What it is
One of the two main polyurethane raw materials. Polymeric MDI makes rigid foam (insulation panels, cold rooms, refrigerators); pure MDI goes into shoe soles, coatings and adhesives.
Polymeric MDI (rigid foam)Pure / monomeric MDIModified MDI (shoe soles, elastomers)
Where imports come from
DCPC statistics do not list MDI production or import sources; the official table for it was not found.
Rules before you buy or sell
- Diphenyl methane di-isocyanate (MDI) is listed in Schedule 1 of the Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical (MSIHC) Rules, 1989. Above the threshold quantities, a unit must notify authorities, keep safety data sheets and an on-site emergency plan.
- No Quality Control Order for MDI appears on the BIS compulsory-certification list (checked 18 Oct 2026).
- The Polyurethanes QCO (IS 17397 Part 1, thermoplastic polyurethane) was rescinded on 12 Nov 2025.
Storage and handling
Keep drums tightly closed and dry at about 15–30 °C; MDI reacts with moisture and gives off CO2, which can swell drums. Use gloves and eye protection.