Battery-grade and industrial-grade ethylene carbonate for the U.S. market. The essential SEI-layer-forming co-solvent in lithium-ion battery electrolytes — crystalline solid at room temperature with the highest dielectric constant of any common carbonate solvent (ε=90.5). COA, SDS, and full traceability with every order.
Handling note — solid at room temperature: Ethylene carbonate melts at 34–37°C (93–99°F) and is solid at typical ambient conditions. For liquid-phase processing, storage tanks and transfer lines must be heat-traced and maintained above 40°C. Flash point is 143°C — no flammability risk — but thermal infrastructure is required for metering and blending. EC can be supplied as crystalline solid or as molten liquid depending on your receiving capability.
Industrial and battery-grade tiers — each ships with a lot-specific certificate of analysis.
| Assay (GC) | ≥99.5% |
|---|---|
| Moisture (KF) | ≤500 ppm |
| Acidity | ≤0.01% |
| Color (APHA) | ≤10 |
| Ethylene glycol | ≤0.1% |
| Non-volatile residue | ≤0.02% |
| Assay (GC) | ≥99.95% |
|---|---|
| Moisture (KF) | ≤30 ppm |
| Acidity | ≤10 ppm |
| Total metals | ≤1 ppm each |
| Color (APHA) | ≤5 |
| Non-volatile residue | ≤5 ppm |
| Chemical Name | Ethylene Carbonate |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | EC |
| CAS Number | 96-49-1 |
| Molecular Formula | C₃H₄O₃ |
| Molecular Weight | 88.06 g/mol |
| EINECS Number | 202-510-0 |
| TSCA Status | Listed on TSCA inventory |
| Transport Class | Not regulated (flash point >60°C) |
| Appearance | Colorless to white needle crystals / waxy solid |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | 34–37°C (93–99°F) — solid at RT |
| Boiling Point | 244–248°C (471–478°F) |
| Flash Point | 143°C (289°F, closed cup) |
| Density (solid, 20°C) | 1.321 g/cm³ |
| Density (liquid, 40°C) | ~1.32 g/mL |
| Refractive Index (40°C) | 1.4190 |
| Dielectric Constant (40°C) | 90.5 — highest of carbonate solvents |
| Vapor Pressure @ 20°C | <0.01 hPa |
| Water Solubility | Fully miscible (when molten) |
EC's extreme dielectric constant, irreplaceable SEI chemistry, and high thermal stability make it indispensable in lithium-ion battery manufacturing and essential in several industrial processes.
Ethylene carbonate is not merely a co-solvent in lithium-ion battery electrolytes — it is the essential SEI-forming agent, without which graphite-anode batteries cannot function reliably. The solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is a passivation film formed on the graphite anode surface during the first charge cycle through EC reduction reactions. This SEI layer protects the graphite from ongoing electrolyte decomposition while allowing Li⁺ intercalation, enabling thousands of stable charge-discharge cycles. Without EC, electrolyte decomposition at the graphite surface is uncontrolled — causing gas evolution, capacity fade, and cell failure. EC is present at 10–30% by volume in virtually every commercial Li-ion electrolyte, blended with low-viscosity linear carbonates (DMC, EMC, DEC) to optimize ionic conductivity and viscosity. Battery-grade EC (≥99.95%, moisture ≤30 ppm, metals ≤1 ppm) is a critical quality input.
Ethylene carbonate is one of the few solvents capable of dissolving polyacrylonitrile (PAN) for wet-spinning into textile fibers and carbon fiber precursor filaments. PAN is the dominant precursor for high-performance carbon fiber used in aerospace, automotive, wind turbine, and sporting goods applications. EC dissolves PAN at elevated temperature (above its melting point) and offers lower toxicity than conventional solvents dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which face increasing regulatory scrutiny. Closed-loop EC recovery and recycling in spinning systems reduces operating cost and solvent consumption.
Ethylene carbonate participates in polycarbonate diol synthesis via transesterification and in poly(ethylene carbonate) (PEC) production through ring-opening polymerization. PEC is a fully biodegradable thermoplastic with applications in medical packaging and controlled-release drug delivery. EC also serves as a reactive diluent and plasticizer in epoxy formulations, where its ring-opening chemistry with amines contributes to crosslink density and mechanical properties.
EC's dielectric constant of 90.5 — the highest of any common carbonate solvent — makes it valuable in electrochemical applications beyond batteries: supercapacitor electrolytes, electroplating baths, and organic electrochemical synthesis. Its wide electrochemical stability window (0–5 V vs. Li/Li⁺) supports compatibility with high-voltage cathode chemistries including NMC811 and NCA used in next-generation high-energy-density lithium-ion cells.
Supply reliability note: Ethylene carbonate is a non-substitutable component in Li-ion battery electrolytes for graphite-anode chemistries. Demand scales directly with EV production volume. Given EC's solid-state handling requirements and stringent battery-grade purity specifications, consistent lot quality and supply chain traceability are critical. CARMELSOLV™ provides full lot-level COA documentation and traceability with every order.
Available as crystalline solid or molten liquid. Contact us for pricing, MOQ, and lead times.
All documentation available on request via the quote form below.
Ethylene carbonate (CAS 96-49-1) is a cyclic organic carbonate with formula C₃H₄O₃ and MW 88.06 g/mol. It is a colorless crystalline solid at room temperature (MP 34–37°C) with the highest dielectric constant of common carbonate solvents (ε=90.5). EC is irreplaceable in lithium-ion battery electrolytes as the essential SEI-forming agent, and is also used in PAN fiber spinning and specialty polymer synthesis.
EC uniquely enables stable SEI (solid electrolyte interphase) formation on graphite anodes during the first charge cycle. Without EC, graphite anodes degrade through uncontrolled electrolyte reduction, gas evolution, and rapid capacity loss. No commercially available alternative replicates EC's SEI chemistry — it is present in essentially every commercial Li-ion electrolyte formulation for graphite-anode cells.
EC is a solid at room temperature, melting at 34–37°C. For liquid handling, tanks and transfer lines must be maintained above 40°C. It can be supplied as crystalline solid (fiber/steel drums) or as molten liquid (heated IBCs). Its flash point is 143°C — non-flammable — so fire safety is not a concern; only thermal management is required for liquid operations.
Battery-grade EC requires: assay ≥99.95%, moisture ≤30 ppm (Karl Fischer), acidity ≤10 ppm, total metals ≤1 ppm each. Moisture is critical — even 100 ppm water attacks LiPF₆ to generate HF, degrading SEI integrity, corroding aluminum current collectors, and causing premature cell failure.
EC has a dielectric constant of 90.5 at 40°C — the highest of all common carbonate solvents (DMC: 3.1, EMC: 3.0, PC: 65). This enables near-complete dissociation of LiPF₆ and other lithium salts. In electrolyte design, EC provides the ionic activity while low-viscosity linear carbonates (DMC, EMC, DEC) reduce viscosity and enable Li⁺ ion mobility.
CARMELSOLV™ supplies EC as crystalline solid (fiber or steel drums) or as molten liquid in heated IBC totes. Contact us to discuss your required format, volume, grade, and lead time for battery-grade or industrial applications.
Yes. CAS 96-49-1 is listed on the U.S. EPA TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory and is fully compliant for commercial import and distribution in the United States.
Tell us your required grade, format (crystalline solid or molten), volume, and any questions. We'll respond with pricing, SDS, COA, and availability.