Methyl Acetate is a colorless liquid with a fruity odor. It is used as a solvent in lacquers and paint removers and to make pharmaceuticals.
Methyl acetate is an organic solvent which can be used as a replacement of acetone in the production of paints, coatings, metal surface cleaners, adhesives, etc. Applications of methyl acetate are as follows:
Paints and coatings
Methyl acetate is a fast evaporating solvent which is used to produce a wide range of fast drying paints and coatings for wood finishing (lacquers), automotive applications, industrial applications, marine equipment’s and vehicles, cans, etc. Application of methyl acetate in paints and coatings is assisted by the fact that it has a VOC exempted status. It is also an ideal candidate to be used as a solvent in nail polish.
Surface cleaners
Methyl acetate can be used as a solvent in surface cleaners because of its fast drying and hydrophobic properties. Since methyl acetate evaporates at a fast rate, it doesn’t attract air contaminants to the cleansed surface. Moreover, the hydrophobic property of methyl acetate makes it suitable for cleaning metal surface prior to painting and preparing surface cleaners for marine applications and moisture sensitive equipments.
Other applications
Methyl acetate is also used as a solvent to produce fast sticking adhesives. Adhesives are produced by dissolving rubbers and resins in methyl acetate. When the adhesive is applied to a surface, methyl acetate evaporates at a fast rate, allowing the adhesive to harden and stick to the surface. Methyl acetate is also used in cosmetics and personal care products such as perfumes, nail polish, nail polish remover, etc.