Butyrals

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of chemical compounds known for their properties as blocking agents in various applications
2. Often utilized in the production of resins and coatings due to their amenable characteristics
3. These substances commonly serve as intermediates in synthesizing other complex molecules in organic chemistry

Etymology: "Butyrals" is the plural of "butyral", a term for a family of chemical compounds used as blocking agents. The singular names a class of polymers, the polyvinyl butyrals, in which the word denotes the butyraldehyde-derived units that give the material its characteristic toughness and adhesion. Its ending follows the chemical naming pattern in which "-al" marks an aldehyde, and "butyr-" refers to butyric acid and its four-carbon chain, which is why the word looks like a relative of "butter" (Latin "butyrum"), a connection that is genuine in the root. Within this family the plural form simply reflects that several distinct compounds fall under the name. The word is a technical coinage from chemistry rather than an older English term, so its history is best understood as a modern naming system built from earlier Latin and Greek roots.

Synonyms: polyvinyl butyral