SUMMARY
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK), or 2-Butanone is a colorless liquid with a sharp pungent odor. It is used as a solvent and co-solvent to prepare gums, resins, cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate, surface coatings, oils, resins, artificial leather, rubbers, and glues. MEK is utilized in the manufacturing of paints, lacquers, varnishes, adhesives, sealants, magnetic tapes, artificial leather, transparent paper, and printing inks. Also is used as an extractant in pharmaceuticals, as an oxidant in the oxidation of primary alcohols, as a synthetic flavorants in foods and pharmaceuticals, and as a sterilizer for medical equipment.
INDUSTRIES
- Automotive & Transportation: Used in automotive manufacturing, parts cleaning, coatings, and refinishing processes.
- Building & Construction: Supports adhesives, coatings, sealants, and surface preparation in construction applications.
- Adhesives & Sealants: Acts as a solvent to adjust viscosity, enhance spreadability, and improve bonding performance.
- Chemical Manufacturing: Functions as a key solvent and intermediate in various chemical production processes.
- Personal Care & Cosmetics: Used in select formulations where fast evaporation and solvency are required.
- Metalworking Fluids & Lubricants: Aids in degreasing, cleaning, and processing of metal components.
- Paints & Coatings: Provides strong solvency and fast evaporation for industrial, automotive, and architectural coatings.
APPLICATIONS
- Industrial Machinery & Tools: Used for cleaning, degreasing, and maintaining machinery surfaces and components.
- Automotive Care & Components: Supports coatings, cleaners, and refinishing products used in automotive manufacturing and maintenance.
- Chemical Industry: Serves as a solvent and processing aid in chemical synthesis and formulation work.
- Metal Coatings: Provides strong solvency for metal primers, coatings, and protective finishes.
- Carpet Manufacturing: Assists in adhesive systems and backing formulations during carpet production.
- Injection Molding: Used as a processing solvent for resins and polymers in molded parts.
- Surface Cleaners: Delivers effective grease and residue removal for industrial and commercial cleaning products.
- Paints & Varnishes: Enhances flow, leveling, and application properties in coating formulations.
- Fabric & Textile Care: Functions in stain-removal products and textile treatment solutions.
- Coatings: Serves as a fast-evaporating solvent across industrial and performance coatings.
- Marine Coatings & Applications: Supports high-performance marine paints, primers, and protective systems.
- Adhesives & Sealants: Improves viscosity control, application ease, and drying performance in adhesive formulations.
MARKET SEGMENTS
- Petroleum Products: Utilized as a high-solvency component in refining processes, fuel additives, and degreasing formulations.
- Polymers & Resins: Supports resin production, processing, and modification through its strong solvency and fast evaporation rate.
- Auto Parts: Used in cleaning, coating, and manufacturing processes for automotive components.
- Paint & Dyes: Provides effective solvency for pigments, dyes, and coating formulations.
- Metal Processing: Assists in metal cleaning, surface prep, and coating systems used across industrial metalworking.
FUNCTIONS
- Catalyst: Speeds up chemical reactions to improve process efficiency or product performance.
- Crosslinker: Creates chemical bonds between polymer chains to enhance strength, durability, or structural integrity.
- Curing Agent: Initiates or accelerates the hardening or curing process in coatings, adhesives, and resins.
- Intermediate: Serves as a building block or transitional compound used to manufacture other chemicals or formulations.