Dimethyl sulfoxide is an extremely important aprotic polar solvent that is soluble in both water and organic solvents. It is widely used as a solvent and reaction reagent, possessing high selective extraction capabilities. Dimethyl sulfoxide itself has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic, and sedative effects, and in the pharmaceutical industry, it can be directly used as a raw material and carrier for certain drugs. Known as a "panacea," it is often added as an active component in analgesic medications.
 
1. Used for aromatic hydrocarbon extraction, as a reaction medium for resins and dyes, as a solvent for acrylic fiber polymerization and spinning, etc.
 
2. Can serve as an organic solvent, reaction medium, and organic synthesis intermediate. It has extremely wide applications. This product has high selective extraction capabilities and is used as a polymerization and condensation solvent for acrylic and polysulfone resins, a polymerization and spinning solvent for polyacrylonitrile and cellulose acetate, an extraction solvent for separating alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons, and as a reaction medium in industries such as aromatic hydrocarbon and butadiene extraction, acrylic fiber spinning, plastic solvents, organic synthesis dyes, and pharmaceuticals. In the medical field, dimethyl sulfoxide has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects and strong skin permeability, allowing it to dissolve certain drugs and facilitate their penetration into the human body for therapeutic purposes. Leveraging this carrier property, dimethyl sulfoxide can also be used as an additive in pesticides. Adding a small amount of dimethyl sulfoxide to certain pesticides helps them penetrate plants, thereby enhancing efficacy. Dimethyl sulfoxide can also serve as a dye solvent, dye remover, and dye carrier for synthetic fibers, as well as an absorbent for recovering acetylene and sulfur dioxide, a modifier for synthetic fibers, an antifreeze agent, and a component in capacitor dielectrics, brake fluids, and rare metal extractants.
 
3. Used as an analytical reagent and gas chromatography stationary phase, as well as a solvent in UV spectroscopy.
 
4. Transdermal penetration enhancer. Dimethyl sulfoxide is one of the earliest transdermal penetration enhancers used, and its permeation-enhancing properties are likely related to its solvent characteristics.
 
5. Antifreeze agent. Pure dimethyl sulfoxide has a freezing point of 18.45°C, while a 40% aqueous solution of dimethyl sulfoxide does not freeze even at -60°C. Moreover, dimethyl sulfoxide releases heat when mixed with water or snow. This makes it convenient for use in automotive antifreeze, brake fluids, and hydraulic fluids. Ethylene glycol antifreeze is unsuitable at temperatures below -40°C, has a lower boiling point than dimethyl sulfoxide, is toxic, and prone to vapor lock. Dimethyl sulfoxide antifreeze is used in vehicles and military tanks in northern frigid regions and can be replenished with snow代替 water as needed. Dimethyl sulfoxide is also used in deicing agents, coatings, various latex antifreeze agents, and as an antifreeze for gasoline and aviation fuel.