Acetone is a highly versatile, fast-evaporating, colourless liquid solvent with a distinctive sharp, sweet odour. It is widely used in industrial, laboratory, cosmetic, and household applications due to its excellent solvency, quick drying time, and compatibility with many organic substances.
Chemical Details:
- Chemical Name: Acetone
- Other Names: Propanone, Dimethyl ketone
- Chemical Formula: C₃H₆O
- Molecular Weight: 58.08 g/mol
- Appearance: Clear, colourless liquid
- Odour: Sharp, sweet characteristic smell
- Boiling Point: 56°C
- Solubility: Miscible with water, alcohols, ethers, and most organic solvents
Key Features:
- High purity solvent with rapid evaporation
- Strong solvency power for a wide range of resins, oils, waxes, and adhesives
- Leaves minimal residue after evaporation
- Stable and easy to handle under normal conditions
Applications:
- Industrial use: As a solvent in paints, coatings, adhesives, and cleaning formulations
- Laboratory use: As a cleaning and degreasing agent for glassware and equipment
- Cosmetics: Used in nail polish removers and thinning nail products
- Plastics and fibre industry: Involved in the production of acrylic plastics (e.g. PMMA)
- General cleaning: Effective degreaser for machinery, tools, and metal surfaces
- Pharmaceutical industry: As an intermediate and solvent in formulation processes
Benefits:
- Provides fast drying and effective cleaning
- Enhances flow and workability in coatings and adhesives
- Compatible with multiple materials, making it a universal solvent
- Cost-effective solution for industrial and laboratory cleaning requirements
How to Use:
- Use directly as a solvent or cleaning agent as per application requirements.
- Apply with cloth, brush, or as recommended for specific cleaning or formulation tasks.
- Ensure working in a well-ventilated area due to high volatility and flammability.
Safety Precautions:
- Highly flammable; keep away from heat, sparks, and open flames.
- Avoid inhalation of vapours; use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, goggles, and masks where necessary.
- Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, away from ignition sources.
- In case of contact with eyes or skin, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical attention if irritation persists.
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