Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
What is Methyl Ethyl Ketone (or MEK)?
MEK stands for methyl ethyl ketone, also known as butanone. It is an organic solvent widely used in industry to dissolve resins, varnishes, glues, inks and plastics. It is also used as a thinner for paints and coatings.
MEK is a flammable, volatile liquid (de facto dangerous goods), with a strong acetone-like odor. It is miscible with many organic solvents, but not with water.
MEK is often chosen as a solvent, as it is effective at dissolving materials resistant to other solvents.
MEK uses
Sebacom MEK offer
| REFERENCE | RAW MATERIAL | Origin | PRESENTATION |
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MEK |
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Japan |
TANK |
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MEK |
SYNTHESIS |
Europe |
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MEK |
SYNTHESIS |
SOUTH AFRICA |
TANK |
Why buy MEK from Sebacom Solvents Supplier?
When you choose Sebacom as your solvent supplier, you're putting your trust in a specialist in quality raw materials, with a particularly strong reputation in the French-Spanish market since 2008.
Our market knowledge, expertise, business model and responsiveness make Sebacom an ideal partner for MEK suppliers.
You can buy MEK with the following reinsurances:
- We respect deadlines (historical and reliable carriers)
- We offer you optimized value for money (spot sales, contracts)
- We offer you impeccable product quality (suppliers selected and monitored)
- We respect the ethics and reputation of our approach (CSR)
- We are in good financial health for our supplier credits
Further information on MEK
Is butanone soluble in water?
Butanone, also known as methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), is slightly soluble in water. This means that it can dissolve in water, but only to a small extent. The solubility of MEK in water depends on temperature and the concentration of each component. At room temperature, the solubility of MEK in water is around 25 g/l, which means that only a small amount of MEK can dissolve in water.
However, MEK is more soluble in other organic solvents, such as acetone, ethanol and methanol. This means it is often used as a solvent in mixtures with other organic solvents to increase their solvency power.
What precautions should I take with methyl ethyl ketone?
Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is a flammable and volatile organic solvent, and appropriate safety precautions must be taken when handling it to avoid health and safety hazards. Here are some of the precautions to be taken when using MEK:
- Use in a well-ventilated area: MEK must be used in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhalation of vapours which may be harmful to health, particularly the respiratory tract. It is important not to use MEK in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces.
- Use of protective equipment: Persons handling MEK must wear suitable protective clothing, such as gloves, safety glasses for eye protection and chemical-resistant clothing.
- Avoid skin contact: MEK can be irritating to skin and eyes, so it's important to avoid skin contact and eye irritation by wearing protective equipment. In the event of skin or eye contact, immediately flush the affected area with water and seek medical advice if necessary.
- Avoid sources of ignition: MEK is flammable and should be stored away from sources of ignition, such as open flames or electric sparks.
- Appropriate storage: MEK should be stored in leak-proof, chemical-resistant containers, away from sources of heat, open flames and electric sparks.
What is the dissolving power of methyl ethyl ketone?
Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is an organic solvent commonly used to dissolve a variety of materials, including resins, greases, oils, waxes, plastics, rubbers and inks. The dissolving power of MEK depends on the nature and quantity of the materials to be dissolved, and on dissolving conditions such as temperature and pressure.
MEK is a fairly powerful solvent and has a high dissolving power for many organic materials. It can dissolve resin types such as phenolic resins, fats, oils, waxes, plastics such as PVC, rubbers such as neoprene and printing inks. However, it may not be effective in dissolving certain materials such as fluoropolymers or silicone-based materials.
What are the odors produced by methyl ethyl ketone?
What is methyl ethyl peroxide?
Methyl ethyl peroxide (also known as 2-butanone peroxide) is an organic chemical compound with the chemical formula C4H8O2. It is a colorless to pale yellow liquid with a characteristic peroxide odor. Methyl ethyl peroxide is used as a polymerization initiator for many synthetic resins, such as epoxy resins and acrylic polymers. It is also used as a bleaching agent in the textile industry and as an oxidizing agent in the production of organic chemicals.