Molecule pet name Penta

When looking under the microscope we have noticed, how molecules often have a resemblance to completely different things and that some of them simply should come with a ‘pet name’, based on what they look like. We continue with the third and final, in the row of molecule pet names: Pentaerythritol (Penta).

Penta, short for pentaerythritol, is a white crystalline polyhydric alcohol containing four primary hydroxyl groups. What do you see when looking at the molecule from above?

Penta molecule

For the third molecule pet name, we at Perstorp again saw a link to the animal kingdom. Looking at the Penta molecule from above, we see a four-legged insect, or with a creative mind even a spider (though spiders often come with more than four legs). 

Just as the four-legged insect, or spider if you will, builds strong cobwebs, Penta can with great advantage be used to build strong polymeric nets with its four reactive groups – something which makes Penta unique. 

On top of this, Penta is used in a broad range of application areas, being an essential building block ingredient in coatings as well synthetic lubricants and antioxidants. Furthermore, our Penta comes in a renewable version, Voxtar™, which is based on the mass balance concept and certified by ISCC, to ensure traceability of raw materials and to meet high sustainability standards. Voxtar™ comes in 40% and 100% renewable grades, which can reduce carbon footprint with up to 75%.


Kent Hamacek

Product Manager EMEA

+46 435 389 83

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