Butanone - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Butanone, also known as methyl ethyl ketone or MEK
As a solvent
Butanone is an effective and common solvent[3] and is used in processes involving gums, resins, cellulose acetate and nitrocellulose coatings and in vinyl films.[5] For this reason it finds use 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.[6] Butanone is also used in dry erase markers as the solvent of the erasable dye.
As a plastic welding agent
As butanone dissolves polystyrene, it is sold as "model cement" for use in connecting together parts of scale model kits. Though often considered an adhesive, it is actually functioning as a welding agent in this context.
Other uses
Butanone is the precursor to methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, which is a catalyst for some polymerization reactions such as crosslinking of unsaturated polyester resins.
Flammability
Butanone can react with most oxidizing materials, and can produce fires.[3] It is moderately explosive; it requires only a small flame or spark to cause a vigorous reaction.[3] Butanone fires should be extinguished with carbon dioxide, dry chemicals or alcohol foam.[3] Concentrations in the air high enough to be flammable are also intolerable to humans due to the irritating nature of the vapour.[6]
Health effects
Butanone is an irritant, causing irritation to the eyes and nose of humans,[6] but serious health effects in animals have been seen only at very high levels. When inhaled, these effects included birth defects in mice, but only at the highest dose tested (3000 ppm for 7 hours/day).[7]
In 2005, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency removed butanone from the list of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). After technical review and consideration of public comments, EPA concluded that potential exposures to butanone emitted from industrial processes may not reasonably be anticipated to cause human health or environmental problems. Emissions of butanone will continue to be regulated as a volatile organic compound because of its contribution to the formation of tropospheric (ground-level) ozone.
Butanone - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
