Product Overview
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK), also called 2-Butanone or Butanone, is a fast-evaporating ketone solvent used across coatings, adhesives, cleaning, and chemical processing operations. Technical grade — the workhorse specification for industrial solvent work — MEK dissolves a broad range of resins, polymers, and organic compounds, making it a go-to thinner and degreaser in manufacturing environments. CAS number 78-93-3.
Available from Alliance Chemical in quart, gallon, 5-gallon, and 55-gallon drum sizes, scaling from bench-scale testing and maintenance cleaning to full production runs.
Why Technical Grade
Technical grade MEK is sourced for process work where the solvent's role is dissolution, thinning, cleaning, or extraction — not analytical measurement. Coatings formulators, parts-cleaning operations, and extraction operators typically specify technical grade because it delivers the solvency their process demands at a lower procurement cost than laboratory-certified alternatives.
The trade-off is straightforward: technical grade is built for throughput and performance in industrial processes. If your workflow is HPLC mobile-phase preparation or a specification-controlled pharmaceutical extraction, verify whether your method calls for a tighter-certified grade before ordering. For paint thinning, surface preparation, resin dissolution, and solvent cleaning, technical grade is the standard pick.
Chemical Profile
MEK is a colorless, fairly volatile liquid with an acetone-like odor and a flash point of 20 °F. Its molecular formula is C4H8O with a molecular weight of 72.11 g/mol (CAS 78-93-3). At 68 °F the density is 0.806 g/mL — approximately 6.7 lb per gallon — making it less dense than water. Spills will float on water surfaces rather than sink. Solubility in water is high, at 100 mg/mL or greater at 66 °F. Vapor pressure is also high: 77.5 mmHg at 68 °F, climbing to 100 mmHg at 77 °F. That means MEK evaporates quickly from open containers and readily generates flammable vapor concentrations, especially in warm or poorly ventilated spaces.
Industrial Applications
MEK's high solvency and controlled evaporation rate make it effective across several core industrial processes:
-
Solvent for Coatings and Adhesives — MEK dissolves acrylics, vinyls, nitrocellulose, epoxies, and other film-forming polymers, which is why it appears in paint formulations, lacquers, varnishes, and adhesive systems as both a primary solvent and a thinner. Its evaporation rate is faster than most comparable ketones, giving formulators direct control over drying time and film formation.
-
Surface Cleaning and Degreasing — Metal fabrication shops, machining operations, and assembly lines use MEK as a degreaser and cleaning agent to strip oils, waxes, and residues from parts before welding, coating, or bonding. Its aggressive solvency cuts through contaminants that milder solvents leave behind.
-
Extraction Medium — Liquid-liquid extraction processes in chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing use MEK to selectively pull target compounds from aqueous mixtures. Its favorable partition behavior and moderate boiling point make it practical for extraction steps where the solvent needs to be recovered and recycled.
-
Chemical Intermediate — MEK serves as a feedstock in the synthesis of other compounds, including methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP, a hardener for polyester resins) and various plastics and coatings intermediates.
Handling & Storage
MEK carries a GHS signal word of Danger (per the product's GHS classification). Operators should understand these hazard statements before opening a container:
-
H225 — Highly flammable liquid and vapor (per the product's GHS classification)
-
H319 — Causes serious eye irritation (per the product's GHS classification)
-
H336 — May cause drowsiness or dizziness (per the product's GHS classification)
-
EUH066 — Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness or cracking (per the product's GHS classification)
Store in a cool, well-ventilated area away from heat sources, sparks, and open flame. With a flash point of 20 °F, MEK vapor can ignite at temperatures well below typical room conditions — treat every container as generating a flammable atmosphere. Use containers compatible with ketone solvents: HDPE or glass for small volumes, lined steel drums for bulk quantities. Keep away from strong oxidizing agents and acids.
Wear chemical-resistant gloves and splash-proof goggles during handling. Work under local exhaust ventilation or use appropriate respiratory protection to limit vapor inhalation, particularly in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces where the H336 drowsiness hazard is most relevant.
Hazmat & Shipping
MEK is a regulated hazardous material for transport. Every outbound shipment is prepared, marked, labeled, and documented by our hazmat-trained shipping team in accordance with DOT requirements.
-
UN Number: UN1193 (per 49 CFR 172.101)
-
Hazard Class: 3 — Flammable Liquid (per 49 CFR 172.101)
-
Packing Group: II (per 49 CFR 172.101)
-
Proper Shipping Name: Ethyl methyl ketone (per 49 CFR 172.101)
Documentation
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) ships with every order, available in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese. A Technical Data Sheet (TDS) with full product specifications is available on request. Lot-specific Certificates of Analysis (COA) can be provided for orders where batch traceability is required — contact us to request a COA tied to your shipment.
Why Buy from Alliance Chemical
MEK is available to order from quarts through 55-gallon drums, with SDS documentation in four languages and lot-specific COA on request — the paperwork is as accessible as the product. Alliance Chemical has distributed industrial chemicals since 1998, serving over 50,000 customers from our warehouse in Taylor, Texas. Shipping and handling guidance on this page is reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist.
