl isocyanate.
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[|Hazards of TDI, MDI, and HDI]