Chemistry (GregTech 5 Unofficial)

With version 5.09.30 the chemistry of GT5U has become a lot more realistic, but also a lot more complex. This page describes how to obtain the new basic materials and how to process them.

Starting materials
Only non-elemental starting materials are being listed here.

Acetic Acid
Can be obtained by distilling Fermented Biomass, Vinegar, or Wood Vinegar, or synthesized from Methanol and Carbon Monoxide. Used for producing Glue or Acetone.

Acetone
Can be obtained by distilling Wood Vinegar, by treating Cumene with Oxygen, or by smelting a mixture of Acetic Acid and Calcium. Used for producing Epoxy Resin or Glue.

Benzene
Can be obtained by distilling Wood Tar or Heavy Fuel. Used for producing Cumene.

Ethylene
Can be obtained by distilling Naptha or Wood Gas, or from treating Ethanol with Sulfuric Acid. Used for producing Polyethylene and Polyvinyl Chloride.

Hydrochloric Acid
Can be obtained from synthesizing Hydrogen and Chlorine, also gained as a byproduct from producing Polydimethylsiloxane, Polytetrafluoroethylene, or Epichlorohydrin. Used for producing Polyvinyl Chloride and Bisphenol A production.

Hydrofluoric Acid
Can be obtained from synthesizing Hydrogen and Fluorine. Used for producing Polytetrafluoroethylene.

Phenol
Can be obtained from distilling Wood Tar or Heavy Fuel, or by treating Cumene with Oxygen. Used for producing Epoxy Resin.

Phosphoric Acid
Obtained by treating elemental Phosphor with Oxygen and Water, or by treating Apatite dust with Sulfuric Acid and Water. Used for producing Cumene.

Propene
Obtained by distilling Naphtha. Used for producing Epoxy Resin.

Sodium Hydroxide
Obtained by electrolyzing Salt Water, or by treating elemental Sodium with Water (do not try this at home). Used for producing Epoxy Resin.

Acids
Only acids with a complex production process are shown here.

Nitric Acid
Produced from Ammonia, Oxygen and Water (the Water is recycleable). Used for producing Indium, Industrial TNT, and Platinum Group Sludge.

Sulfuric Acid
Produced from either elemental Sulfur, Oxygen, and Water, or from Hydrogen Sulfide, Water, and Oxygen (the Water is recycleable). Used for producing Batteries, Epoxy Circuit Boards, Industrial TNT, TNT.

Alternatively Hydrogen Sulfide can react with Hydrogen Dioxide to produce elemental Sulfur and Water.

Plastics
'Normal reaction' and 'Polymerization' are performed in a Chemical Reactor. Polymerization recipes always follow the same pattern: The monomer can be treated with either Compressed Air or with Oxygen to produce the Polymer. Optionally tiny amounts of Titanium Dust can be added. Oxygen and Titanium increase the Polymer output by 50% each.

Epoxy Resin
Produced from Acetone, Chlorine, Mercury, Phenol, Propene, Sodium Hydroxide, and Water. Used for producing circuit boards. Becomes available at Low Voltage (requires Oil though).

Polydimethylsiloxane
Produced from Chlorine, Methane, Silicon, and Water. Used for Wetware Life Support Circuit Boards, EV+ Pumps, and SMD Capacitors. Becomes available at Medium Voltage.

Polyethylene
Produced from Ethylene. Used for producing Machine Hulls (mandatory for HV+), circuit components, Fluid Pipes, and more. Becomes available at LV (requires Oil though).

Polytetrafluoroethylene
Produced from Chlorine, Hydrofluoric Acid, and Methane. Used for producing ZPM+ Machine Hulls, Wetware Life Support Circuit Boards, Large Chemical Reactors and Fluid Pipes. Becomes available at High Voltage.

Polyvinyl Chloride
Produced from Ethylene, Hydrochloric Acid, and Oxygen, or from Ethylene and Chlorine. Used for producing Item Pipes.

Glue
Produced from Acetic Acid, Ethylene, Oxygen and either Acetone or Methanol. Used for producing Graphene, Phenolic Circuit Boards, Super Fuel Binder, and various assembler recipes.

Rocket Fuel
Produced from Ammonia, Chlorine, Mercury, Methanol, and Oxygen. Used for powering Galacticraft Rockets.

Note: Because Galacticraft does not support separate Fuel/Oxidizer tanks the fuel is obtained by mixing the fuel and the oxidizer before filling the mixture into the rocket. In real life this would turn your rocket into a bomb. Or rather, your mixer, as 1,1-dimethylhydrazine spontaneously ignites on contact with an oxidizer. Used for powering Galacticraft Rockets.