Product Overview
Glycol Ether EE is technical grade ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (2-ethoxyethanol), CAS 110-80-5 — a clear, colorless liquid solvent with a sweet, ether-like odor. It dissolves resins, dyes, and a wide range of organic compounds while evaporating slowly enough to keep coatings and inks workable on the line. Buyers are typically coatings formulators, printing-ink producers, metal-processing shops that degrease parts before finishing, and chemical manufacturers who use it as an intermediate. Alliance Chemical offers it to order in pack sizes from 1 quart through 330 gallon totes, packed and shipped from our Taylor, Texas warehouse.
Why This Concentration
Technical grade is the workhorse designation for this solvent: it is the grade buyers specify for coatings, ink, cleaning, and intermediate work where the job needs solvency power and predictable evaporation, not an analytical-purity pedigree. If your process is a production formulation or a degreasing bath, technical grade is normally the right call. The trade-off to plan for is regulatory, not performance: this is a Class 3 flammable liquid (per 49 CFR 172.101) with a Danger signal word and a reproductive-hazard statement (per the product's GHS classification), so the buying decision should include your site's flammable-storage capacity and PPE program, not just the price per gallon. Confirm fit against your own specification using the TDS before scaling up an order.
Chemical Profile
Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether is a clear colorless liquid with the formula C4H10O2 and a molecular weight of 90.12 (CAS 110-80-5). It carries a sweet, pleasant, ether-like odor and a flash point of 120 °F. At 0.931 density at 68 °F it is less dense than water and will float, while its vapors are heavier than air — a detail that matters for ventilation planning, because vapor can travel along floors toward ignition sources. Water solubility is high, at or above 100 mg/mL at 64 °F, and vapor pressure is a modest 3.8 mmHg at 68 °F, which is why it flashes off slowly and levels well in film-forming applications.
Industrial Applications
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Coatings. As a coating solvent, Glycol Ether EE slows the evaporation profile of paint and coating formulations, improving flow-out and reducing application defects in industrial finishing work.
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Ink formulation. Printing operations use it as an ink solvent where controlled drying and consistent flow characteristics matter on press.
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Metal cleaning and degreasing. Its solvency for oils and organic residues makes it a working choice for cleaning metal surfaces ahead of further processing.
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Resin and dye solvent. It cuts a broad range of resins and dyes, which is why formulators keep it in the solvent lineup for blending work.
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Chemical intermediate. Chemical manufacturers use it as a building block in downstream synthesis.
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Analytical use. It also appears as a mobile-phase component in reversed-phase HPLC separations of organic compounds.
Handling & Storage
Treat this material with respect. It carries the signal word Danger, and its hazard statements are: flammable liquid and vapour (H226); harmful if swallowed (H302); harmful in contact with skin (H312); toxic if inhaled (H331); and may damage fertility or the unborn child (H360FD) (per the product's GHS classification). That last statement is the one operators most often underestimate — build your exposure controls around it, not just around flammability.
Handle with chemical-resistant gloves and goggles, and work with ventilation sized for a vapor that is heavier than air and a liquid that is toxic by inhalation. Store in a cool, dry area away from heat and ignition sources, in compatible containers such as HDPE or glass, and keep it away from strong oxidizing agents. Ground and bond containers during transfer as you would for any Class 3 flammable liquid. This handling guidance is reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist.
Hazmat & Shipping
This product ships as a regulated hazardous material. The proper shipping name is Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (per 49 CFR 172.101), under UN1171 (per 49 CFR 172.101), Hazard Class 3 — flammable liquid (per 49 CFR 172.101), Packing Group III (per 49 CFR 172.101). Our team packs it in UN-rated packaging with compliant marks, labels, and shipping papers prepared for the carrier. If your receiving dock has hazmat acceptance procedures, have this classification on hand before the freight arrives.
Documentation
A Safety Data Sheet accompanies every order, available in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese — useful when your EHS binder or a multilingual crew needs the hazard communication in more than one language. A Technical Data Sheet is available for specification review, and a lot-specific Certificate of Analysis is available with your shipment so your QC lead can tie the material on the dock to documented lot data.
Why Buy from Alliance Chemical
You can scale this solvent without changing suppliers: the same technical grade material is offered from 1 quart bench samples through 5, 15, and 55 gallon containers up to 275 and 330 gallon totes, each shipped with its SDS and lot-specific COA. Every order is packed by a team that ships regulated Class 3 flammable liquids daily from Taylor, Texas — hazmat paperwork and UN-rated packaging are routine here, not an exception. Alliance Chemical has operated since 1998 and has served more than 50,000 customers, and this page's shipping and handling guidance is reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist.