Methyl Ethyl Ketone

Physical & chemial characteristics

Methyl ethyl ketone is also known as butanone (abbreviation MEK) or methyl ethyl ketone, Its formular structure is CH3COC2H5. It is flammable colorless liquid with ketone odor and low viscosity at room temperature, it is a kind of excellent solvent wtih low boiling point (79.6 ℃) , it can be  resolved in water ethanol, ether, benzene, toluene and other organic solvents, and with thermal stability below 500 ℃ . It has excellent solubility and drying characteristics, its solvency is as good as acetone, and better than triphenylmethyl, it is a good substitute of triphenylmethyl.

Applications

Methyl ethyl ketone is a kind of important industrial solvent, which has moderate boiling point, good solubility, quick volatile speed, low toxicity and can replace benzene solvents, have good environmental protection features.Because of its excellent solubility and drying characteristics, it can form azeotrope with various solvents, has been widely used in industry.  Miscibility with various solvents can’t impact on its content and viscosity, it can be used as solvents of  nitrocellulose, vinyl resin, acrylic resin, epoxy resin and other synthetic resin, It is widely used in industrial area, such as paint, adhesives, synthetic leather and printing ink;In addition, it also can be used as solven for refined lubricating oil dewaxing and paraffin wax deoiling, it is used in the production of methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, methyl amyl ketone, butanedione, methyl ionone and other chemical products, widely used as flavor agent, catalyst, oxidizing agent and other raw materials; it can be used as adhesive, also used in printing ink, seasoning and spices, vegetable oil extraction and azeotropic separation in refinery, etc., and used in a variety of organic synthesis and pharmaceutical industry, synthetic leather and magnetic tape.