Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
Versatile Ketone Solvent for Coatings, Adhesives, Inks, and Industrial Processing
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK), also known as 2-butanone, is a widely used ketone solvent valued for its effective solvency and volatile processing profile. This grade is specified as a clear, colorless liquid, with analysis showing 99.96% purity, 0.0122% water content, and a density of 0.805 kg/L at 20°C. Its observed distillation range extends from 79.7°C initial boiling point to 80°C dry point. MEK is commonly used in coatings, adhesives, printing inks, industrial cleaning, and chemical processing where formulators require a solvent capable of dissolving or carrying compatible resins, polymers, and other organic components.
Technical Specifications
| Property | Specification |
|---|---|
| APPEARANCE | CLEAR AND COLORLESS, LIQUID |
| COLOR (Pt-Co) | ≤ 10 |
| ODOR | SPECIAL ODOR, NO RESIDUAL ODOR |
| PURITY %(M/M) | ≥ 99.7 |
| WATER CONTENT %(M/M) | ≤ 0.05 |
| TOTAL ALCOHOLS % (M/M) | 0.3 |
| ACIDITY AS ACETIC ACID %(M/M) | ≤ 0.003 |
| NON-VOLATILE MATTER (MG/100ML) | ≤ 5 |
| Distillation, IBP (℃) | ≥78.5 |
| Distillation, DP (℃) | ≤81 |
| DENSITY,20℃ (KG/L) | 0.804 - 0.806 |
| Refractive index @ 20℃ | 1.377 - 1.379 |
Why Choose Our Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
Versatile Solvency for Manufacturing
MEK is widely used in industrial formulations that require an effective organic solvent for compatible resins, binders, polymers, and other formulation components. Its broad commercial use across coatings, adhesives, inks, and processing applications makes it a practical solvent option for manufacturers working with diverse solvent-based systems.
- Suitable for numerous solvent-based formulations
- Helps dissolve and carry compatible resins and binders
- Commonly used in coatings, adhesives, and inks
- Suitable for industrial process-solvent applications
- Broad relevance across manufacturing sectors
Processing Characteristics for Solvent-Based Operations
MEK's low-boiling solvent profile makes it suitable for manufacturing processes where solvent evaporation and removal are important. The measured distillation range, density, refractive index, and clear appearance also provide useful reference points for incoming quality evaluation and formulation control in solvent-based manufacturing environments.
Flexible Grades to Meet Your Requirements
As a chemical distributor, we work with multiple qualified supply partners to help meet diverse customer requirements. If your application requires a different grade or specification, our team can help identify the most suitable solution.
- Alternative specifications available upon request
- Various specifications to suit different applications
- Sourcing support based on customer requirements
- Technical assistance in selecting the appropriate grade
Complete Quality Documentation
Supported by comprehensive technical documentation to help simplify product qualification and customer requirements.
- Certificate of Analysis (COA)
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
- Technical Data Sheet (TDS)
Applications
Solvent Support for Paints & Coatings
Methyl Ethyl Ketone is commonly used as a solvent in solvent-based paints, lacquers, primers, and industrial coating systems. It can help dissolve compatible coating resins and support viscosity adjustment during formulation and application. Its volatile nature also makes it useful in coating systems designed around controlled solvent evaporation and drying.
Formulation Flexibility for Adhesive Systems
MEK is widely used in solvent-based adhesives and bonding formulations as a carrier and dissolving solvent for compatible polymers, elastomers, and resins. It can assist formulators in achieving workable application viscosity while providing the solvent characteristics required for manufacturing and applying a variety of industrial adhesive systems
Supporting Printing Ink Formulations
In printing and graphic arts applications, MEK can be used as a solvent or carrier in compatible solvent-based ink formulations. Its combination of solvency and volatility makes it useful for dissolving suitable binders and helping control solvent evaporation during printing, particularly in applications requiring relatively fast solvent removal.
Industrial Cleaning & Surface Preparation
MEK is used in appropriately designed industrial cleaning processes for removing oils, grease, adhesive residues, coating residues, and other solvent-soluble contaminants from compatible surfaces and equipment. Its solvent strength makes it useful for cleaning and surface-preparation operations where strong organic solvency is required before subsequent manufacturing or finishing steps.
Supporting Resin, Rubber & Polymer Processing
MEK serves as a processing solvent for selected resins, synthetic rubbers, polymers, and related materials where chemical compatibility is appropriate. It may be used to dissolve, dilute, or carry these materials during formulation and manufacturing, supporting applications across coatings, adhesives, polymer processing, and other specialty industrial systems.
Process Solvent for Specialty Chemical Manufacturing
MEK can be used as a process solvent in selected specialty chemical operations, including formulation, extraction, blending, and other solvent-assisted manufacturing steps. Its established role as an organic ketone solvent makes it suitable for processes requiring controlled solvency and relatively easy solvent removal, subject to the requirements of the specific chemical system.
Industries
- Paints and Coatings