Methyl Ethyl Ketone – MEK
MEK is a solvent commonly used in adhesives, surface coatings, and printing ink. MEK is colourless liquid with a faint odour.
Product Description
MEK, also known as Methyl Ethyl Ketone Solvent, Butanone, 2-butanone, ethyl methyl ketone, 2-oxobutane, 3-butanone, and methyl acetone. MEK is a solvent often found in adhesives, surface coatings, and printing ink. It appears as a colourless liquid with a slight odour.
Available to purchase in
55 Gallon Drum
Benefits
- High Boiling Point
- Slow Evaporation Rate
- High Solvency
- Low Viscosity
Printing Inks
Applications
In the industrial sector, MEK serves as a prevalent solvent in the manufacturing of multiple kinds of materials including:
- Plastics
- Synthetic Rubbers
- Paraffin Wax
- Textiles
- Adhesives
- Gums
- Printing Ink
In the industrial setting, MEK’s effectiveness as a liquid solvent is evidenced in its role thinning paints, lacquers, and surface coatings. MEK’s robust cleaning properties have made it superior to acetone given its higher boiling point, slower evaporation rate which aid in removing tough residues and contaminants.
Additionally, MEK aids in the extraction of fats, oils, and resins.
Key Characteristics
| Physical Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | 79.6 °C (1013 hPa) (175.1 °F) |
| Colour | Clear |
| Flash Point, Tag Closed Cup | -9 °C (16 °F) |
| Freezing Point | -86 °C (1013 hPa) (-123 °F) |
| Odour | Sharp like Acetone |
| Solubility | Soluble in Water |
| Specific Gravity | 810 kg/m³ (20 °C) |
| Vapour Density | 2.4 |
| Vapour Pressure | 12.600 Pa (20 °C) |
| VOC Content | 100% |
Safety and Handling Precautions
Some health risks
of MEK include:
- Eye irritant
- Skin irritant
- Respiratory irritant
- High toxicity
Using MEK consistently can pose many risks, mostly associated with the workers that are constantly exposed to the chemical itself.
Due to the risks of MEK, there are some safety recommendations that we can make to protect yourself to overexposure of this solution. Protective clothing containing materials like natural rubber, neoprene, nitrile rubber, polyethylene, PVC and viton, give poor resistance to MEK.
We recommend hand protection made from butyl rubber, with the addition of safety glasses, head/neck protection and clothing. Along with a full-face mask with a type A filter.
Please review the safety data sheet provided before handling solution.
