Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK), also known as Butanone, is a clear, colorless, flammable liquid with a sharp, sweet odor. It is a fast-evaporating solvent widely used in coatings, adhesives, and chemical manufacturing.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is a colorless liquid ketone that has a sharp, sweet odor reminiscent of butterscotch and acetone. It is produced industrially on a large scale and also occurs in trace amounts in nature. It is soluble in water and is commonly used as an industrial solvent.
it is also an effective and common solvent and is used in processes involving gums, resins, cellulose acetate and nitrocellulose coatings and in vinyl films. It’s uses can also be found in the manufacture of plastics, textiles, in the production of paraffin wax, and in household products such as lacquer, varnishes, paint remover, a denaturing agent for denatured alcohol, glues, and as a cleaning agent. It has similar solvent properties to acetone but boils at a higher temperature and has a significantly slower evaporation rate. Unlike acetone, it forms an azeotrope with water, making it useful for azeotropic distillation of moisture in certain applications. it is also used in dry erase markers as the solvent of the erasable dye.
CAS Number: 78-93-3
Chemical Name: Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Other Names: MEK, Butanone, 2-Butanone
Chemical Formula: C₄H₈O
Molecular Weight: 72.11 g/mol
Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid
Odor: Sharp, sweet, acetone-like odor
Solubility: Miscible with water and most organic solvents
Boiling Point: ~79.6°C
Melting Point: –86.3°C
Density: 0.805 g/cm³ at 20°C
Flash Point: –6°C (closed cup)
Application in areas:
- Printing Ink
- Solvent For Polystyrene, ABS and SBR processing
Packaging: Bulk, Drum, TIN