Triethyl phosphate
Triethyl phosphate is a chemical compound with the formula 3PO4 or OP3. It is a colorless liquid. It is the triester of ethanol and phosphoric acid and can be called "phosphoric acid, triethyl ester".
Its primary uses are as an industrial catalyst, a polymer resin modifier, and a plasticizer. In smaller scale it is used as a solvent for e.g. cellulose acetate, flame retardant, an intermediate for pesticides and other chemicals, stabilizer for peroxides, a strength agent for rubber and plastic including vinyl polymers and unsaturated polyesters, etc.
Triethyl phosphate is also a common intermediate in the manufacture of pesticides.History
It was studied for the first time by French chemist Jean Louis Lassaigne in the early 19th century.
